Director, Academic Advising - Cal State San Marcos

Another Source's client, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), is recruiting a Director, Office of Academic Advising to join their team in San Marcos, California. Relocation assistance is available.

Here's a little about California State University San Marcos:

CSU San Marcos is one of the fastest-growing campuses in the CSU system, located in the thriving North San Diego County region. The university continues to grow and evolve, creating an exciting environment for leaders who want to have an impact during a period of forward momentum.

CSU San Marcos is also a national leader in social mobility, recognized for creating pathways to opportunity and helping students - many of whom are first-generation and from historically underserved communities -achieve their educational and career goals.

Academic advising plays an important role in that mission, and this opportunity offers the chance to lead an experienced, committed team while helping shape the future of advising at a growing university.

Learn more about CSUSM and its impact: https://www.csusm.edu/about/facts/index.html

Learn more about Academic Advising: https://www.csusm.edu/academicadvising/

About this role:

Reporting to the Chief Enrollment Officer, with a dotted-line relationship to the Provost, the Director of Academic Advising provides leadership and strategic direction for CSUSM's centralized undergraduate academic advising operation.

This role combines people leadership, strategy, campus-wide collaboration, and hands-on oversight of advising operations. The Director will help shape how undergraduate advising evolves at CSUSM - strengthening partnerships across colleges and departments, using data to improve services, and leading the adoption of technology that enhances both the student and advisor experience.

The Director supervises the Associate Director of Academic Advising and Curriculum and works closely with academic colleges, faculty, Enrollment Management Services, specialized programs, Athletics, Global Education, Financial Aid, Veterans Services, Student Centers, and other partners across the university.

How you will spend your time

Functional Oversight of Centralized Undergraduate Advising - 50%

Provide operational leadership for centralized undergraduate academic advising services and help implement the university's undergraduate advising structure.

• Establish and communicate a clear mission and vision for centralized advising.

• Develop policies, procedures, and assessment practices that support effective service delivery and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure students have access to accurate, timely, and effective academic advising.

• Develop measurable outcomes and use data and analysis to evaluate advising programs and services.

• Partner closely with colleges, faculty, department chairs, specialized programs, Enrollment Management Services, and other campus stakeholders to strengthen continuity and coordination of advising.

• Recommend strategies to faculty and administrators based on student needs, emerging trends, and opportunities to improve student success.

• Strengthen professional development and training for the campus advising and counseling community.

• Serve as an advising administrator contact for Cougar Care/Maxient referrals involving policies, procedures, special needs, appeals, and complaint resolution.

• Oversee departmental business operations, budget management, and fiscal resources.

• Represent Academic Advising and, as appropriate, the Chief Enrollment Officer on committees, task forces, and university initiatives related to advising and student success.

• Lead the successful adoption of new advising technologies, including CRM implementations, degree-planning tools, appointment-scheduling systems, and the effective use of artificial intelligence. Engage advisors in the process and ensure new solutions improve student experiences and advisor workflows.

Leadership & Management - 30%

• Lead, coach, and develop the Office of Academic Advising team while creating an environment of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

• Champion change and partner with leaders across Enrollment Management Services and the university to move student-success initiatives forward.

• Establish clear direction, strengthen individual and team performance, and support professional and career development.

• Identify emerging challenges and opportunities and translate them into effective solutions.

• Guide the development and implementation of advising programs and support services that respond to the changing needs of undergraduate students.

• Allocate and coordinate resources to support departmental and university priorities.

Strategic Planning - 10%

• Develop and implement short- and long-term goals and operational plans for the Office of Academic Advising in alignment with Enrollment Management Services and university priorities.

• Lead strategies supporting major campus initiatives and student-success objectives.

• Use data and measurable outcomes to evaluate effectiveness and guide decision-making.

• Build commitment around strategic priorities and communicate initiatives effectively across stakeholder groups.

University & Community Partnership - 10%

• Build strong relationships and strategic alliances across the university and with external partners.

• Bring campus partners together around shared advising and student-success goals.

• Seek and act on stakeholder feedback while anticipating evolving community and student needs.

• Use collaboration, communication, negotiation, and influence to build support for initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in higher education administration, student personnel services, human development, or a related field, plus 5-8 years of progressively responsible administrative and/or management experience in a dynamic, diverse student-services environment within higher education, specifically academic advising; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• At least 2-3 years of experience leading and/or supervising others.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex organizations, teams, programs, and competing priorities.

• Experience coaching, developing, motivating, and evaluating employees and building effective teams.

• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Experience developing and implementing short- and long-term strategic goals and coordinating resources.

• Strong understanding of undergraduate advising services and the needs of university students.

• Ability to use sound judgment and analytical thinking to identify challenges and implement effective solutions.

• Experience managing complex budgets and fiscal resources.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to establish strong partnerships across a complex organization and bring stakeholders together around shared goals.

• Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with a diverse university community and supporting an inclusive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a directly related field.

• Familiarity with collective bargaining environments and administering corrective action when appropriate.

• Knowledge of group and individual counseling theories, assessment procedures, and techniques.

• Experience developing student programs and services grounded in student development principles.

• Experience identifying alternative sources of funding.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $120,000-$130,000. Relocation assistance is available.

Why a Career with CSU is for You:

The CSU system offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet you where you're at in life and typically adds 30-35% to your total compensation package. For more information on programs available, take a closer look in the Employee Benefits Summary: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf

• Emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance with ample PTO and flexibility, which includes up to 24 vacation days per year (based on employee group/services).

• Enjoy vibrant campus life with access to athletic and gym facilities, renowned sporting events, artist events, and world-renowned speakers.

• Numerous professional development opportunities to advance your career, including tuition waivers for yourself, a spouse, registered domestic partner, or an eligible dependent child across any of the 23 CSU campuses.

• Two different retirement plans catered to fit your personal saving goals: CalPERS Retirement Plan or 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan).

• Medical benefits tailored to support various life stages.

• Pre-tax commuter benefits designed to help with transportation costs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CSU San Marcos is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive university community and workforce. The Director is expected to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the university community and establish and maintain effective relationships with university employees, students, and the public.

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

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