Senior Director for Academic Advising & Career Coaching

University of Utah • Salt Lake City, UT

1d • $106,000 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director provides institution‑wide leadership for an integrated model of academic advising and career success coaching, aligning college‑based hubs and central services to deliver a seamless, student‑centered experience from enrollment through graduation and early career. The role sets vision and goals; builds capacity; stewards campus policy and practice in partnership with the Academic Advising Standards Council ( AASC ); and ensures consistent quality, equity, and outcomes across colleges/regions in accordance with University and USHE policy. The Senior Director leads a network of Directors, Associate Directors, and Assistant Directors who supervise frontline advisors and career coaches, advancing the Navigate U framework, proactive/adaptive advising, and career readiness aligned to NACADA and NACE competencies. This position reports directly to the Vice Provost for Student Success.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalency) and 14 years of directly related experience or Master's degree (or equivalency) and 12 years of directly related experience.
• Equivalency: One year of higher education may substitute for one year of directly related experience.
• Progressive leadership of large, multi‑unit advising/coaching or student success operations in a research university or comparably complex environment.
• Demonstrated experience supervising leaders (e.g., Directors/Associate Directors/Managers) and managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Evidence of designing/adopting NACADA /NACE‑aligned practices; experience with advising technology (e.g., EAB Navigate), degree audit/planning, and CRM /BI tools.
• Track record of improving retention, progression, completion, and/or career outcomes at scale.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree or terminal professional degree.
• Leadership experience integrating academic advising with career development, work‑integrated learning, and industry engagement.
• Expertise in data‑informed resource planning (caseload modeling, capacity/case routing), continuous improvement, and equity‑minded assessment.
• Success leading cross‑college initiatives, engaging in shared‑governance bodies (e.g., AASC ), and working within state system policy ( USHE or similar).
• Regional/national engagement ( NACADA , NACE , APLU / UIA / AAU ), publications/presentations, and contributions to the profession.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Governance Serve as the Region's executive lead for the integrated advising and career coaching ecosystem; engage AASC working groups to update standards and practices. Translate institutional strategy (e.g., Impact 2030; Navigate U commitments) into an advising/coaching operating plan with annual goals, KPIs, and college‑level compacts. Ensure use of this classification and all staffing plans are coordinated with AASC and adhere to approved compensatory factors and caseload guidance.
• Student Experience & Outcomes Architect a unified student journey that connects academic planning, career exploration, work‑integrated learning, and post‑grad outcomes. Establish service‑level practices (e.g., speed‑to‑appointment, case routing, caseload balance), and lead continuous improvement using student voice and thriving metrics.
• People Leadership & Culture Directly supervise College/School Navigate Hub Directors and Associate Directors and Assistant Directors of Advising and Career Success; indirectly lead Senior/Lead Advisors, Coaching Managers, and specialized teams. Cultivate a culture of collaboration and shared purpose between academic advisors and career coaches, strengthening partnerships and fostering alignment across teams. Steward the career ladder operationalization in partnership with training and development systems; ensure role clarity, equitable advancement pathways, and competency‑based development.
• Capacity, Caseload & Resource Stewardship Allocate advising/coaching capacity across hubs/regions using approved caseload norms; rebalance load based on enrollment mix, modality, and student risk signals. Manage operating and personnel budgets; lead multi‑year hiring plans tied to retention, progression, and completion ( RPC ) targets. Maintain zero frontline advising/coaching FTE at the Senior Director level, reserving this role for leadership, strategy, quality, and cross-unit integration.
• Data, Technology & Quality Assurance Own the data strategy for advising/coaching: define KPIs, dashboards, and review cadences; drive data democratization and accountability. Govern the advising tech stack (e.g., EAB Navigate, degree‑planning tools, CRMs) and ensure adoption, training, and evidence‑based practice. Lead systematic assessment and audit cycles (file reviews, observed practice, rubric‑based evaluations) to ensure fidelity to standards and equitable outcomes.
• Partnerships & Policy Coordinate with Colleges, U Career Success, Registrar, Financial Aid/Scholarships, First‑Gen/Scholars programs, Center for Teaching Excellence, International, Veteran & Military, Athletics, and other campus and community partners. Advise on and implement University/ USHE policy changes (e.g., credit hours, transfer, CPL /PbA, 90‑credit pathways) affecting advising/coaching practice.
• Communications & Change Management Lead campus‑wide communications on advising/coaching expectations, service levels, and student outcomes; facilitate communities of practice and annual summits. Drive structured change management for model updates (regional/meta‑major, hub alignment, pre‑professional redesign, etc.).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees