Assistant Director, Student Success

Stony Brook University•Stony Brook, NY

23h•$71,000 - $77,000

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Student Success and Retention is a newly created position within the Division of Student Affairs responsible for advancing campus-wide student success initiatives, with a particular focus on identified and priority student populations. This position reports to the Strategic Lead for Student Success and Retention and resides in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Assistant Director provides strategic leadership for data-informed outreach, innovative programming, and coordinated retention efforts that strengthen student engagement and institutional outcomes. The Assistant Director serves as a key connector between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, translating institutional retention priorities into effective programs, partnerships, and student-centered strategies. This role combines direct program oversight with supervisory responsibility, cross-divisional collaboration, and continuous assessment to ensure high-impact, scalable retention initiatives. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, administrative, and interpersonal skills; the ability to manage people and projects simultaneously; and a commitment to innovation, equity, and student-centered practice in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher).
Three (3) years of full-time administrative experience or experience in higher education.
Project management experience.
Experience with advancing student success/retention-related initiatives.
Experience working with diverse student populations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in higher education or related field.
Additional years (4+) of full-time administrative experience or experience in higher education.
Event/initiative coordination experience.
Experience with Google Workspace, including experience creating electronic forms, managing and organizing data, and running basic queries or reports.
Experience supervising or supporting student employees.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of retention initiatives that promote belonging, persistence, and academic momentum, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and best practices.
Serve as a thought partner in the development of short- and long-term retention strategies, with particular emphasis on the first-year experience and early intervention.
Identify emerging student needs and institutional gaps, proposing creative, evidence-based solutions and pilot initiatives.
Work collaboratively with colleagues who are part of the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Undergraduate Student Success Team, and the SUNY Academic Momentum initiative.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across all Division of Student Affairs areas, including Campus Residences; Career Center; CRAFT (Communications, Research, Assessment, Fundraising, and Technology) ; Student Health, Wellness, and Prevention Services; and Student Life.
Ensure consistency, quality, and intentional alignment of retention efforts across participating units and programs.
Provide leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of structured outreach strategies that support first-year students who have been identified as at-risk of not being retained including out-of-state, international, and other identified populations—through proactive tracking, communication, check-ins, referrals, and coordinated support.
Develop innovative, value-added, student-centered programming that supports successful transitions for first-year students identified as most at-risk of not continuing their studies at Stony Brook.
Oversee the planning, execution, and assessment of retention-focused programs for identified student populations, ensuring effective logistics, communications, staffing, and outreach to maximize student engagement.
Supervise student assistants and oversee student mentor/buddy programs that support retention.
Collaborate with the CRAFT team on developing and implementing a communications strategy for the first-year students who are most at-risk of not continuing their studies at Stony Brook.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive team culture that encourages creativity, continuous improvement, and shared ownership of outcomes.
Manage multiple concurrent initiatives, balancing strategic priorities with operational needs.
Actively track key data to support and improve first-year student retention rates.
Regularly evaluate outreach models and program delivery to enhance effectiveness, scalability, and student impact.
Oversee the collection and analysis of participation data and outcome measures related to retention initiatives, using findings to inform strategic decisions and program improvements.
Analyze retention trends and student success data to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities for targeted intervention.
Translate assessment findings into actionable recommendations for leadership, supporting evidence-based planning and resource allocation.
Support the preparation of reports, presentations, and updates that communicate program effectiveness and impact to internal stakeholders.
Participate in professional development opportunities that support learning, growth, and skill development (e.g., training, workshops, webinars, committees).
Contribute to the Division of Student Affairs and Stony Brook University by attending and/or supporting events, activities, and programs sponsored by areas outside of your individual unit/department (i.e. campus wide traditions, events, programs, etc.).
Represent Student Affairs on campus committees and working groups related to student success, retention, and first-year experience initiatives.
Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.