Director of Academic Support and Advising

Colorado School of Mines

2d • $90,000 - $100,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Engineering a world of possibilities Colorado School of Mines is seeking a visionary and student-centered Director to lead the Center for Academic Services & Advising (CASA) at a pivotal moment in the institution’s evolution. This role offers a rare opportunity to guide a committed team through a thoughtful, collaborative redesign of the advising and academic support ecosystem. This redesign will modernize services, elevate student success metrics, and incorporate emerging technologies and data-driven practices across the undergraduate experience. The Director will find success by bringing a blend of strong supervision, systems thinking, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to students’ academic journeys. These skills will be essential in stewarding CASA’s current operations, engaging the campus community to examine and frame a new organizational structure, and ultimately leading the reimagined office once it is implemented. This is a dynamic opportunity for a leader who thrives in environments of innovation and purposeful change. We are looking for a director motivated by collaboration, able to see the big picture, and energized by the opportunity to design structures that support Mines students for years to come. The director will lead institutionally and divisionally with ongoing commitments and collaborations with faculty and administrators across Mines. While the director will serve as an architect and champion for future aspirations, they will also lead an existing team of professional advisors through the current commitments. Their leadership should prioritize the core commitments that define CASA today: maintaining high standards in four-year advising, ensuring alignment with faculty and academic departments, coordinating closely with Academic Affairs and the Registrar, and integrating early alert systems that support timely student intervention and progress. The Director also leads essential academic support functions while cultivating strong, collaborative relationships across campus to ensure consistent, clear, and student-centered practices. As the office evolves, these same strengths (strategic advisement leadership, academic support oversight, team management, data fluency, and institutional partnership) will guide the Director’s success through the transition and into the future structure of the reimagined office. This is a full-time, 12-month exempt position eligible for a flexible work arrangement, inclusive of limited remote/hybrid work.

Requirements

• At minimum, Master’s degree from an accredited institution
• 15+ years of progressive administrative experience in post-secondary education, including academic success, advising, retention, or student support
• 10+ years of demonstrated budget management responsibility
• 10+ years of experience leading and supervising professional staff in large and/or complex teams

Nice To Haves

• Experience working at a STEM-focused college or university
• Experience in student services, advising, counseling, retention, or student development
• Senior leadership experience (Director level or higher) in higher education
• Familiarity with higher education technology (e.g., Slate, Banner, or similar platforms)
• Experience collaborating with senior administrators and external stakeholders
• Strong organizational, project management, communication, and leadership skills

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision Lead the redesign and implementation of an integrated advising and academic support model
• Develop and execute strategies to enhance student success metrics (retention, progression, graduation)
• Apply systems thinking and data-driven decision-making to improve services
• Operations & Team Leadership Provide supervision and leadership to a team of professional advisors and staff
• Oversee daily CASA operations, ensuring continuity and high-quality service delivery
• Manage departmental budget and resources effectively
• Campus Collaboration & Partnership Partner with faculty, academic departments, Academic Affairs, and the Registrar
• Build strong institutional relationships to align advising practices across campus
• Collaborate with senior leadership and external stakeholders as needed
• Advising & Academic Support Oversight Maintain excellence in four-year advising models and student support services
• Ensure effective early alert systems and timely student interventions
• Oversee academic support initiatives aligned with student needs

Benefits

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass
• All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center.
• We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees