Assistant Director of Student Success

Pepperdine University•Malibu, CA

4d•$70,500 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Graduate Law Programs seeks a student-focused, team-centered professional to serve as Assistant Director of Student Success. Operating as the primary point of contact for student advising, this role delivers data-driven academic guidance to both online and on-ground students pursuing a degree or certificate. The ideal candidate is a dynamic individual who can inspire a diverse student body—including mid-career professionals and international students—as they navigate academic requirements and professional goals. This role provides strategic, one-on-one coaching to help maximize the student experience and satisfaction. Due to the global nature of the student body, this position requires scheduling flexibility to accommodate students operating across various time zones. Additionally, this role participates in the logistics, planning, and execution of New Student Orientation, registration, and graduation processes. This position will work closely with several Directors in the office and will report to the Judge Danny Weinstein Managing Director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a related field and 3 years of experience in academic advising, student affairs, or higher education administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Exceptional active listening skills coupled with a strong ability to empathize with students managing a rigorous legal curriculum.
Proven capability to effectively support and engage with a diverse population of non-traditional, adult learners.
High level of comfort utilizing web-conferencing platforms (such as Zoom), Google Suite, and various educational technologies.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of professional experience in academic advising, student affairs, or higher education administration.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
Prior experience or familiarity working within the field of law or dispute resolution is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for academic advising, student success initiatives, and general student inquiries across graduate law programs.
Conduct advising sessions to guide students through degree requirements and completion timelines by analyzing Degree Audit Reports (DAR) and establishing individual study templates.
Evaluate student course enrollment choices to ensure they align directly with their long-term professional development goals.
Analyze student academic and engagement data to deliver proactive guidance, track trends, and implement timely interventions.
Oversee the registration and course enrollment processes each semester for both online and on-ground graduate law students.
Conduct mandatory advising meetings with students during their initial term and final semester to confirm graduation readiness.
Maintain a flexible schedule that accommodates a diverse student body living across various US and global time zones.
Assist with the logistics, planning, and execution for major student milestones including New Student Orientation, registration windows, and graduation events.
Facilitate arrival logistics, welcome initiatives, and specialized onboarding support tailored to specific student populations.
Revise student handbooks annually and educate students regarding institutional policies, academic deadlines, and university resources.
Execute proactive outreach to struggling, unresponsive, or inactive students to resolve academic challenges or re-engage them in their studies.
Oversee and actively respond to incoming communications through the [email protected] and [email protected] service inboxes.
Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned by department leadership.
Uphold University mission through work performed.