Director of Student Success

Classification: MnSCU Academic Supervisor 3

Campus: Willmar

Bargaining Unit: MMA (216)

Employment Condition: Full Time, Unlimited

Classified Status: Unclassified

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday (8:00am-4:30pm)

Salary Range: $37.60-$54.16/ per hour :: $78,509-$113,086/ per year

PCN: 01013334

Ridgewater College seeks a dynamic, innovative, collaborative leader who can:

· Lead with a student-centered vision, fostering collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders to enhance student success.

· Design and implement data-informed strategies that significantly improve retention, persistence, and graduation rates.

· Streamline processes to create a seamless and supportive experience for students from application through their first year.

· Inspire and empower a team of advisors, counselors, and support staff through effective leadership, coaching, and mentoring.

· Promote a culture of collegiality and cohesion, ensuring a shared sense of purpose and commitment to student achievement among staff.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for developing and leading a comprehensive, student-centered advising and retention strategy to enhance student success at Ridgewater College, with a focus on retention, persistence, and degree completion. The role oversees academic advising, counseling, and admissions, and is primarily responsible for creating and managing a New Student (First Year) Experience initiative. This initiative streamlines the entry process—from application through the first semester—and supports re-enrollment for the second semester, with an emphasis on serving underrepresented populations.

Key responsibilities include directing orientation, advising, and registration processes to support new students’ transition to college. As a member of the College’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) team, this position collaborates with deans, faculty, and staff across departments to build an integrated network of advising, coaching, counseling, and support services that increase retention, promote completion, and close equity gaps in student achievement. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment & Advancement, this role requires the ability to travel.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develops, leads and manages academic advising, coaching, mentoring, counseling, supplemental instruction and other related services to improve persistence, retention and completion and eliminate equity gaps.
2. Develops, leads and manages admissions-related activities and processes for the College to ensure a seamless entry experience for students, including leading the New Student (First Year) Experience initiative to improve persistence and completion and eliminate equity gaps. 
3. Management/Supervision
4. Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications (required skills to enter the job; must be identified on application materials)          

·  A bachelor’s degree in a related field.

·  Experience with admissions, advising or counseling or similar services in a related setting.

·  Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills and intercultural competency skills.

·  Experience working with diverse cultures and populations.

·  Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel PowerPoint, etc. and demonstrated experience and understanding of computer technologies and software.

Preferred Qualifications (desired but not required)

·  3 years of related professional experience.

·  Graduate studies or credential in a related field.

·  Work experience in higher education, preferably at a two-year public community or technical college.

·  Supervisory experience.

·  Experience in a collective bargaining environment.

·  Knowledge of admissions-related strategies, principles and practices.

·  Knowledge of advising and counseling strategies, principles and practices.

·  Knowledge of contemporary issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

·  Ability to perform consistently under the pressure of deadlines and other management demands and works cooperatively with others.

How to Apply

Apply online at: https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/RIDG---Willmar-Campus/Director-of-Student-Success_JR0000001337.

Online application deadline is 11:59PM on January 8, 2025.

*If you are a current employee, here is how to apply:

All current system employees will need to log into the career site Workday to apply for the position. Employees may also search for “Browse Jobs- Employees” in Workday via the search bar at the top to view open positions.

To access Jobs Hub:

1. Log into Workday.
2. Open the Jobs Hub app to browse open job postings, save search criteria for future use, and review your submitted applications.
3. If you don’t see Jobs Hub on your Workday homepage, use Workday Search.

To apply for a position you find on Jobs Hub, click on the posting’s Apply button, complete the application, and click Submit. By following these steps, you can help maintain data integrity and streamline the hiring process for both you and the hiring manager.

Why Work For Us

GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Minnesota State offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

· 11 paid holidays each year

· Medical Insurance (Single Coverage $38.50 per month and Family Coverage is $262.66 per month)

· Dental Insurance (low deductibles)

· Paid Parental Leave (six weeks)

· Employer paid life insurance

· Short and Long Term Disability

· Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)

· Retirement Plan

· Tax-deferred Compensation

· Generous vacation and sick leave

Additional Requirements

In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MnSCU) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on college/university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to MnSCU’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a Motor Vehicle Records check.

Other Information

Employment information for this position can be found in its collective bargaining agreement or its plan document at http://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/Labor/.

Contact

If you have questions about the position, contact Felicia Telecky at Felicia.telecky@ridgewater.edu  or at 320-234-8534.

Institution Information

MISSION: Ridgewater College empowers diverse learners to reach their full potential and enrich their lives through personalized and relevant education in an accessible, supportive, and inclusive environment.

VISION: Ridgewater College is a student-centered educational leader focused on innovation, excellence and affordability.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

· Enterprising - We are future-focused, and change-oriented, developing creative solutions to challenges that maximize our institutional, system and local resources.

· Empowerment – We develop and empower employees to make decisions to best serve students and stakeholders.

· Excellence – We strive to exceed expectations in all that we do.

· Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We seek to understand and appreciate the needs and experiences of every individual and actively work to provide genuine opportunities for everyone to succeed and participate in college activities and processes.

·  Trust and Respect – We are committed to developing a culture based in processes and behavior that create trust and respect among all stakeholders.

· Collaboration – We connect and work together to achieve common goals while respecting needs and interests of stakeholders.

· Curiosity and Creativity – We constantly strive to understand, learn, change, and improve.

· Accountability – As individuals and groups, we willingly accept and take ownership of our successes and failures.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651.259.3637 or email careers.mmb@state.mn.us. Please indicate what assistance is needed.