Executive Director Warrior Success Center (MnSCU Academic Supervisor 3)

Winona State University • Winona, MN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Winona State University is seeking an Executive Director for the Warrior Success Center. This role is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive student success and retention strategy. The Executive Director will oversee a coordinated advising model, develop proactive advising practices, and use data analytics to identify and address equity gaps. The position also involves providing institutional leadership for Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), supervising the staff of the Warrior Success Center, and overseeing advising systems, tutoring, testing, and career services. Additionally, the role will lead institutional practices related to academic standing, probation, suspension, and re-entry, and coordinate orientation, transition, and first-year experience programming. Collaboration with academic colleges and other university departments is essential to create a seamless student experience and promote shared accountability for student success.

Requirements

• Four (4) years of leadership experience in advising, student success, or related areas.
• Masters degree may substitute for 18 months of experience, Bachelor’s degree may substitute for one year of experience and Associates degree may substitute for six months of experience.
• Experience leading advising systems or retention initiatives.
• Strong analytical and data-informed decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and student success.
• Must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States by the day employment begins.
• A complete online application will include: A cover letter that addresses the qualifications listed previously, Current Curriculum Vitae / Resume, Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate).

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or related field.
• Experience with student success technologies and predictive analytics tools.
• Demonstrated success improving retention and graduation outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive, end-to-end student success and retention strategy spanning initial registration, through graduation.
• Establish and oversee a coordinated advising model that integrates professional advising, faculty advising, and student success technologies.
• Develop and implement proactive, intrusive advising practices that ensure early identification and sustained support for at-risk students.
• Use predictive analytics, retention data, and disaggregated student outcomes to identify equity gaps and drive targeted interventions.
• Establish measurable institutional goals, including improved fall-to-fall retention and a minimum 2 percentage point increase in both four-year and six-year graduation rates, and lead efforts to achieve these outcomes over the next four years.
• Provide institutional leadership for Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), including advising, registration coordination, and policy development, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and system requirements.
• Lead, supervise, and direct personnel of the Warrior Success Center, including interviewing, hiring, evaluating, promoting, rewarding, transferring, assigning work, providing training, and disciplining, suspending, or discharging when necessary.
• Ensure Minnesota State System policies and procedures are implemented and properly enforced.
• Ensure adequate staffing to meet departmental deadlines and goals.
• Be knowledgeable in aspects of the bargaining unit contracts regarding employment matters including but not limited to, work assignments, hours of work, FLSA, time sheet issues, disciplinary procedures etc.
• Provide direct oversight of advising operations, including undeclared student advising and targeted support for high-risk and underserved populations.
• Ensure alignment of early alert systems, case management, and advising outreach across the student lifecycle.
• Lead development and implementation of advisor training, tools, and performance expectations for both professional and faculty advisors.
• Monitor advising effectiveness, student engagement, and persistence outcomes, making data-informed improvements.
• Maintain a limited advising caseload, as needed, to support service delivery and ensure leadership remains connected to student experience.
• Oversee all functional areas within the Warrior Success Center, including tutoring, testing, career services.
• Ensure services are fully integrated and aligned to support student progression, retention, and completion.
• Establish performance expectations and assess outcomes across all units with a focus on student success metrics.
• Align staffing and resources to support high-impact advising and retention initiatives.
• Lead institutional practices related to academic standing, probation, suspension, and re-entry with a focus on student persistence and successful degree completion.
• Serve as a senior resource for complex student cases, including appeals and retention interventions.
• Ensure policies and practices are equitable, consistently applied, and aligned with institutional and system requirements.
• Provide leadership and coordination for orientation, registration, and transition programming in partnership with campus stakeholders to ensure strong onboarding and early student engagement.
• Align first-year experience initiatives with advising, retention, and completion strategies.
• Ensure new student programming supports academic readiness, belonging, and persistence.
• Partner with academic colleges, Admissions, Warrior Hub (Financial Aid, Registrar, Enrollment Services) to create a seamless student experience from entry through graduation.
• Promote shared institutional responsibility for retention, equity, and student success outcomes.
• Participate in institutional committees and initiatives focused on enrollment, advising, and student success.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Benefits

• 11 paid Holidays
• Vacation Time
• Sick Time
• six weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500)
• a Pension Plan
• 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options
• pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts
• employer paid life insurance
• short and long term disability
• professional development
• a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive