Executive Director for Student Support

University of New Mexico•Albuquerque, NM

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of New Mexico’s Division of Student Affairs seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director for Student Support. This role is crucial as the Division advances its 2025-2030 strategic plan, Innovating the Student Experience, aiming to be a global leader in providing an innovative, equitable, and culturally responsive student experience grounded in a strong sense of place and tradition. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), the Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for multiple student-serving units and advances a coordinated, student-centered approach to support, engagement, and success. The Executive Director is a member of the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and serves as a senior divisional leader and advisor to the VPSA, helping shape strategy, policy, organizational planning, and continuous improvement efforts that strengthen student success, belonging, and degree completion. This position directly leads a portfolio of student support, cultural, engagement, and enrichment units including African American Student Services, American Indian Student Services, Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center, College Enrichment and Outreach Programs, Community Engagement Center, El Centro de la Raza, and Women’s Resource Center. Through partnerships, the Executive Director advances coordinated support strategies, student belonging initiatives, and institution-wide practices that promote access, persistence, and completion. The role also leads divisional alignment across student-serving operations, including advising-related collaboration, Student Hub CRM strategy, coordinated outreach, and research-informed approaches to strengthening the student experience. The Division of Student Affairs is comprised of student-centered units and services dedicated to advancing the quality, cohesiveness, and cultural relevancy of the student experience on the Albuquerque campus and beyond. Through a commitment to equity, belonging, and holistic student development, the Division partners across the institution to ensure students are supported academically, socially, and personally.

Requirements

Master's degree
At least 4 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience overseeing multiple functional areas, leading teams of professional staff, and managing complex organizational initiatives
Experience overseeing multiple student-serving units in a complex higher education environment
Demonstrated success advancing student-centered, equity-informed, and inclusive practices that support access, engagement, persistence, and student success
Experience supporting institutional initiatives focused on first-generation student success
Experience aligning student services with CRM systems, data-informed outreach strategies, or coordinated care models
Knowledge of grant development or grant-funded program support within higher education
Proven ability to lead organizational change, strengthen operational efficacy, and foster cross-unit collaboration
Demonstrated ability to engage in thoughtful and strategic assessment leading to operational and programmatic improvements

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs and as a member of the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team, contributing to division-wide planning, governance, and decision-making.
Advise the Vice President for Student Affairs and represent the VPSA, as appropriate, on University committees, initiatives, and external engagements.
Direct and oversee multiple student-serving units within the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring effective operations, organizational alignment, assessment, and fiscal sustainability.
Establish, implement, and assess short- and long-range goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies, reporting processes, and operating procedures for units within the portfolio.
Design, maintain, and evaluate effective organizational structures and staffing models; oversee recruitment, supervision, performance management, and professional development of staff, including director-level personnel.
Lead efforts to improve operational effectiveness across units through strong alignment of staffing, processes, communication, and resources.
Advance student-centered, equity-informed practices that support student engagement, advocacy, belonging, persistence, and success.
Collaborate across units to strengthen recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes and enhance the overall student experience.
Serve as a senior institutional champion for UNM’s FirstGen Forward designation, providing strategic leadership for the coordination, alignment, implementation, and assessment of institution-wide first-generation student success initiatives.
Lead divisional alignment with UNM’s CRM, Student Hub, to improve coordinated outreach, communication, and student support across Student Affairs units.
Collaborate in the development and oversight of unit and divisional budgets, and conduct cost, productivity, and resource analyses as appropriate.
Promote ethical, data-informed decision-making to strengthen service delivery and student outcomes.
Provide leadership for the coordination, stewardship, and sustainability of grant-funded and externally supported initiatives within the portfolio, including partnership development, implementation oversight, assessment, reporting, and alignment with institutional priorities.
Represent Student Affairs and build relationships with campus and external stakeholders, including community organizations and funding partners, to advance strategic initiatives and enhance support for students.

Benefits

robust and comprehensive benefits package
extensive professional resources
tuition remission
discounted event tickets
comprehensive health coverage
wellness programs
paid parental leave
generous leave benefits
medical insurance
dental insurance
vision insurance
life insurance
educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs