New 
Student Services Manager - Assistant Director of First Year Success (Academic Advisement)
 Maricopa Community College district | |
life insurance, paid time off, sick time, long term disability, tuition reimbursement, 403(b)
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 United States, Arizona, Mesa | |
 Feb 05, 2026 | |
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Student Services Manager - Assistant Director of First Year Success (Academic Advisement) Job ID: 322348 Location: Mesa Community College Full/Part Time: Full Time Regular/Temporary: Regular Hiring Salary Range $68,850.00 - $89,505.00/annually, DOE Grade 118 Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm; some evenings and weekends may be required Summer Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7am-6pm Work Calendar 12 Months Maricopa Summary 10 Colleges. Unlimited Opportunities. The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college systems in the nation. Home to 10 individually accredited community colleges and 31 satellite locations, we proudly serve students in every corner of the Valley. Each day, our dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators, live out our vision- creating excellence in education for a better world. We focus on people-not profits. With 100% acceptance, zero rejections, and affordable tuition, we provide the flexibility and support our students need to succeed in and beyond the classroom. Discover how we're changing college. We don't just support our community-we help build it. We are the largest provider of workforce development training in the state. The activities of our colleges and their students support one out of every 28 jobs in Maricopa County. Learn about our economic impact. We believe our employees are our most valuable asset. Our 10 colleges and District Office support nearly 10,000 jobs and careers throughout Greater Phoenix. Join us in making a real difference in the lives of over 140,000 college students each year. Campus Statement Mesa Community College (MCC), is nationally recognized for its excellence in university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, and innovative education. Serving more than 25,500 students annually, MCC offers a range of degree and certificate programs across its two campuses and additional locations. MCC students contribute more than 8,500 hours of community service annually. MCC serves as a key resource for education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The college enhances student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services. A Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly 50% of MCC students are first-generation college attendees, and it boasts the largest Indigenous student population among Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) colleges, supporting students from 22 Arizona tribes and additional out-of-state tribes. Our award-winning faculty are committed to helping students achieve their goals through high-quality education, training and undergraduate research opportunities. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of 10 MCCCD colleges. Learn more at mesacc.edu. Benefits Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is committed to providing a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports our employees' and their families' health and well-being. Therefore, the MCCCD benefits support every stage of life and are designed to meet the diverse needs of our community. Explore the wide range of benefits and perks available to eligible employees at MCCCD: Affordable and Comprehensive Benefits Package:
Employee Health & Wellness Programs:
Job Summary Assistant Director, First-Year Success (Inaugural Position) Mesa Community College invites applications for and seeks a strategic, student-centered leader to serve as its first inaugural Assistant Director of First-Year Success. This inaugural leadership role will design, launch, and institutionalize a comprehensive first-year program that supports students from entry through the completion of their first year. This position represents a critical investment in the college's long-term student success and enrollment stability strategy. The position will build the program from the ground up-coordinating multiple first-year initiatives and new student orientation, supporting early alert and intervention for first-year students, and supervising retention coaches-while aligning academic and student support services to ensure a strong, equitable start for all students. Position Overview Reporting to the Director, Academic Advising (or designee), the Assistant Director of First-Year Success provides college-wide strategic and operational leadership for first-year experience, new-student orientation, early academic momentum, and retention initiatives. As an inaugural role, this position requires a leader who can translate vision into operational reality, build cross-functional partnerships, and establish sustainable structures, processes, and assessment practices. The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with Academic Affairs, faculty leadership, Enrollment Services, Institutional Research, Information Technology, and Student Affairs units to ensure first-year success is embedded as a shared institutional responsibility. The role has a substantial impact on the success of college-wide first-year initiatives and provides oversight and management of signature first-year programs and leading a team of retention specialist positions. Key Responsibilities
