Graduate Student Success and Career Development Advisor (Student Services Professional III, Range 1) - Division of Graduate Studies and Career Development

San Francisco State University•San Francisco, CA

27d•$66,480 - $69,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Graduate Student Success & Career Development Advisor performs student services work supporting graduate students’ academic success, persistence, degree completion, career and professional development, doctoral preparation, and fellowship preparation. Under the general direction of the Dean and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Career Development, and in collaboration with the Director of Career & Leadership Development, the Advisor provides comprehensive individual and group advising to prospective and current graduate students on academic policies and procedures, enrollment, degree progress, academic planning, graduation requirements, and strategies for persistence and timely completion. The Advisor works with students facing complex or sensitive academic and administrative circumstances by analyzing individual cases, interpreting established University and CSU policies and procedures, explaining options, coordinating referrals to campus resources, and recommending action for management review when exceptions or decisions beyond delegated authority are involved. The position also uses student information systems, advising platforms, and student-success data to identify patterns and needs, conduct outreach, implement assigned interventions, and recommend improvements. In partnership with Career Development and other campus partners, the Advisor develops and delivers graduate-specific career and professional development advising, workshops, and programming. The Advisor coordinates assigned administrative functions for the California Pre-Doctoral Program (Sally Casanova Scholars), the Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP), and other graduate fellowship or doctoral pathway programs formally assigned to Graduate Studies. The role includes program records, applicant support, reporting, communications, outreach, and assessment. This is a one-year probationary position, assigned to on-campus operations in California, with possible occasional telework.

Requirements

Possess knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
Have general knowledge of Student Services principles, practices, and trends, and of the policies, procedures, and practices of the assigned program area.
Have general knowledge of individual counseling techniques and knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge, of the campus’s organizational procedures and activities.
Have working knowledge of student services programs outside the immediately assigned program area.
Ability to analyze complex situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.
Ability to advise students individually and in groups on complex student-related matters.
Ability to determine appropriate courses of action and techniques when interacting with individuals in argumentative or sensitive situations.
Ability to interpret and evaluate problems, define them, draw valid conclusions, and project consequences of alternative courses of action.
Ability to carry out professionally complex assignments without detailed instructions and establish cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals.
Typically, three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience demonstrating the required knowledge and abilities. One year in the assigned program area may be preferred but is not required.
A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may substitute for one year of experience. A doctorate and appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may substitute for three years of experience for positions with major professional career or personal counseling responsibilities.
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper-division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where job-related.
Successful completion of a background check.
Ability to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the United States within three business days of hire.
Work must be performed in California; the position is assigned to on-campus operations.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in the assigned program area.
Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, public administration, education, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of graduate education, academic advising, student success, career development, or a related student-services function at a CSU campus or another higher education institution.
Knowledge of career advising and development practices.
Knowledge of doctoral pathway, fellowship, and scholarship advising.
Experience developing and delivering workshops, presentations, outreach, graduate professional-development programming, or fellowship and doctoral-preparation activities in collaboration with faculty and campus partners.
Experience maintaining program procedures, calendars, records, reporting systems, and shared documentation that support consistent administration and continuity.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational units, exercise sound professional judgment within established responsibilities, and recognize when consultation or escalation is needed.
Experience using PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, EAB Navigate or comparable advising platforms, CRM or email-campaign tools, Handshake or comparable career technology, Microsoft 365, and web content-management systems.
Experience collecting and analyzing student-success data to identify trends, assess services, and recommend improvements.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group advising to prospective and current graduate students on graduate policies and procedures, enrollment, degree progress, academic planning, graduation requirements, persistence, and timely degree completion.
Advise and coordinate cases for students with complex or sensitive academic and administrative circumstances; analyze information, explain policies and options, coordinate referrals, and recommend courses of action requiring management review.
Review and analyze petitions and requests involving reinstatement, academic notice, withdrawal, leave of absence, continuous enrollment, graduation requirements, and unusual circumstances; prepare recommendations when decisions exceed delegated authority.
Identify academic and non-academic barriers to student progress and refer students to appropriate campus services, including Financial Aid, Basic Needs, the Disability Programs and Resource Center, Counseling & Psychological Services, Student Health Services, and Career Development.
Use student information systems, advising platforms, and student-success data to identify progression patterns and student populations that may benefit from targeted advising and outreach; implement assigned interventions and recommend service or procedure improvements.
Serve as a procedural and advising resource to Graduate Studies staff, graduate program coordinators, and faculty on established graduate policies, procedures, and advising practices.
Collaborate with academic colleges, graduate programs, and Enrollment Management on outreach to increase awareness of graduate education and strengthen prospective students’ preparation for graduate study.
Coordinate administrative functions for the California Pre-Doctoral Program (Sally Casanova Scholars), Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP), and other graduate-specific CSU or institutional fellowship programs assigned to Graduate Studies.
Maintain program calendars, procedures, applicant information, and records; conduct information sessions and workshops; advise applicants on requirements and application preparation; and facilitate faculty mentor identification and participation.
Coordinate assigned program expenditures, reimbursements, travel, and other award-related transactions with fiscal staff and in accordance with University and CSU policies.
Track applications, participation, nominations, awards, and scholar or fellow outcomes; maintain shared records and documentation; and prepare semester, annual, and required CSU reports.
Maintain and annually update, for management review and approval, a fellowship and scholarship responsibility matrix identifying Graduate Studies’ administrative or referral role for programs.
Provide referrals, outreach, and liaison support for fellowship and scholarship opportunities administered by other campus units rather than administering those programs.
Develop, coordinate, and deliver graduate-specific career and professional development advising and programming with Career Development.
Advise graduate students on career exploration and planning, doctoral and faculty-career preparation, CV and résumé development, articulation of disciplinary and transferable skills, research communication, professional writing, networking, interviewing, and transitions to professional employment.
Help students identify educational and vocational goals, evaluate career options, recognize relevant skills and experiences, and locate University career-development resources.
Develop and coordinate communications for assigned graduate student success, career development, doctoral pathway, and fellowship functions in alignment with Division priorities and supervisory direction.
Create and maintain accurate web content, emails, FAQs, guides, workshop materials, presentations, and other student-facing information in coordination with communications partners.
Represent Graduate Studies at orientations, graduate fairs, campus presentations, webinars, workshops, and other approved outreach activities.
Collect and analyze advising, participation, referral, and outcome data; prepare reports; identify trends and student needs; and recommend program, communication, or process improvements.
Perform other duties consistent with the Student Services Professional III classification and the operational needs of the Division.