Assistant Director, Undergraduate Advising Support

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Undergraduate Advising Support will work in partnership with the Director and Associate Director to lead advising operations and ensure the delivery of high-quality academic advising for undergraduate students. This position collaborates closely with faculty advisors, oversees the daily operations of the Hawk Hill Advising Office, and supports initiatives that enhance the student experience. The Assistant Director provides direct student advising, supervises professional advising staff, and represents Undergraduate Advising Support on key university committees and initiatives.

Requirements

Master’s Degree plus a minimum of two years experience in an academic advising capacity in a college or university or other higher education experience
Demonstrated understanding of registration procedures and academic requirements
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty and administrators
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, presentation skills and writing skills
Demonstrated organizational skills and demonstrated experience being a flexible and supportive team player
Proficiency in software systems and reporting tools comparable to those used in advising at SJU (e.g., Banner, Degree Works, Starfish, Cognos, etc.).
Proficiency in Microsoft office tools including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

3-5 years experience in higher education/student services
Advanced skill using Ellucian Banner and DegreeWorks
Advanced skill using reporting tools and Excel/SPSS.
Experience with Starfish Student Retention Management System

Responsibilities

Partner with the Director in developing and implementing efficient processes, systems, and communication strategies to manage the work of Undergraduate Advising Support.
Assist with managing the day-to-day operations of the Hawk Hill Advising Office; serve as a proxy for the Director in their absence.
Supervise two professional advisors, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and opportunities for ongoing professional development.
Oversee the training, development, and supervision of the Advisor staff, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with advising standards.
Hire, train, and supervise the student peer advisor staff (work study and minterns).
Oversee the transfer student onboarding process.
Collaborate with advisors to develop communication plans and advising resources that support a smooth transition to SJU.
Advise students on a broad range of academic and general concerns, including major exploration, General Education requirements, policies and procedures, and course registration.
Serve as the advising representative on the Invisible Safety Net Committee and collaborate with Associate Deans and Student Success staff to resolve complex student issues.
Serve as a Student-Athlete liaison, supporting the ACE staff with academic and advising matters.
Serve as the primary contact for Admissions, coordinating advising staff participation in Admissions-related events and presentations.
Collaborate with the Registrar’s Office and academic department chairs to review and resolve graduation clearance issues; coordinate outreach to students who are not cleared to graduate.
Build and maintain strong relationships with Associate Deans, academic departments, and faculty advisors, serving as a resource for advising-related questions and student problem resolution.
Co-lead planning and implementation of first-year student academic orientation and fall registration.
Collaborate on joint initiatives with campus partners such as the Transfer Orientation, Rebound Program, Center for International Programs, and Career Development Center (e.g., major exploration programming).
Partner with the Director to conduct annual assessments of student satisfaction with advising services and use results to inform continuous improvement.
Manage special projects as assigned by the Director