Assistant Director for Advising & Recruitment- School of Molecular & Cellular Biology-College of LAS

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for an Assistant Director for Advising & Recruitment in the School of MCB. We seek answers to fundamental questions about how organisms work and the many implications for life. Through a rich culture of collaboration, we drive new discoveries in human health and empower students with the critical and analytical skills needed for successful careers. We educate students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and our alumni can be found throughout the world as leading healthcare providers, researchers in industry and academia, educators, and more. Meet the MCB community at mcb.illinois.edu.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, physiology, neuroscience, or closely related field.
At least 3 (three) years (36 months) of demonstrated professional working experience in higher education including experience in advising and recruitment.
Demonstrated professional working experience in supervising and leading a team.
Demonstrated experience organizing meetings, conferences, graduations and award ceremonies, or other large events.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, teaching, biology, psychology, counseling, or closely related field.
Experience in strategic management and goal setting and implementation in higher education.
Knowledge and expertise in assessment, data analysis, interpretation.
Demonstrated effectiveness in designing and assessing successful recruitment efforts.
Demonstrated ability to respond to concerns of undergraduate students, faculty, staff, administrators, and other constituents.
Excellent professional, organizational, communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and respectfully with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
Ability to take initiative and work independently.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic input, oversight and assistance with all operational aspects of all recruitment and advising activities within the School of MCB, including serving as lead advisor for all undergraduate degree programs within the School from recruitment, first-time matriculation, and timely navigation through the curriculum to degree attainment and beyond.
Provide input and assistance with implementing strategic plans for the development, delivery, evaluation, assessment, and continuing improvement of the advising programs and student services for all existing and new School degree programs, including study abroad and internal and external instructional training programs.
Direct the hiring, supervision and evaluation of all advising and career counseling personnel in the Instructional Programs of the School, including the hiring, training, management and evaluation of academic advisors, career counselors, student peer advisors, interns for advising office support, and student work study and hourly office workers in the advising office.
Provide input and govern with signature authority the use of funds to meet the recruitment, retention, advising and post-graduation career objectives of the Instructional Program in both the short- and long-term for all degree programs in the School.
Co-direct the coordination of the planning, organization and execution of all MCB recruitment, graduation, and career development events, such as workshops, conferences, New Student Welcome, Convocation, School and LAS Honors Ceremonies, Undergraduate Research Symposia, Graduation events, Homecoming and Alumnae events, etc.
Provide input and assistance with implementing strategic plans for the development and branding of new recruitment, retention, mentoring and career development programs that are tailored to the needs of our students and faculty, including establishing new relationships with other key units and leading conversations regarding creating/setting vision for existing and new recruitment and advising programs.
Provide visionary input to the university STEM advising community, serving as liaison with other advisors and units within the School, LAS, and other units and offices on Campus (Academic Affairs, Admissions, Student Support Services, Registrar, Career Services, etc.) and nationally (Council for the Advancement of Standards in higher education, National Academic Advising Association NACADA), fostering relationships that serve to meet the recruitment goals and educational outcomes of the School of MCB and the Campus.
Oversee and provide support for all advising efforts within the School regarding consultation and support to students, including advising about course expectations and performance, career development, and educating about requirements of their degree programs and the varied pathways to meet those requirements through individual conferences and group sessions as they plan their educational path, determine vocational goals, and fashion themselves into the best possible candidate for their next step.
Organize, convene, and deliver special programs and workshops in areas such as career options, career development, preparing job applications, preparing applications to graduate and professional schools, undergraduate research, internships, and education abroad, and fellowships.
Serve on and/or participate in selected or appointed School, LAS and Campus committees and programs that promote recruitment, retention, academic and career success for students in our degree programs, such as serving as MCB representative on the School of MCB Distinction Committee, Campus LGBTQ Ally Network, Women’s Career Institute, Emerging Women Leaders, Biology Admissions or Marketing Committees, serving as lead advisor of the Pre-Health and Professional Mentorship Program, and other related committees or working groups.
Oversee communications with students, including maintenance of degree program and student organization websites and Facebook groups, academic advising and career counseling workshops and events.
Provide interpretation and application of academic and campus policy, as well as best practices guided by learning outcomes, in providing guidance to faculty, instructors, advisors, career counselors, and other instructional program personnel.
Oversee the maintenance of accurate advising records and tracking of students through the degree programs, including after graduation and beyond, ensuring that students are provided consistent, accurate and prompt advising services.
Recruit and screen applications, select, train and supervise School student ambassadors and student leaders for all of the degree programs, serving as guides and assistants to faculty, instructors, and peers regarding delivery of curricula and advise about successful attainment of academic and career goals.
Lead and oversee recruitment efforts and meetings with the prospective, admitted, and transfer students and their families, working with admissions and other recruitment personnel to design and maintain flyers, brochures, websites, and information portals for interested prospective and transfer students.
Provide oversight for the recruitment and retention of high-achieving and motivated students into the majors and honors programs.
Oversee all efforts to provide current students with appropriate academic advise for retention in the major and successful and timely attainment of their degree.
Provide oversight and support for incoming transfer students, by consulting with students at matriculation for transition to our degree programs from other majors on campus and from other institutions, monitoring student progress through their degree program, and ensuring successful graduation attainment and career path beyond.
Develop, organize, and implement strategic enrollment outreach and recruitment campaigns to ensure that the School, LAS and Campus meets or exceeds student enrollment, retention and graduation goals.
Develop and coordinate comprehensive assessment plans for conducting research related to advising and student retention and graduation rates and career success.
Provide instructional support to faculty, instructors, and student teaching assistants with regard to coordinating student registration, tracking student absences and grades for courses, advertising course offerings, monitoring status and providing special assistance to at-risk populations, and overseeing transfer student enrollments.
Provide input and manage all advising facilities and activities within the School, including oversight and management of designated budgets for advising and recruitment efforts and events.
Perform other assigned, instruction-related duties, as needed, to ensure the smooth running of the instructional program.