Essential Functions All Student Affairs positions require consistent, full on-site attendance and engagement as an essential job function in order to provide in-person student affairs services, including but not limited to: student advising, support services, case management, programming, student walk-in services, daily operational support and collaboration, etc.-which precludes remote or hybrid work options for any Student Affairs role regardless of position classification. 45% Leadership * Participate in developing departmental strategic plans based on department goals. * Develop, implement, assess, and manage student engagement and transition programs, policies, and procedures for MCC students first-year student success initiatives. * Manage activities related to the first-year academic advising program, including determining and overseeing advisor/advisee caseloads, ratios, and student assignments/re-assignments in PeopleSoft. * Work closely with the Dean and Director to develop impactful resources to support academic, social, and professional development of first-year students. * Create, deliver, and evaluate quality first-year programming activities for students in both the seated and online modalities. * Develop and lead retention-based outreach programs to currently enrolled students in coordination with division leadership. * Compile and present data informed proposals and recommendations regarding immediate and long-range planning for advising and retention efforts. * Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of advisement delivered by first-year undergraduate advisors to students. Conduct data analysis projects; implement assessment initiatives designed to enrich advising and case management. * Work across divisions to engage key constituents to design and deliver programmatic content in support of student success, retention, and meaningful faculty/student engagement. * Create effective ongoing planning and relational partnerships to support first-year student success initiatives with academic units within the college. * Partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver value-added programs and services to support the delivery of exceptional experiences to first-year students. * Collaborate with faculty regarding the First-Year Experience (FYE) courses to ensure relevant learning objectives and outcomes are as expected. * Collaborate with faculty to address first-year experience courses, orientation, summer bridge programming, and similar initiatives. * Demonstrate assessment technique and continuous improvement efforts through the development and submission of an annual assessment plan and report for the Office of First Year Experience in accordance with the Institutional Effectiveness Policy. * Interview, hire, train, and supervise retention coach positions. Develop and implement onboard training, cross-training, professional development opportunities, and continuous feedback to advisors through the evaluation process. * Ability to act in the absence of the Director, Academic Advising and assist with projects and program quality improvements. 45% Program/Operation Implementation * Design and implement a comprehensive first-year success framework, including vision, goals, new-student orientation, onboarding, early-term retention milestones and strategies, and measurable outcomes aligned with guided pathways principles. * Build program infrastructure from the ground up (with continuous improvement strategies), including staffing models, workflows, communication strategies, and assessment processes. * Coordinate and continuously improve new student orientation and related transition programming. * Lead and align first-year programming such as success workshops, seminars, learning communities, and engagement initiatives. * Support, help operationalize, and scale retention and early alert systems for first-year students, integrate academic progress monitoring, case management, intervention escalation protocols, and coordinate timely outreach and intervention with faculty, advisors, and support services. * Partner with academic leadership and faculty to embed first-year success strategies into gateway courses and programs. * Lead cross-functional collaboration across divisions (Academic Affairs, Student Services, Enrollment Management, Institutional Research) to align onboarding, advising, and support services for new students. * Use quantitative and qualitative data, dashboards, and KPIs to assess first-year outcomes and guide continuous improvement. * Develop and produce assessment reports, accreditation evidence, and executive-level summaries demonstrating institutional effectiveness. * Supervise, train, and evaluate retention coaches, ensuring consistent, proactive, and equity-minded coaching practices to support first-year and new-student success initiatives, while fostering accountability, consistency, and professional growth. * Ensure first-year programs are equity-minded, student-centered, and scalable, with attention to diverse student populations including first-generation, adult, and historically underserved students. * Represent first-year success initiatives in college-wide planning, enrollment management, and accreditation activities. 5% Compliance * Monitor compliance with all unit, department, college, and government standards, policies, and procedures. * Ensure compliance and follow, understand, and adhere to federal, state, District Office, and institutional regulations/laws/policies. * Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by accreditation agencies, school policies, and administrative regulations. * Utilize relevant, appropriate, and approved systems to communicate and monitor student interaction and progress. * Monitor the compliance and reporting standards and remain abreast of district, state, and federal regulations. Maintain student confidentiality, including accurate and confidential records. * Manage complex and sensitive issues with compassion and confidentiality. * Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Use access to sensitive and/or not yet public college-related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of the position and exercise care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others. * Prepare accurate reports and documentation as required and requested. Track and monitor federal grants; prepare and monitor department budgets and other related budgets and operations. * Ensure students equal access to MCC's curricular and co-curricular activities. Support students and counsel them to better understand their MCC experience. 