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Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26117

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Ariel Donohue

(406) 994-3004

[email protected]

Classification Title Academic Advisor III

Working Title Lead Success Advisor (Current MSU Bozeman Employees Only)

Brief Position Overview

Join Montana State University’s Division of Student Success as the Lead Success Advisor providing direct success advising to students while also offering leadership and support to a team of Success Advisors within the Access and Success office. This role is responsible for coordinating success advising services, mentoring staff, and contributing to student retention and success initiatives across campus. The position plays a key role in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment at Montana State University.

Position Number TBD

Department Access & Success

Division Division of Student Success

Appointment Type Classified

Contract Term

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA Non-Exempt

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary $27.50 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type Classified Salary

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Campus

Position Details

General Statement

Reporting to the Senior Access Officer, the Lead Success Advisor plays a pivotal leadership role within Montana State University’s Access and Success team in the Division of Student Success, advancing the institution’s mission to foster a supportive, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment. This position is responsible for both providing high-impact success advising to students and for offering leadership, training, and oversight to a team of 5–10 Success Advisors.

The Lead Success Advisor ensures that students receive timely, effective support and that advising practices are aligned with university-wide retention and student success goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Student Success Advising Responsibilities

+ Conduct individual and group advising sessions for students referred through Navigate/Early Alert, Residence Life, MSU 101, the CARE Team, or via self-referral.

+ Guide students in developing academic skills and strategies, including time management, study techniques, goal setting, and exam preparation.

+ Assist students in interpreting university policies, navigating academic processes, and connecting with relevant campus resources.

+ Facilitate academic programming such as workshops, classroom presentations, and co-facilitate the US 103: Learning Strategies course.

+ Support students in crafting personalized learning plans and connect them with tutoring, mentoring, and academic support services.

+ Foster a culture of care, inclusion, and academic support by maintaining a visible and proactive presence within the university community.

Leadership and Supervisory Responsibilities

+ Supervise team of Success Advisors, providing day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and performance management.

+ Coordinate scheduling and coverage for advising services, including appointments, workshops, and group sessions.

+ Organize and lead regular team meetings and one-on-one check-ins to foster collaboration, team cohesion and continuous improvement.

+ Oversee the onboarding and ongoing training of new and continuing Success Advisors in university systems, advising strategies, and student support resources.

+ Monitor advisor caseloads, referrals, and follow-ups to ensure equitable workload distribution and timely support to students.

+ Act as a liaison with other campus departments, ensuring effective coordination and integration of student success initiatives.

+ Contribute to assessment and evaluation efforts by collecting data, analyzing trends, and helping develop reports to inform strategic improvements.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Must be a current MSU Bozeman employee, initially hired through a competitive search process.

+ Master’s degree in education, student affairs, or related field and progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student support services, or related higher education role, or a combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a master’s degree.

+ Strong knowledge of academic success strategies, student development theory and student support resources.

+ Experience facilitating and instructing small group workshops and classes.

+ Demonstrated experience leading and supervising staff.

+ Experience providing support programs for students from various backgrounds.

+ Demonstrate technical competence using personal computers and various software such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software and relational databases.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Experience coordinating student success or academic advising initiatives in a university setting.

+ Familiarity with assessment practices and data-informed decision-making in student support services.

+ Experience in working with students from varied backgrounds.

The Successful Candidate Will

+ Have excellent written and oral communication skills.

+ Establish and maintain strong cooperative working relationships with a variety of constituencies, including students, faculty, and staff to advance program goals through partnerships.

+ Sound judgement and initiative in decision-making, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.

+ Find creative solutions to challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and maintain motivation and resilience during periods of adversity.

+ Posses the ability to troubleshoot problems and have candid conversations.

+ Manage and adapt to multiple priorities with attention to detail, accuracy, flexibility and adherence to deadlines in a dynamic work environment.

+ Have the ability to relate to, mentor

+ Work successfully independently and in a team environment.

+ Excellent organizational and conflict management skills.

+ Effectively analyze complex data and make informed decisions.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This position requires occasional work on nights and weekends to accommodate special events.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon completion of successful search

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on September 18, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.