University of Denver

The University is in Denver, Colorado, a city known for its dynamic blend of business, innovation, and world-class recreation. Denver is consistently ranked by Forbes and Kiplinger’s Magazine as one of the top cities for young professionals and recent college graduates. The University of Denver is a private institution founded in 1864. It serves a population of more than 5,200 undergraduate and 6,200 graduate students as a research-intensive institution. The beautiful campus is located approximately seven miles from downtown with easy access to public transportation.

Position Summary

The Student Success Manager performs a variety of administrative and advising functions to assure an optimal experience for all graduate students in the Data Science Graduate Program. This position reports to the Faculty Director for Data Science. The Student Success Manager provides pro-active, superior, student-centered academic coaching and advising on issues, directly and indirectly, related to students’ academic planning, progress, and performance. As such, this position also interfaces with a range of campus offices that are integral to our students' learning experience.

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. This position is also responsible for meeting student retention benchmarks established for the data science program and providing information and services to advance enrollment performance.

The University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. This position requires additional flexibility to adjust for students’ scheduling needs as well as to support occasional program events during non-traditional work hours (e.g., evening webinars). This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement after the initial training period, with a minimum of 3 days per week on campus.

Essential Functions

Student Support

• Serves as a first responder for student needs and requests related to academic processes and timelines, curricular advising, campus support services, and course-related concerns throughout a student’s lifecycle (acceptance through credential completion).
• Proactively build and maintain strong relationships with all active (current and stopped-out) students to ensure successful completion of their program.
• Provide student retention leadership by meeting or exceeding student persistence, retention, and enrollment benchmarks through implementing a student retention plan, closely monitoring plan performance, pro-actively implementing adjustments when necessary, and reporting outcomes.
• Effectively utilize academic performance software to monitor student academic progress, identify those at risk of stopping or dropping out, and pro-actively provide them with resources to ensure persistence, retention, and academic success.
• Effectively lead and manage routine, core functions of student retention, including assisting in the development (and subsequent approval of) degree plans and monitoring and managing of course enrollments.
• Effectively and pro-actively use permissions with Banner (DU's Student Information System) to record student progress, provide feedback/updates regarding student outreach, indicate student issues, changes to degree plans, course of study, etc.
• Provides supplemental advising for international students (e.g., US. regulations, internship arrangements, and OPT/CPT requirements) and serves as a point of contact with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Administrative Processes and Collaboration

• Serves as the primary liaison between the data science program and other campus offices and programs for all aspects of students’ graduate experience.
• Provides support to data science program staff for student internships and related career development projects and initiatives.
• Participates in data acquisition activities and integration with particular focus on student recruitment, retention, and curricular planning
• Attends staff meetings and prepares regular summaries of completed and proposed work.
• Prioritizes scheduling to ensure consistent, high-quality, services during high volume periods each term.
• Proactively seeks opportunities to improve performance and processes. Anticipates challenges/issues develops appropriate and effective solutions and executes them.

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.
• Demonstrably outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to write effective student outreach correspondence and internal communication, and effectively present information in informal and public (including large group) 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 quickly learn and support policies and procedures that apply to graduate students in the program.
• Demonstrated commitment, knowledge, and ability to effectively engage individuals from broadly diverse communities.
• Strong data analysis orientation, including collecting, evaluating, and interpreting, and using data to inform decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple activities and deadlines.

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, customer relationship management software, texting, Zoom, GoToMeeting, and other common professional software.
• Ability to work on-campus during normal business hours.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

The University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. This position requires additional flexibility to adjust for students’ scheduling needs as well as to support occasional program events during non-traditional work hours (e.g., evening webinars).

This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement after the initial training period, with a minimum of 3 days per week on campus.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 6, 2024.

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 hourly range for the position is $55,000 - $58,000.

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. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital 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; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' 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.

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