Lead Academic Advisor (SSP IV)

CSU Careers•Turlock, CA

About The Position

Full-time position available on or after March 2, 2026 for ASC/Undergraduate Advising. Under general supervision, the Lead Advisor provides advanced leadership for the Advising & Success Center (ASC), the university’s centralized undergraduate advising unit. The position leads equity-minded advising initiatives, supports student retention and timely graduation, and serves as a campus resource for complex academic advising and policy interpretation. The Lead Advisor delivers high-level academic advising and intervention for students with complex needs, supports advisors and faculty in navigating academic policies, and collaborates with campus partners to improve advising practices. Responsibilities include coordinating targeted advising initiatives, using data to inform program improvements, and ensuring accurate records and compliance with institutional requirements. This role may serve as a lead or working supervisor by providing guidance, training, and direction to advisors, staff, or student employees and supporting the daily operations of the ASC.

Requirements

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, plus upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing and job related conflict resolutions
Experience: Equivalent to four years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience which includes experience in advising students individually and in groups, and in analysis and resolution of complex student services problems.
A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a job-related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience.
A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling, guidance or a job-related field may be substituted for two years of the required professional experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional, personal or career or counseling.
Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
Ability to use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements.
Ability to obtain factual and interpretive information through interviews.
Ability to collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentation based on these data.
Ability to recognize multicultural, multi-sexed and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly.
Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.
Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
General knowledge of the principles, practices and trends of the Student Services field.
General knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge, of the overall operation, functions, and organizational procedures of the campus.
Ability to advise students individually and in groups on complex student-related matters.
Ability to interpret and evaluate descriptions and explanations of problems brought forward by individuals or student organizations.
Thorough knowledge of the policies, procedures, activities, and practices of the program area to which assigned, or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge.
General knowledge of the policies, practices and activities of Student Services programs outside the program to which immediately assigned.
General knowledge of the principles, problems and methods of public administration, including organizational, personnel and fiscal management.
General knowledge of interview techniques and advanced statistical and research methods.
Ability to carry out very complex assignments without detailed instructions.
Ability to advise students individually or in groups on varied and complex matters.
Ability to determine the appropriate course of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with individuals and groups in personal interactions of a sensitive nature.
Ability to reason logically and analyze and solve the organizational and operating problems of one or several program areas.
Ability to plan, coordinate, initiate actions necessary to implement administrative or group decisions or recommendations and ability to evaluate programs, services, policies and procedures.
Ability to analyze and define complex organizational, policy or procedural problems or situations accurately, collect and evaluate data, draw valid conclusions and project consequences of various alternative courses of action.
Ability to understand the roles and responsibilities of others and to gauge relationships accordingly by taking into account the variety of the interrelationships, motivations and goals of the members of the organization served.
Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative and harmonious working relationships with a variety of individuals in circumstances which involve the denial of requests or the necessity to persuade others to accept a different point of view.

Nice To Haves

Five (5) or more years of professional experience providing academic advising, student success programming, or retention-focused services in a higher education setting.
Five (5) or more years of experience leading or coordinating advising programs, or student success interventions with campus-wide or multi-unit impact.
Experience interpreting academic policies and supporting complex advising cases, such as academic standing, appeals, petitions, or exceptions.
Demonstrated expertise in admission eligibility and bachelor’s degree evaluations; and comprehensive advising on graduation requirements in accordance with Title 5 and CSU policies.
Knowledge of prerequisite impacts on student registration, registration processes, and experience using ERP and degree audit systems are also preferred.
Experience using student success technologies or data systems (e.g., EAB Navigate, CRM platforms, student information systems) to support advising, outreach, or assessment.
Experience designing, implementing, or leading equity-minded academic advising or student success initiatives that address retention, persistence, or graduation outcomes
Experience leading or coordinating targeted advising interventions for first-year, transfer, undecided, or academically at-risk students within a centralized advising or student success model.
Prior experience in a higher education or CSU setting.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of advising and student success programs.
Serve as the campus lead for the centralized undergraduate advising model through the Advising & Success Center.
Develop, coordinate, and administer programs, events, and services that support student engagement, retention, and development.
Lead the implementation of equity-minded advising practices across advising operations.
Design and implement new approaches to advising challenges where established policies or precedents do not exist.
Recommend and implement advising-related policy and procedural changes with campus-wide impact.
Interpret academic advising policies and approve appropriate exceptions within delegated authority.
Collaborate with cross-divisional and external partners to align advising services with campus-wide and system-wide initiatives.
Independently handle unusual, non-routine, or precedent-setting situations that impact advising staff, programs, or campus partners.
Plan and organize work priorities and select methodologies from alternative approaches to meet institutional goals.
Provide advanced academic advising, guidance, and advocacy to support student retention, persistence, and timely graduation.
Serve as the final escalation point for complex, high-risk, or sensitive academic advising cases.
Assist students in navigating complex academic standing issues, appeals, probation, disqualification, and policy exceptions.
Balance student-centered advocacy with institutional standards when resolving advising cases.
Provide consultative advising and policy guidance to advisors, faculty, department chairs, and administrators.
Support equity-focused student success efforts by addressing systemic barriers and coordinating appropriate referrals.
Provide advising guidance and referrals that support registered student organizations and student leadership initiatives, as appropriate.
Oversee daily operations of the Advising & Success Center.
Provide lead work direction to professional advisors, support staff, and student employees, including onboarding, training coordination, and workflow guidance.
Recommend staffing models, caseload distribution, and advising service delivery structures.
Develop, maintain, and enforce operational standards, procedures, and documentation.
Support and coordinate department-wide advising programs, events, and initiatives beyond individual caseload responsibilities.
Ensure accurate, secure, and compliant maintenance of advising records, systems, and documentation in accordance with campus and CSU requirements.
Ensure advising operations comply with university, CSU, and regulatory requirements.
Develop and lead evaluation frameworks to assess advising program quality, effectiveness, and student outcomes.
Analyze advising and student success data (e.g., retention, persistence, equity gaps) to inform strategic improvements.
Use assessment findings to support continuous improvement, resource allocation, and service redesign.
Translate CSU and campus policy changes into advising practices, training materials, and communication.
Develop and deliver training, onboarding, and professional development for advisors and faculty.
Conduct studies, surveys, and assessments and prepare reports with recommendations.
Contribute to institutional reporting, accreditation, and effectiveness documentation.
May be required to obtain additional training and/or certification as part of professional development, based on department and/or campus needs, to stay current with industry standards.
At the direction of appropriate administrator, may provide support to other areas as needed.