Position Summary

Join San Diego State University as a Lead Academic Advisor and help guide students toward their academic and career goals. In this leadership role, you’ll provide expert advising, mentor a team of advisors, and implement strategies to enhance student success in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide personalized academic advising to students, guiding them in course selection, degree planning, and understanding university policies.
• Mentor and support a team of academic advisors, fostering professional growth and ensuring consistent, high-quality advising services.
• Develop and implement initiatives to improve student retention, graduation rates, and overall academic experiences.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus departments to stay updated on academic programs, policies, and resources.
• Lead workshops, presentations, and outreach events to educate students on academic opportunities, career pathways, and university resources.
• Monitor student progress, identify at-risk students, and provide proactive support to help them overcome challenges.
• Analyze data and assess advising outcomes to drive continuous improvements in services and strategies.

Why Join Us?

• Take a key role in mentoring advisors and shaping strategies that directly impact student success.
• Work with a supportive team in a university that values inclusion, innovation, and teamwork.
• Access resources, training, and opportunities to advance your career and expand your expertise.
• Help students achieve their academic and personal aspirations, making a lasting difference in their lives.

Take the next step in your advising career—apply today to join the SDSU community as a Lead Academic Advisor!

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Fowler College of Business (FCB) consists of one school and four academic departments (Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy, Finance, Management Information Systems, Management, and Marketing), a Dean, an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, an Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, a College Operations Manager/Director of Resource Management, a Director of Marketing & Communications, a Director for Graduate Programs, a Director for Undergraduate Programs, a Director for the Career Management Center, a Director for Assessment, and a Managing Director for the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business.

The Fowler College of Business offers a variety of programs, including an undergraduate and graduate degree in business administration and specialized masters program. The college also houses several centers: the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate, the Center for Advancing Global Business, the Corporate Governance Institute, the Institute for Inclusion and Diversity, the Center for Integrated Marketing Communication, and the Aztec Consulting Center, which are critical for the implementation of its strategic plan.

The Fowler College of Business has over 200 full and part-time academic employees and more than 45 clerical and technical employees.

FCB is an instructional division of San Diego State University, administered by the Dean. The Dean’s Office is responsible for the creation, implementation, and continued support of the instructional, research, and development processes in the College.

The Center for Student Success (CSS) within the College provides all academic and informational advising for current, prospective, and former students and graduation candidates in the Undergraduate Program. It also focuses on students experiencing academic difficulty and those participating in special programs. It provides assistance to students in filling out academic forms and petitions, and in understanding university and college policies, requirements and procedures. The unit is responsible for implementing all policies, procedures, and decisions made regarding currently attending Business majors. The unit coordinates the following: primary commencement function (undergraduate for approximately 1,800 students/8,500 guests); undergraduate academic advising, tutoring, study abroad, incoming first year and transfer student orientation among others.

Size of the Employing Unit-Center for Student Success in FCB

One full-time Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

One full-time Director

Two full-time Co-Lead Academic Advisors

One full-time Academic Advisor for BSBA Online Degree Completion Program

Fourteen full-time Academic Advisors

One full-time Administrative Assistant

2-3 part-time student assistants

For more information regarding the Center for Student Success Department, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field; including or supplemented by upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related. Possession of the required knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. One year in the program area to which assigned may be preferred but is not required.

A master’s degree in counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Key Qualifications

• Experience in student services within higher education, such as admissions, advising, registrar, or similar offices.
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse student populations and present to varied audiences of different sizes.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, applying initiative and creativity in changing or unique circumstances.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations and advise students on sensitive matters.
• Knowledge of barriers faced by underrepresented groups and a commitment to fostering inclusive, cooperative relationships.
• General understanding of Student Affairs principles, practices, and trends, including individual and group behavior.
• Familiarity with academic requirements and policies within SDSU and the CSU system, and proficiency with systems like my.SDSU, uAchieve, and SDSU Navigate (EAB) is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,540 per month. 

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.

San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here.

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 - $7,893 per month. 

Diversity and Community at SDSU

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. 

Through our commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement.  For more information, click here.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on January 24, 2025. To receive full consideration, apply by January 23, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

SDSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers all qualified candidates for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu.