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

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The Graduate Student Success & Career Development Advisor performs professional student-services work supporting graduate student 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 advising to prospective and current graduate students on academic policies and procedures, enrollment and degree progress, academic planning, graduation requirements, and strategies for timely degree completion. The Advisor independently handles complex or sensitive academic and administrative cases by analyzing individual circumstances, interpreting established University and CSU policies, explaining options, coordinating referrals to campus resources, and recommending courses of action when management review or authority beyond the position’s delegation is needed. The role also develops and delivers graduate-specific career and professional development advising, workshops, and programming in partnership with Career Development and campus partners. The position coordinates assigned advising and 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. This is a full-time, one-year probationary position, scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is assigned to on-campus operations in California, with possible occasional telework. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for workshops, events, or program deadlines.

Requirements

Typically demonstrated possession of the required knowledge and abilities through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student-services work experience.
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.
Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
General knowledge of student-services principles, practices, and trends, and of the policies, procedures, and practices of the assigned program area.
General knowledge of individual counseling techniques and of campus organizational procedures and activities, or the ability to acquire that knowledge rapidly.
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 actions and techniques when interacting with individuals in argumentative or sensitive situations.
Ability to interpret and evaluate descriptions of problems, define issues, draw valid conclusions, and project consequences of alternative actions.
Ability to carry out professionally complex assignments without detailed instructions and to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may substitute for one year of experience.
For positions with major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling, a doctorate degree and appropriate counseling or guidance internship or clinical training may substitute for the three years of experience.
Successful completion of a background check is required.
Ability to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the United States within three business days of hire.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, public administration, education, or a closely related field.
One year of experience in the assigned program area; preferred but not required.
Knowledge of graduate education, academic advising, student success, career development, or related student-services functions at a CSU campus or another institution of higher education.
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 program administration and continuity.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational units, exercise sound professional judgment within established responsibilities, and recognize matters requiring consultation or escalation.
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

Advise prospective and current graduate students individually and in groups on graduate policies and procedures, enrollment and degree progress, academic planning, graduation requirements, persistence, and timely degree completion.
Provide advising and case coordination for students with complex or sensitive academic and administrative circumstances; analyze cases, explain applicable policies and options, coordinate referrals, and recommend actions requiring management review.
Review petitions and requests involving reinstatement, academic notice, withdrawal, leave of absence, continuous enrollment, graduation requirements, and other unusual circumstances.
Identify academic and non-academic barriers to student progress and connect students with relevant campus resources, including Financial Aid, Basic Needs, 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, determine outreach needs, implement assigned interventions, and recommend advising-service 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.
Coordinate assigned administrative functions for the California Pre-Doctoral Program (Sally Casanova Scholars), Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP), and other graduate-specific fellowship programs assigned to Graduate Studies.
Maintain program calendars, procedures, applicant information, records, and documentation; conduct information sessions and applicant workshops; advise applicants on program requirements and application preparation; and facilitate faculty mentor participation.
Coordinate assigned program expenditures, reimbursements, travel, and award-related transactions with fiscal staff under University and CSU policies.
Track applications, participation, nominations, awards, and scholar or fellow outcomes; maintain shared records; and prepare semester, annual, and required CSU reports.
Maintain and annually update a fellowship and scholarship responsibility matrix for management review and approval, distinguishing primary administration, coordinating partnership, and referral responsibilities.
Provide appropriate referral, outreach, and liaison support for fellowship and scholarship opportunities administered by other campus units rather than administering those programs as the primary unit.
Develop, coordinate, and deliver graduate-specific career and professional development advising and programming in partnership with Career Development.
Advise graduate students on career exploration and planning; doctoral and faculty-career preparation; CV and resume development; articulation of disciplinary and transferable skills; research communication; professional writing; networking; interview preparation; and transition to employment.
Help students identify educational and vocational goals, evaluate career options, recognize relevant skills and experiences, and access University career-development resources.
Develop and coordinate communications for assigned student-success, career-development, doctoral-pathway, and fellowship functions in alignment with Division priorities and supervisory direction.
Create and maintain web content, email communications, 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.