Student Success Manager for Professional Programs

Located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery that defines our region and our history. DU is a private institution built on exploration through research and collaboration among educators, students, and local and global communities. With nationally recognized academic programs, a history of widespread influence, a forward-looking vision for a 21st-century education, and a deep commitment to promoting inclusion, we open a world of opportunity and empower our students to make a difference around the world. Through learning, scholarship and practice, students gain the experience, knowledge and courage they need to tackle big challenges in the real world and guide communities and organizations.

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science (RSECS) occupies a state-of-the-art facility that supports cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community innovation. We are home to unique centers including the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA), and our faculty actively partner across disciplines to solve problems that matter both locally and globally.
The University of Denver is an R1 research university located in the heart of a thriving metropolitan area, with a strong commitment to the Four-Dimensional Experience focused on fostering student growth across intellectual, personal, character, and career dimensions. DU enrolls approximately 13,800 students (5,800 undergraduates and 8,000 graduate/professional students) and is deeply invested in innovation, community impact, and inclusive excellence.

Position Summary

The Student Success Manager for Professional Programs works collaboratively as part of the RISE (Recruitment, Innovation, Student Success, and Excellence) team, a newly formed team that supports three professional master’s programs in Cybersecurity, Data Science & AI, and Systems Engineering as well as Graduate Marketing and Enrollment.

As the initial point of student contact for academic advising and coaching, the position is responsible for establishing a regular cadence of communication with graduate students, faculty, and other University offices as related to academic timelines, university policies & program guidelines, and students’ progress toward graduation.

The role is also responsible for meeting student retention benchmarks established for the three programs and providing information and services to advance enrollment performance academic and professional goals.

This position reports to the Director of Professional Programs.

Essential Functions

Onboarding New Students

• Welcome and assist prospective students through the deposit and enrollment process for their chosen programs.
• Manage all aspects of onboarding for enrolled students, providing guidance related to their education from enrollment through graduation.
• Maintain and enhance a Canvas orientation course for newly enrolled students in the professional programs.

Personalized Student Advising & Support

• Guide students in aligning their career and program interests with their aspirations, providing personalized advice and support to nurture relationships, ensuring degree outcomes align with career goals.
• Act as the primary contact for student needs related to academic processes, advising, degree planning, course enrollment, campus support services, and course-related concerns throughout the student lifecycle, from admission to graduation. This role will support both domestic and international students in online and on-campus programs.
• Orient all students on course requirements, academic policies, registration procedures, and available campus resources.
• Ensure proactive participation in meeting professional program enrollment and retention metrics.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all current active and inactive students to ensure successful program completion. This includes monitoring students on leave and assisting with their reentry.
• Assist with internships by helping students get approvals and paperwork into 12Twenty CRM system.
• Process graduation audits and candidacy forms for student graduation.

Scheduling & Monitoring

• Collaborate with faculty to prepare course schedules, ensuring consistent, high-quality services during high-volume periods each term. Input and update course schedules and section numbers in the Banner ERP system each term.

• Monitor student academic progress through Banner and Salesforce, identifying at-risk students, coordinating proactive outreach and resources, and maintaining regular communication to support persistence, retention, and academic success.

Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between the professional programs and other campus offices for all aspects of students’ graduate experience.
• Proactively seek opportunities to improve performance and processes, anticipate challenges, develop effective solutions, and execute them.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Director.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated aptitude for self-direction as well as responsive teamwork.
• Ability to distinguish curricular details and requirements relevant to student academic advising and support.
• Outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to write effective student outreach correspondence, internal communication, and present information in informal and public settings.
• Understanding of adult learning styles and preferences, graduate/continuing professional education, and the organizational culture of colleges and universities. Ability to navigate effectively within constraints.
• Ability to respond professionally to constructive feedback on performance and communication, seeking clarification when needed.
• Quickly learns and supports policies and procedures applicable to professional graduate students.
• Commitment to engaging individuals from all communities effectively.
• Strong data analysis orientation, including collecting, evaluating, and interpreting, and using data to inform decision making.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple activities and deadlines effectively.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of experience in student support/advocacy roles or related professional activities.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel), texting, Zoom, and other common professional software.
• Experience and/or desire to use existing university student systems, such as Banner, CRM Software (12Twenty, Salesforce, or Slate).
• Ability to work on-campus during normal business hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior exposure to cybersecurity, data science and/or systems engineering (e.g., courses, certificates, professional activities) or associated discipline.
• Prior experience coaching graduate adult students.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., 12Twenty, Slate, Banner) and Excel and/or other relational databases including experience as a front-end user.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus

Work Schedule

We are looking for candidates interested in working 40 hours a week. Typical work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Flexible work schedule including allowing for two days of remote work per week is allowed with approval and compliance with University policy.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 10, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 8.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $56,500-$57,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.