What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Advising position at Holyoke Community College?
The Director of Advising provides strategic leadership, oversight, and continuous improvement of the college’s academic advising services. This role is responsible for developing a student-centered advising model that promotes enrollment, retention, timely completion, equity and student success from entry through program completion, transfer, or workforce placement.
- Provides vision and leadership for a comprehensive, intrusive, and equitable advising program aligned with the college’s strategic plan and student success initiatives.
- Develops, implements, and assesses advising models and policies that improve retention, completion, transfer and career readiness, and degree attainment.
- Leads change management efforts related to advising redesign, technology adoption, other student success initiatives.
- Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates professional advisors and support staff.
- Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and student-focused advising team culture.
- Develops ongoing professional development opportunities to ensure staff are current with best practices in advising, transfer pathways, and integrated career advising.
- Ensures advising services are accessible and responsive to the needs of diverse student populations, including first-generation students, adult learners, part-time students, historically marginalized groups, and neuro-divergent students.
- Promotes culturally responsive and trauma-informed advising practices.
- Collaborates with academic deans, program coordinators, department chairs and faculty to prepare and publish a course schedule informed by data.
- Collaborates with academic and student support programs to develop and align communication plans for assigned advisees.
- Uses student success data and reports (Navigate, Tableau), along with predictive analytics (Navigate) to evaluate advising effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
- Supports the use and optimization of advising and case management platforms (Navigate, DegreeWorks).
- Partners with faculty council, department chairs, and academic deans to ensure alignment of information and practice between professional and faculty advisors.
- Participates in shared governance, committees, and task forces related to enrollment management, student success, and retention initiatives.
- Represents advising services at campus enrollment events, orientations, and external meetings as needed.
- All other duties as assigned.
- Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, or a related field.
- Five (5) years of progressive experience in academic advising, student success, or related higher education roles.
- Two (2) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of community college students, advising best practices, and student success frameworks.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Experience using student data and technology to inform decision-making.
Equivalency Statement:
We welcome and encourage applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above, to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them for the responsibilities of this position. It is preferred that this document be uploaded separately from the resume, cover letter, and references.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a unionized environment and/or with collective bargaining agreements.
- Knowledge of workforce development and career-integrated advising.
- Familiarity with Massachusetts public higher education policies, DHE initiatives, and statewide transfer frameworks.
Full-Time, Non-Unit Professional Position:
Salary Range: $89,931.00 - $99,291.43 (Grade 7),plus a comprehensive state benefits package.
Funding Source: State.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week.Additional Details:
Please Note: A skills assessment or presentation may be required as part of the interview process.
Salary : $89,931 - $99,291