5% Other * Serve on various executive boards, college and district committees (including locally, regionally, and nationally) as designated and participate in meetings and conferences. * Responsible for other reasonable related duties as assigned commensurate to the grade level of the position. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution in education, sociology, business administration, higher education administration, counseling, student personnel, college student affairs leadership, or related field and five years of progressively responsible student services or related experience that includes such things as administration of policies and procedures, program oversight and two years of supervisory experience. OR An equivalent combination of the conferred degree and directly related full-time work experience as described above sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation, may be considered. Desired Qualifications A Master's degree in higher education administration, counseling, student personnel, or college student affairs leadership or related field from a regionally accredited college or university. B One year of full-time, relevant MCCCD experience within the previous two years. C Proven ability and demonstrated experience leading, designing, operationalizing, scaling or significantly contributing to first-year success frameworks, including onboarding, new student orientation, first-year experience (FYE), persistence initiatives, and early academic momentum aligned to institutional mission, strategic plans, enrollment goals, and completion. D Proven ability to design and operationalize student success systems with evidence of measurable impact on first-term persistence, fall-to-spring/fall-to-fall retention, credit accumulation, or early registration behavior. E Demonstrated experience delivering and implementing proactive, case-management, success coaching, or intrusive advising for first-year, exploratory, at-risk, adult, or returning students, with a focus on persistence, academic momentum, and completion within a Guided Pathways or structured onboarding framework. F Experience with student information systems, early alert systems, CRM systems, degree audit tools, student success technologies, MS Office Suite, Google Applications, Zoom, etc. G Demonstrated knowledge of accreditation standards and experience producing assessment and accreditation reports for continuous improvement processes student success outcomes. H Demonstrated success aligning staffing to institutional priorities and leading multi-unit teams, managing supervisors, and developing professional staff through organizational change, reorganization, or system redesign while maintaining service quality. I Proven ability to collaborate with academic affairs, faculty leadership, enrollment services, institutional research, IT, and student affairs units related to retention, enrollment, completion, or strategic planning. Special Working Conditions Work schedule varies during the year: August through mid-May: Monday - Friday, 8 hour days; mid-May through the end of July: Monday - Thursday, 10 hour days May require working evening and weekend hours (example: Saturday coverage during peak weeks) Required to sit for a prolonged period of time; viewing a computer monitor May be required to travel or be assigned to another MCCD location Travel to campus during interview/selection process will be at candidate's own expense MCC does not sponsor individuals for work visas How to Apply Applicants are required to submit a cover letter and resume showing how the applicant meets the minimum and desired qualifications. All minimum requirements must be met at the time of the application. Additional materials will not be accepted after the job posting has closed. Missing materials or incomplete employment history will not be considered. Please ensure your materials clearly provide the following information.
Applicants who currently work for any of the MCCCD campuses/locations should utilize their HCM Employee Self Service page to apply for jobs by logging in to HCM and clicking on NavBar > Navigator > Self Service > Recruiting > Careers. Click on link for instructions on how to apply. Applicants who are not currently working for any of the MCCCD locations should apply at https://www.maricopa.edu/about/careers. If you encounter a technical issue in the upload of documents or the submission of your application, please contact MCC Human Resources at strategicstaffing@mesacc.edu prior to the application deadline. We are accessible on business days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Arizona time. Posting Close Date Open until filled First Review February 23rd, 2026 Applications received after the review date may not be screened EEO, Title IX, & Clery Act Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) will not discriminate, nor tolerate discrimination in employment or education, against any applicant, employee, or student because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status (including document abuse), age, disability, veteran status or genetic information. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The policy of the MCCCD is to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of gender discrimination. Incidents of misconduct should be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator, as outlined in policy, contact information is available at this link Title IX Coordinators. The Clery Act is a Federal law requiring United States Colleges and Universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Crime reporting data for each of the Maricopa Community Colleges, as required under the Clery Act, is available at this link Clery Act. To apply, visit https://jobs.maricopa.edu/psp/MCPAHPRD/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1000&JobOpeningId=322348&PostingSeq=1 jeid-1200a7c6901e134f8d55eae8b5b1a700 | |