🇺🇸Columbia, South Carolina🕑
Full-Time 💰
TBD
💻Academic Advising🗓️October 7th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a Senior Director to lead academic advising and student support services in the Arnold School of Public Health Undergraduate Student Services unit. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, the director supervises professional advising staff and coordinates daily advising operations. The role supports retention, persistence, and timely degree completion through proactive advising, staff development, and data-informed outreach.
Highlights
Supervise professional advising staff, setting performance expectations, staffing approaches, and professional development priorities.
Provide leadership in recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning for advisors.
Advise students on degree requirements, course planning, registration, academic progression, and completion planning.
Serve as the escalation point for advisors handling complex student situations, referrals, and documentation.
Counsel the Associate Dean on advising operations, staffing and resource needs, and student-service trends.
Coordinate daily advising operations, appointment capacity, peak advising periods, and orientation and registration activities.
Lead implementation of approved strategic initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness.
Analyze student service data to identify trends and recommend improvements to advising processes.
Require a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of certification, training, education, and experience.
Offer a benefits package including health and life insurance, retirement programs, paid tuition, dependent scholarships, and 13 paid holidays.
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by October 14, 2026.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
Dependent Scholarships
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Posting Details
Posting Summary
Logo | Posting Number | STA00756PO26 Job Family | Enrollment Management Job Function | Student Services USC Market Title | Student Services Program Director Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/132666 Job Level | M3 - Managerial Business Title (Internal Title) | Senior Director Campus | Columbia Work County | Richland College/Division | Arnold School of Public Health Department | ASPH Undergraduate Student Services State Pay Range | G11 USC Market Range | MRJ - $78,441 $98,051 $117,662 Anticipated Hiring Range | Salary commensurate with experience Location of Vacancy | Part/Full Time | Full Time Hours per Week | 37.5 Work Schedule | Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department. Basis | 12 months Job Search Category | Student Services
About USC
About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond. Veterans' Preference Statement | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.
Benefits for FTE Positions The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary | The Senior Director, Undergraduate Student Services serves as the front-line supervisory leader for academic advising and student support services within the Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) Undergraduate Student Services unit. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, the position provides direct supervision and day-to-day leadership for professional advising staff while maintaining a direct connection to undergraduate students and the academic programs they serve.
The Senior Director coordinates daily advising operations, establishes consistent service practices, and provides guidance on complex academic advising, registration, progression, and student success matters. The position serves as a key operational link between the Associate Dean, advising staff, and university partners and translates college priorities, policies, and procedures into effective student-facing services.
The Senior Director supports student retention, persistence, academic progress, and timely degree completion through proactive advising, staff development, data-informed outreach, and continuous improvement of advising processes. The position exercises independent judgment within established University and ASPH policies and escalates significant policy, personnel, or strategic matters to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs when needed. Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience | Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience. Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | Preferred Qualifications | Knowledge/Skills/Abilities | Knowledge of academic advising, student services, student development, undergraduate academic processes, and principles supporting student success and retention. Knowledge of practices for interpreting and applying academic policies, curriculum requirements, degree progression standards, and student service procedures. Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, train, develop, and evaluate professional staff and coordinate the daily work of a student services operation. Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when addressing complex or sensitive student concerns, policy questions, and operational issues. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and university partners. Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, service demands, and competing operational needs in a fast-paced, student-centered environment. Ability to analyze information and student service data, identify trends and problems, and recommend practical improvements to advising processes and services. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle student and personnel information appropriately in accordance with applicable University requirements.
Job Duties
Job Duty | Advising Staff Supervision and LeadershipProvides leadership and strategic direction for the undergraduate advising team in alignment with priorities established by the Associate Dean. Establishes performance expectations, professional standards, staffing approaches, service expectations, and professional development priorities. Provides coaching, feedback, professional development, and performance guidance. Provides leadership in recruitment, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, and development of advising staff. Addresses routine personnel and operational concerns and elevates significant matters to the Associate Dean. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 30%Job Duty | Academic Advising and Complex Student SupportProvides academic advising and student support related to degree requirements, course planning, registration, academic progression, university and college policies, and completion planning. Serves as an escalation point for advisors handling complex student situations and assists with problem resolution, referrals, and appropriate documentation. Maintains a student-centered approach while applying policies consistently and appropriately. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 30%Job Duty | Advising Operations and Service DeliveryAdvises the Associate Dean on advising operations, staffing and resource needs, student-service trends, policy implications, and recommended strategies. Leads implementation of approved strategic initiatives and evaluates their effectiveness. Coordinates daily advising operations to ensure accessible, timely, and consistent services for undergraduate students. Supports advising assignments, appointment capacity, peak advising periods, orientation and registration activities, outreach, and other student service functions. Identifies operational issues, recommends improvements, and helps ensure advisors receive timely information regarding curriculum, academic requirements, policies, procedures, and institutional changes. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 20%Job Duty | Student Success, Retention, and Academic ProgressionCreates, plans, and directs the strategic planning for student success initiatives. Leads advising-based student success and academic progression strategies for ASPH undergraduate students. Analyzes student progression, retention, advising, and service data to identify patterns, barriers, and populations requiring targeted intervention. Supports ASPH initiatives designed to strengthen student success, persistence, retention, and timely degree completion. Reviews advising and student information to identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for proactive outreach or intervention. Collaborates with academic programs, faculty, and university partners to connect students with appropriate resources and strengthen coordinated support for student needs. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 10%Job Duty | Assessment, Training, and Continuous ImprovementDevelops reports, identifies trends, and presents findings and recommendations to the Associate Dean. Leads implementation of approved changes to advising practices, academic policies, procedures, and systems and evaluates their impact on students and service delivery. Assists the Associate Dean with development and maintenance of advising procedures, service standards, internal training resources, and staff guidance. Assists with assessment and reporting related to advising services, including service activity and student trends, and uses findings to support continuous improvement. Performs other related duties as assigned. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 10%
Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive | No Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies | 1 Desired Start Date | 11/02/2026 Job Open Date | 10/06/2026 Job Close Date | 10/14/2026 Open Until Filled | No Special Instructions to Applicant | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by October 14, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to: Health and Life Insurance Retirement Programs Paid Tuition Dependent Scholarships Annual Leave Sick Leave 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday) Paid Parental Leave Professional Development Opportunities Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC. Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214182 EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Do you have at least a Bachelor's degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
