Program Manager for Advising and Student Success (Student Services Professional IV)

San Diego State University • San Diego, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

San Diego State University’s Orientation, Transition and Family Engagement (OTFE) department seeks a collaborative, student-centered Program Manager for Advising and Student Success. The position supports Coordinated Care Advisors, peer advisors, SDSU Ambassadors, and campus partners through advising, registration preparation, training, outreach, and student-success initiatives throughout the academic year and during New Student Orientation. The successful candidate helps students understand graduation requirements, advising resources, registration processes, and opportunities for academic success; serves as a primary contact for advising initiatives; builds campus partnerships; and uses student-success data and feedback to improve programs and the student experience.

The role leads Coordinated Care Advising strategy, training, outreach, assessment, and daily operations across OTFE and campus partners. It plans and coordinates advising and registration preparation for New Student Orientation, including staffing, materials, technology, and operational details. The position also delivers complex individual and group advising and develops training for advisors, Ambassadors, and campus partners.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, permanent/probationary position. It is exempt under the FLSA and not eligible for overtime compensation. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with possible variation based on operational needs. The position is performed on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

OTFE helps new students and their families begin their SDSU experience with confidence and connection. It coordinates orientation for first-year, transfer, and graduate students, as well as sessions for parents and family supporters on student-success resources, academic requirements, university policies, financial aid, and the transition to college.

Requirements

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, plus upper-division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where job related.
• Equivalent to four years of progressively responsible professional student-services work experience, including advising students individually and in groups and analyzing and resolving complex student-services problems.
• A master’s degree in counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a job-related field may substitute for one year of professional experience.
• For positions with major responsibility for professional, personal, or career counseling, a doctorate and appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling, guidance, or a job-related field may substitute for two years of required professional experience.
• Progressively responsible experience supporting students through advising, student services, or related programs.
• Ability to provide thoughtful, inclusive individual and group advising, including for students with complex or sensitive academic concerns.
• Sound judgment, confidentiality, and problem-solving skills in addressing academic, registration, enrollment, and student-success needs.
• Ability to plan and coordinate complex programs, timelines, training, and operations involving multiple campus departments and partners.
• Ability to design, facilitate, and assess engaging training for advisors, student leaders, peer educators, and campus colleagues.
• Experience using advising, student-success, degree-audit, and student information systems to document support, conduct outreach, and monitor student progress.
• Ability to analyze data, feedback, and operational trends to identify needs, evaluate programs, and recommend improvements.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse communities, balance multiple priorities, coordinate work, and provide functional leadership.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience coordinating advising, orientation, registration, transition, retention, or other student-success programs across multiple departments.
• Experience training or providing guidance to professional advisors, peer advisors, student leaders, or ambassadors.
• Experience supporting students from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation, commuter, or academically at-risk students.
• Familiarity with EAB Navigate or a comparable student-success platform.

Responsibilities

• Lead Coordinated Care Advising strategy, training, outreach, assessment, and day-to-day operations across OTFE and campus partners.
• Plan and coordinate advising, registration preparation, staffing, materials, technology, and operational details for New Student Orientation.
• Develop and facilitate training for professional advisors, peer advisors, SDSU Ambassadors, and campus partners on academic requirements, advising tools, and registration processes.
• Provide complex individual and group advising related to academic progress, course planning, registration, enrollment, referrals, and other student-success concerns.
• Build collaborative relationships with Enrollment Services, academic colleges, advising units, and student-support partners to address challenges and improve coordinated services.
• Use student-success data, participation trends, and feedback to guide outreach, evaluate programs, and recommend improvements to advising, transition, retention, and orientation initiatives.

Benefits

• 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal plans, and pet plans.
• Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

What This Job Offers

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