Director of Academic Advising | WSU Tri-Cities (Richland, WA)

Washington State University • Richland, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Washington State University Tri-Cities, Student & Academic Services, is now accepting applications for a Director of Academic Advising. Academic Advising plays a central role in advancing student success, persistence, and timely degree completion through holistic, student-centered advising. The advising team partners closely with students, faculty, and campus leadership to support academic planning, exploration, and navigation of university processes at every stage of the student lifecycle. Join a mission-driven campus committed to personalized support and transformational educational outcomes. As the Director of Academic Advising for the WSU Tri-Cities campus, you will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management for a centralized academic advising operation serving both pre-matriculated and matriculated students. You will lead a team of professional advisors while also maintaining a limited advising caseload, helping to ensure consistent, high-quality advising practices aligned with university and system-wide standards. In this role, you will oversee advising operations, supervise and mentor advising staff, and collaborate with academic and student affairs leadership to strengthen student success, retention, and completion efforts. You will guide the development and implementation of advising policies, procedures, and assessment practices, while serving as a key partner to faculty, registrars, enrollment management, and student support services. Your work will directly shape the student experience at WSU Tri-Cities and contribute to continuous improvement in advising practices across the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of full-time academic advising experience at a college or university or relevant professional experience.
• A Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of professional work experience.
• Any combination of relevant education and professional academic advising experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year‐for‐year basis.
• One (1) or more years of full-time experience leading or supervising the work of others.
• Knowledge of advising and counseling techniques, with the ability to build trust and provide safe, supportive opportunities for students, from varied backgrounds, including, but not limited to, underrepresented, first generation, and/or high needs, to identify and pursue paths to graduation that support their educational goals and post-graduation plans.
• The ability to effectively and respectfully interact with students, faculty, and staff of diverse social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds, and an understanding of the institutional barriers faced by historically under-served student populations in higher education.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of general education courses and requirements of academic programs including transfer requirements.
• Knowledge of accreditation processes.
• Experience working with a diverse student population.
• Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management for a centralized academic advising operation serving both pre-matriculated and matriculated students.
• Lead a team of professional advisors while also maintaining a limited advising caseload.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality advising practices aligned with university and system-wide standards.
• Oversee advising operations.
• Supervise and mentor advising staff.
• Collaborate with academic and student affairs leadership to strengthen student success, retention, and completion efforts.
• Guide the development and implementation of advising policies, procedures, and assessment practices.
• Serve as a key partner to faculty, registrars, enrollment management, and student support services.
• Shape the student experience at WSU Tri-Cities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in advising practices across the institution.

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• Retirement
• Deferred compensation
• Optional supplemental retirement accounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees