TBR | The College System of Tennessee

Title: Senior Director of Student Success

Institution: Volunteer State Community College

Job Summary:

This position provides strategic leadership, program development, and operational oversight for key departments supporting student engagement, persistence, and completion. This role is responsible for advancing a coordinated student success agenda with a particular focus on adult learners and veteran affairs, career readiness, academic advising, and support for first-generation students. This position also leads the coordination of new student orientation, as well as high-impact engagement and retention aligned with institutional goals. This position plays a central role in translating broad student success strategy into actionable programs and services, ensuring an integrated and data-informed approach across multiple functional areas.

Job Duties:

Provide leadership, direction, coaching, mentoring, and oversight for Advising, Adult Learners and Veterans Affairs, and Career Services. Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive new student onboarding experience—including orientation, welcome week, and spirit week—by providing strategic direction and coordinating institution-wide efforts in collaboration with campus stakeholders; lead an orientation planning work group to ensure a seamless transition for all new students and alignment with broader student success strategies. Serve as the point person for guiding the College’s initiatives to support first-generation student success (First-Gen Forward, first generation student celebrations, etc.), including the development of a work group to assist with executing all first-generation student initiatives. Conduct regular performance evaluations of direct reports which provides an environment of coaching and mentoring to maintain top performance and address any areas of improvement as they arise. Work to establish long-term student success goals and strategies. Collaborate with academic departments to identify and address barriers to student success, including course availability, prerequisite sequencing, and major-specific advising needs. Oversee the design, delivery, and assessment of programs that promote student success, retention, and academic success; utilize data to assess program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement. Foster a collaborative, student-centered programmatic and service delivery culture. Collaborate with Research, Assessment and Special Initiatives and academic partners to monitor student progress and develop proactive interventions. Ensure that Advising, Adult Learners and Veteran Affairs, and Career Services are aligned with retention and completion goals. Serve as a liaison to academic departments, faculty, and other administrative units to promote coordinated student success programs and services. Partner with departments considered to be in the area of Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, and Academic Affairs to support integrated student pathways. Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree.
Four years of related experience.
Progressive supervisory and leadership experience managing staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
Experience with the student success function or related programmatic areas.
Knowledge of best practices specific to first-generation students and new student onboarding initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to use data and assessment to inform decision-making and improve student outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of student success initiatives and best practices.
Must be a willing advocate of the mission of the college.
Strong leadership and team management skills, including the ability to support and empower advising staff.
Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills to facilitate collaboration between advisors, faculty, and administrators.
Ability to develop and implement innovative advising models and processes.
Understanding of student development theory and support strategies.
Proficiency in technology integration to enhance student support (e.g., Slate, Banner, Teams for communication).
Experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Data-driven decision-making skills to assess and improve student support effectiveness.
Commitment to student success.

Pay Rate: $68,434 - $85,542 annual salary depending on experience

Volunteer State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Insurance:  Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/HSA
• Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in Health)
• Educational Assistance:  Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Longevity Pay
• Retirement Options:  State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401K with up to $50/month match, 403b, and 457
• 14 Paid Holidays/Year
• Annual Leave (if applicable)
• Sick Leave
• Sick Leave Bank
• State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

Applicants may be subject to a background check.