Senior Academic Advisor - 26/27 SY

Atlantis Academy•Glendale, AZ

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Ombudsman Educational Services, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a Senior Academic Advisor to join our award-winning Alternative Education team for the 2026-2027 School Year and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction! If you thrive in a dynamic, student-centered educational environment, are passionate about leading teams and strengthening systems that support student success, and bring strong leadership, organizational agility, sound judgment, adaptability, and a solution-oriented mindset to everything you do — We Should Talk! As the Senior Academic Advisor you will play a critical leadership role in maintaining academic integrity, supporting student success, and driving operational excellence across the advising function. This position safeguards accrediting standards through oversight of graduation status evaluations, credit issuance quality assurance, and grade certification processes. Serving as a leader of the Academic Guidance team, the Senior Academic Advisor directs advising operations, develops team capability, and ensures a proactive, consistent, timely, and student-centered approach to advising services. Working in close partnership with center operations, teachers, staff, site leaders, and school district personnel, the Senior Academic Advisor ensures students are meeting graduation requirements and are enrolled in the courses necessary for success. This position is expected to operate with a continuous improvement mindset, using resources efficiently and embracing performance-enhancing recommendations that strengthen outcomes for students and the organization.

Requirements

Bachelors degree or higher in education or a closely related field of study.
Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining an AZ state teaching credential.
Hold currently or have the ability to obtain a valid AZ state fingerprint card.
Prior experience working in the education industry at a high school level, preferably in a leadership capacity.
Prior experience and/or knowledge in alternative educational services for at-risk students and working with students with diverse needs at various levels.
Strong knowledge and understanding of College Board resources.
Knowledge of applicable state licensure, certification, accreditation laws and regulations.
Prior experience and/or highly proficient in reading, writing, analyzing and interpreting detailed reports and business correspondence.
History of success building credibility, effectively managing multiple projects and collaborating effectively across all organizational levels.
Proven ability to manage complex and/or sensitive information, maintaining confidentiality and objectivity.
Ability to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining organization and attention to detail.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of staff members, students, parents, and the public.
Proficiency in providing motivation and having critical conversations with students that help move them toward realistic goals and next steps.
Well-versed in the use of relevant technology including experience with computers, Microsoft Office Suite, database entry and basic office equipment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or higher in educational leadership or a closely related field of study preferred.

Responsibilities

Leading the Academic Guidance team by developing, implementing, training, and supporting best practices that ensure team members are knowledgeable, proficient, and current on policies and procedures.
Coordinating regular audits of ChanceLight information systems to verify the accuracy of course information, grade reporting, credits, and graduation requirement tracking.
Evaluating processes, procedures, and requests to streamline registrar-related responsibilities while preserving the accuracy and integrity of student records.
Ensuring students within each assigned Academic Advisor region maintain current course schedules, grades, transcripts, and graduation statuses while meeting all internal and external reporting deadlines.
Maintaining district profiles, graduation requirements, course offerings, credit policies, grading practices, and reporting timelines across all assigned regions.
Utilizing independent judgment to initiate, support, and provide feedback on the development and enhancement of IT programs and databases.
Building strategic partnerships with national and regional programs that expand post-secondary pathways and help students prepare for success in specific industries and career fields.
Overseeing the grade recording process by defining standards, guiding execution, and training staff to accurately enter grades into ChanceLight information systems.
Facilitating weekly Academic Advisor meetings that strengthen team cohesion, support sound decision-making, and reinforce alignment with ChanceLight’s mission.
Driving the College and Career Readiness program by developing and maintaining resources that equip center staff to help students build job readiness skills and workplace competencies.
Monitoring compliance with academic guidance requirements by completing annual audits and delivering coaching and training that strengthen staff performance and consistency.
Reinforcing the Academic Advising team’s adherence to company policies, expectations, and quality standards while providing professional development at both the individual and team levels.
Supporting additional duties, strategic initiatives, and special projects as assigned.