Executive Director, Student Success and First Year Foundations (A)

University of Miami•Coral Gables, FL

11d

About The Position

The Executive Director oversees a unit focused on promoting undergraduate students’ successful completion of the University. The role leads development of a holistic advocacy system for undergraduate retention, persistence and graduation risk interventions, and the strategic operations of student success communications, promotion, and technologies. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Success, the Executive Director also serves on the Center for Academic Navigation and Success leadership team to build a cohesive academic success network for undergraduate students. The position leads the Office of Student Success Advocacy and designs and implements student success promotion and attrition prevention programs. It supervises staff and program development, assessment, onboarding, budgets, student success technologies, analytics-informed interventions, stakeholder relationships, training and communications, undergraduate withdrawal processes, and events. The role also conducts benchmarking, interprets relevant legislation, liaises with external organizations, and ensures effective internal controls and compliance.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a relevant field.
Minimum 7 years of relevant experience.
Knowledge of business and management principles.
Technological proficiency with CRMs, PowerBI, Microsoft Excel, Student Information Systems, Learning Management Systems, and AI strategies.
Ability to direct, manage, implement, and evaluate department operations.
Ability to establish department goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
Ability to plan effectively, delegate, and/or supervise the work of others.
Ability to lead, motivate, develop, and train others.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

Lead the Office of Student Success Advocacy and design and implement student success promotion and attrition prevention programs.
Recruit, mentor, supervise, and evaluate subordinate staff, and oversee program development, assessment, and onboarding for peer mentor programs, GPAim and GPAid programs, and proactive and risk interventions for undergraduate students.
Advance and supervise annual budgets for assigned program areas.
Serve on EAB Navigate teams and oversee training and use of EAB Navigate 360 and other student success technologies.
Collaborate with Institutional Research to access data and administer predictive analytics, developing strategies, efficiencies, and interventions to improve undergraduate retention, persistence, and completion rates.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with student, faculty, and staff stakeholders to advance a culture of student success.
Direct relevant training, professional development, and targeted multimedia communications.
Work with faculty in schools and colleges and senior program staff to establish long-term goals for existing programs.
Oversee the undergraduate withdrawal process and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform programs, processes, and policies aimed at minimizing attrition.
Coordinate and direct seminars, conferences, workshops, and other Center for Academic Navigation & Success events.
Conduct benchmarking studies for applicable programs.
Interpret and share the impact of federal and state legislation on institutional programs.
Serve as liaison to external agencies and organizations to further program goals and objectives.
Ensure internal control oversight and compliance with laws, regulations, and University policies and procedures; safeguard assets; support reliable reporting and effective operations.
Create an effective control environment, conduct risk assessments, and implement and monitor controls.
Perform other duties or responsibilities as necessary.