Assistant Director, Sallyport Fellows Program

Rice University•Houston, TX

6d•$60,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of the Sallyport Fellows Program (SFP) provides hands-on advising, coaching, and other support to Rice first-generation/limited-income (FGLI) undergraduate students. Using a relationship-centered, proactive advising model, the role guides students through the transition to college and supports them in achieving student-determined goals at and beyond Rice. The Assistant Director uses holistic, student-centered advising, proactive advising strategies, innovative learning approaches, and coaching techniques to engage students, connect them with university resources, and facilitate retention. The role also tracks student progress and designs proactive interventions to support student success. The position is primarily Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional limited evening and weekend work during busy periods. It is hybrid, requiring four days on campus and allowing the option of one remote day per week; work arrangements may change under Rice policy. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt salaried position with a hiring range of $60,000–$65,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume in PDF format.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 2 years of related professional experience in a four-year college or university setting, including previous advising or coaching experience.
Coaching and instructional skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and ability to quickly assess the effectiveness of an intervention.
Knowledge of student development, learning, and identity development theories, with professional experience applying those frameworks.
Ability to problem-solve and support or advise students in personal and/or academic crisis.
Strong communication and rapport-building skills.
Experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, alumni, families, and administration.
Experience and comfort working with diverse student populations, including first-generation college students, limited-income students, first- and second-year students, and underrepresented student populations.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, preferably in college student personnel, counseling, student affairs, or a related field.
Experience employing holistic proactive/intrusive advising strategies.
Experience providing academic support, leadership development, and program development.
Experience supporting student success or undergraduate retention initiatives.
Experience collaborating with faculty.
Experience working at a highly selective college or university.
Familiarity with a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
Ability to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

Identify and advise FGLI students who need additional support, providing sustained, individualized, developmentally appropriate coaching for academic, social, leadership, and interpersonal development.
Help students develop roadmaps for success at the university and use varied strategies to identify and implement their goals.
Monitor student academic performance and persistence toward graduation; update advising notes in Navigate, prepare reports, and maintain detailed student files as needed.
Apply best practices in proactive advising, student success coaching, and higher education/student affairs to advising practices.
Help develop student success interventions, workshops, and other programs that facilitate the transition to college.
Teach a section of University 110, a first-year student transition course.
Collaborate with residential college Magisters, Wellbeing, faculty and academic departments, Campus Life entities, and other campus resources to provide comprehensive student support.
Support other FGLI student-support initiatives as needed, including Orientation Week, office-wide marketing initiatives, and programming for first-generation and/or limited-income students.
Perform other duties as assigned.