Professional Advisor and Success Coach, Durham

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Academic Advisor/Counselor

DEPARTMENT: Academic Programs

POSITION LOCATION: Durham

POSITION NUMBER: 65040438

POSTING DATE: Thursday, December 12, 2024

CLOSING DATE: Monday, January 6, 2025 5 p.m.

POSITION TYPE: Permanent, 12-Month, EPS (Exempt Professional Staff), FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $55,158 – $59,000

NCSSM and the Academic Programs division foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

Description of Duties:

The Center for Advising and Academic Success was founded in 2020 and has gone through several phases of development. Our mission is to provide students with exemplary academic advising and support to ensure their success at NCSSM and beyond. The purpose and function of the Center is to provide individual, ongoing and real-time academic support and guidance for all students. CAAS services include:

• providing guidance and advice for students on course choices and placement


• providing academic consultation for students


• developing and managing academic support plans


• communicating directly with student support teams


• communicating/collaborating with Counseling on academic support


• providing administrative support for Enrollment Services/Registrar


• providing student success programing


• supporting Academic Programs and Admissions during events such as Discovery Day, Welcome Day, and Commencement ceremonies.

The Full-time Professional CAAS Advisor and Success Coach will provide monitoring, advising, and success coaching to online and residential NCSSM students. Other duties include assisting the Registrar’s office with Junior meetings and Senior audits, providing assistance with academic programs events such as Welcome Day and Graduation, and assisting with the coordination and delivery of student success programming.

This position requires flexible hours, with some evening work and has the option for some remote work.

Education and Experience Required:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, or Bachelor’s degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience.


• Minimum of two years of experience employed in an advising or guidance capacity is required.


• Experience working with and a demonstrated sensitivity to understanding the unique and individual needs and concerns of an adolescent student population.


• Experience working with students in an education setting is required.

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Highly-motivated self-starter with the ability to work in a fast paced environment.


• Ability to multitask, while paying special attention to detail.


• Ability to collaborate with Academic Departments, Counseling, and Registrars Office in managing all aspects of advising.


• Knowledge of Google Suite, student information systems, database administration, and internet/email platforms.


• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong presentation skills.


• Demonstrated ability to develop interpersonal and organizational relationships with all stakeholders (faculty, staff, students, and families).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a hands-on educational planner, academic advisor, mentor, and coach for both online and residential students, focusing on student success, retention, and graduation.


• Guide students to balance academic responsibilities with external commitments and challenges.


• Monitor student progress, and collaborate with campus support team members, families, and faculty to promote academic success.


• Promote student engagement and satisfactory academic progress by assisting with the coordination and delivery of programming such as study skills workshops, advising center informational sessions, online study skills modules, and evening and summer programs.


• Support special campus programming events such as admissions events, special student meetings, on-campus opportunities for students in the online program, and commencement.

Team NCSSM Benefits

Free On-campus Parking

Vacation and Personal Leave: Varied based on classification. SHRA and Faculty earn from 14 days to 26 days per year based on years of state service. EHRA SAAO and EHRA Exempt Professional Staff (EPS) receive 26 days per year. Leave is pro-rated for part-time and less than 12 month employees. Leave is earned monthly. Note: EPS employees employed at NCSSM prior to 1/1/2025 earn 24 days per year and SAAO employees employed at NCSSM prior to 1/1/2025 earn 26 days per year and are subject to the terms and conditions of the annual leave program.

Sick Leave: 12 days per year. Leave accruals for part-time and less than 12 month employees are pro-rated.

Additional Leave: Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Parental Leave (PPL), Civil Leave, Personal Observance Day, Extended Illness, Short/Long Term Disability, Family Illness Leave, Military Leave, Community Service Leave, Voluntary Shared Leave and Leave Without Pay.

Holidays: 12 days per year

Benefits: The University System offers eligible employees a flexible and comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to University-provided group life insurance, various retirement savings options, group health plan coverage, dental, vision, critical illness, cancer, flexible spending accounts, accident, disability coverage, educational assistance, and more. These programs can help employees achieve retirement savings and career goals, as well as assistance with meeting everyday health and educational needs. The benefits programs are designed for employees to tailor a benefits package that best meets their needs.

Health Insurance: Employee only coverage under the State Health Plan (PPO) is provided to employees that work 30 or more hours a week. The cost is determined by the type of coverage elected by the employee. Dependent coverage is available by payroll deduction.

Retirement: Required participation for all employees working 3/4 time or more. Option (1) Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees are vested for retirement after 5 years. Option (2) The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees in ORP are vested after 5 years of participating in ORP. As a participant in either retirement program, you are automatically covered for short-term disability (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost), long term disability (eligible after 5 year of service/no cost). Death benefit of minimum $25,000/maximum $50,000 based on previous 12 month salary (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost).

Supplemental Retirement Plans: Supplemental retirement plans provide an additional opportunity to help you reach your retirement goals. Supplemental Plan offerings such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) on a Roth (after-tax) or pre-tax contributions.

Tuition Waiver: Three courses per academic year tuition free (at any of UNC 17 campuses that offer courses) for permanent full-time employees.

State Employees Credit Union: Membership welcomed. Contact the SECU Credit Union for information.

Community Service: 24 hours leave credited each calendar year (prorated for part-time) unless you choose the Mentoring/ tutoring option – 1 hour each week up to a max of 36 hours that schools are in session as documented by the elected board of the local education agency or the governing authority of any non-public school.

Facilities: Library & Gymnasium – other athletic facilities available at no cost to employees. Cafeteria on site.

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a world-class public high school with statewide reach empowering academically talented students from diverse backgrounds from every corner of the state to design their own future. We offer residential high school programs in Durham and Morganton for juniors and seniors or virtual high school courses and programs that students can take alongside their local curriculum, all tuition free. Our wide array of summer offerings for rising 5th- through 12th-graders includes free opportunities for in-state students alongside paid options for students from anywhere in the world. NCSSM Extended Learning partners with communities and regions to advance student learning and outcomes.

Specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math, and embracing the fine arts and humanities, NCSSM has become the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe since its founding in 1980 and is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System. NCSSM’s Ignite Transform comprehensive campaign seeks to raise $50 million in private support for our mission.

The new NCSSM-Morganton campus opened in 2022 for summer programs and its first fall academic term. NCSSM-Morganton focuses on the booming fields of data science and artificial intelligence, preparing the leaders of tomorrow to navigate a future driven by data and machine learning, with emphasis on the humanistic implications and ethical use of these tools.

Nearly two-thirds of NCSSM graduates earn a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field — over three times the national average, including 58 percent of our underrepresented minority graduates, which is nearly four times the national average. Nearly three-quarters have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. NCSSM values the diversity in our student body, and all members of the NCSSM community are expected to foster a safe environment of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please read the NCSSM strategic plan and visit ncssm.edu.