What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Advising position at Grays Harbor College?
The Director will ensure advising practices are aligned with the Guided Pathways framework, including clear academic and career planning, early and ongoing interventions, and removal of barriers that create friction for students. The Director will collaborate closely with the leadership over Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) Projects to ensure alignment of advising and outreach supports for rural and underserved students in the college’s service district.
Grays Harbor College has an excellent benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, primary and supplemental retirement programs and long-term disability insurance. Full-time employees will also receive 15.34 hours of vacation leave per month, 8 hours of sick leave per month and 4 personal leave days a year. Washington state also observes 11 paid holidays per year.
About the College .
Grays Harbor College serves the communities of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties on the Pacific coast of Washington. Located in Aberdeen, Washington at the base of the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, the College is less than an hour away from scenic Pacific Ocean beaches and close to both the Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. Grays Harbor provides the perfect landscape to enjoy the abundance of excellent outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, fishing, clam digging, surfing, boating, and various kayak/canoe paddling opportunities. Grays Harbor College is located on the ancestral lands of the Chehalis, Chinook, Quinault and Shoalwater Bay Peoples. For more information about working for the college and living in Grays Harbor visit https://www.ghc.edu/hr
Grays Harbor is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities. We prioritize student learning, promote student and faculty success, foster an inclusive environment, manage our resources, and connect with the community. We strive to create a culturally relevant environment on campus and in the community by learning and practicing equity-mindedness and promoting faculty, staff, and student diversity.
Leadership and Coordination- Provide leadership for the Advising and Counseling Center, ensuring consistent, high-quality, student-centered advising services.
- Foster collaboration among faculty advisors, professional advisors, and program-specific advising areas (e.g., TRIO, Running Start) to create a shared advising community of practice.
- Integrate Guided Pathways principles into all aspects of advising—emphasizing academic planning, exploration, and early identification of barriers.
- Lead initiatives to streamline entry advising processes, ensuring they are frictionless, inclusive, and welcoming to all students.
- Coordinate advising professional development for faculty and staff, including onboarding, case management, and use of technology tools such as EAB Navigate and ctcLink.
- Collaborate with Instructional Deans and program faculty to ensure advising supports align with program maps and career pathways.
- Develop and implement proactive advising models that include early alerts, progress tracking, and holistic student support referrals.
- Use data and feedback to evaluate advising effectiveness, student satisfaction, and key performance indicators (persistence, completion, and transfer rates).
- Partner with Enrollment Services and Student Funding to improve the student onboarding experience from application through registration.
- Support the design and coordination of advising campaigns and communication strategies that promote timely registration and academic planning.
- Serve as a key partner in institutional initiatives related to student success, Guided Pathways, and retention.
- Supervise professional advising and counseling staff, including training, performance evaluation, and workflow management.
- Oversee the coordination of placement, disability support, and mental health referral systems within the department.
- Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations (e.g., FERPA, ADA, Section 504).
- Maintain operational effectiveness of advising technology systems and ensure data accuracy.
- Prepare and manage departmental budgets and reporting in alignment with institutional goals.
- Collaborate with the Manager of Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Projects to align advising practices with rural student engagement efforts.
- Develop partnerships with high school counselors, community organizations, and transfer institutions to support seamless student transitions.
- Represent the college in regional and statewide advising, Guided Pathways, and student success networks.
- Collaborate with faculty to develop and implement advising practices that support retention, completion of program, and ensuring consistent communication with shared responsibility for student success.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in counseling, education administration, student development, or related field.
At least three (3) years of professional experience in academic advising or student services in higher education.
Demonstrated experience in supervising professional staff and managing departmental operations.
Knowledge of Guided Pathways principles and their application to advising and student success.
Proven ability to design or improve advising processes to reduce barriers and enhance student engagement.
Strong collaboration and communication skills with demonstrated success working across divisions.
Experience working effectively with diverse and rural student populations
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in counseling, higher education administration, student personnel, or related discipline.
Experience leading college-wide advising initiatives or process redesigns.
Experience with advising technology platforms (e.g., EAB Navigate or similar).
Familiarity with trauma-informed and equity-minded advising practices.
Bilingual skills (especially Spanish) are a plus.
In addition to the GHC online Application you will need to submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.
- Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position.
- Resume
- Contact information for 3 professional references.
- Transcripts of college work completed. Unofficial copies are acceptable.
Background checks - Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law.
Grays Harbor College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, marital status, veteran status, genetics, or age in its programs, activities, and employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
- Title II/Section 504 – Erin Tofte, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
- Title IX Coordinator – Ashley Bowie-Gallegos, Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocrfor the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.
Salary : $83,246