What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Academic Advising and Transfer Services position at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College?
Reynolds is one of the largest community colleges in Virginia and serves Virginia’s capital city and five nearby counties. Annually, our four campus sites serve approximately 13,000 credit students and provide training for 7,400 students through the Community College Workforce Alliance. Reynolds is committed to hiring and retaining a racially diverse, culturally competent staff at all levels of the organization who reflect the demographics of our students. We also believe in providing an ongoing investment in our faculty and staff to deepen their skills and competencies to serve the full range of our student population.
The Director of Academic Advising and Transfer Services will provide visionary leadership to enhance the student experience across all campus locations. This role is responsible for ensuring comprehensive academic advising and transfer services that promote student success from onboarding through graduation.
The Director will be highly knowledgeable in programs and initiatives that drive significant improvements in student outcomes and will play a pivotal role in leading Flight Path initiatives, an integral component of the college’s Flight Path for Student Success, aimed at delivering holistic and proactive advising strategies to support student retention, persistence, and completion. In addition, the Director will work in close partnership with Academic Affairs to ensure the ongoing success of the Flight Path: Advising Refuel initiative, aligning efforts to achieve the college’s strategic goals for student success. The Director will leverage diverse resources and technologies, foster collaboration across the college, and cultivate an organizational climate that values excellence, encourages innovation, and supports both faculty and staff.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee and coordinate academic advising and transfer services programs across all campuses and virtually to ensure a seamless delivery of services and alignment with institutional priorities.
- Develop, implement, and continually assess comprehensive advising programs that reflect institutional goals and enhance the student journey from onboarding to graduation, including holistic support, career guidance, and transfer planning.
- Integrate the Flight Path framework into advising services, embedding its principles at every stage to ensure a holistic and structured approach to student success.
- Leverage and optimize technology platforms such as Navigate to improve advising, enhance early alert systems, and increase student engagement through data-driven tools.
- Design and oversee robust professional development and training programs to ensure advisors and staff remain well-versed in best practices, institutional policies, and evolving student needs. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages team cohesion and professional growth.
- Actively engage with faculty, staff, administration, and the Center for Teaching and Learning to align advising practices with program-specific needs, ensuring clear communication and support for institutional goals.
- Conduct regular evaluations of advising and transfer services using data-driven insights to inform continuous improvement, enhance student outcomes, and support long-term strategic planning.
- Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations assessing program effectiveness and demonstrating progress on Flight Path objectives and metrics.
- Manage departmental operations and budgets with a commitment to fiscal responsibility, while ensuring compliance with procurement, human resources policies, and equity in employment practices.
- Champion a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within advising services, ensuring these values are reflected in team practices, programs, and student interactions.
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage advising and transfer services programs, including new student orientation and dual admission programs.
- Experience leading large-scale advising or student support initiatives and professional staff in a higher education setting.
- Effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in using technology to support advising and student retention, including platforms such as Navigate.
- Experience with strategic planning and program evaluation in a higher education setting.
- Knowledge of student development theories and their application in advising practices.
- Experience working with diverse student populations, including first-generation and underrepresented groups at the community college level.
- Familiarity with state and institutional policies related to advising, transfer services, and enrollment management.
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
The Virginia Community College System, an EEO employer, welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce. Therefore, the VCCS is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disabilities, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors.
The VCCS is an EOE and Affirmative Action Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), VCCS will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing and selection processes.
VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
Salary : $98,000 - $105,000
