Director of Student Advising

Job Overview: Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Director of Student Advising will play a strategic and hands-on role in improving the applicant experience for veterans navigating the higher education landscape. This individual will oversee applicant advising, manage success-focused programming, and lead targeted interventions to improve applicant engagement, retention, and outcomes.

We are seeking a dynamic professional with a strong background in college admissions and student support services, a deep understanding of higher education access and equity, and a demonstrated commitment to serving nontraditional and first-generation students.

Primary Job Duties

Program Strategy & Leadership

• Evaluate and enhance current programs and services that support the applicant journey.

• Develop and implement strategic, data-informed interventions to increase applicant retention, engagement, and success.

• Collaborate with the CPO and other team members to identify and address barriers to college access for military-connected students.

• Regularly report outcomes and make recommendations to the CPO to improve effectiveness.

Applicant Advising & Support

• Serve as a direct advisor to a caseload of applicants, guiding them through college application processes, financial aid, and transition planning.

• Conduct onboarding meetings (via Zoom or phone) to support new applicants.

• Provide culturally responsive advising tailored to military, first-generation, and nontraditional student populations.

• Assist with the creation and refinement of advising resources in partnership with the Director of VetLink and Program Manager.

Program Development & Resource Building

• Develop new educational resources, tools, and programming to enhance applicant readiness and confidence.

• Improve upon college counseling curriculum through database management

• Support group learning opportunities such as workshops, webinars, and peer group discussions.

Data & Assessment

• Create and implement a comprehensive data-driven assessment plan to measure program impact.

• Track applicant engagement, advising outcomes, and application results using CRM and data reporting tools.

• Use findings to iterate and improve support strategies for both individual advising and broad programming.

Collaboration

• Partner with cross-functional teams to align applicant support efforts with organizational goals and outreach strategies.

• Build and maintain relationships with college admissions partners, veteran services offices, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in college admissions, advising, or student support roles.

• Demonstrated success in designing and executing student-facing programs with measurable outcomes.

• Experience advising or supporting military-connected, first-generation, and/or underrepresented student populations.

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

• Data fluency and experience in program assessment and reporting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency with productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace); CRM/database experience preferred.

• Ability to work independently in a remote environment and maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of the GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program, and military-to-college transition challenges.

• Familiarity with selective college admissions and enrollment management.

• Deep commitment to equity in education and access for nontraditional learners.

This position will work remotely and some overnight travel is required, as well as some weekends, to support Service to School events.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to hiring@service2school.org