Assistant Director for Undergraduate Advising-1

Job Description

The College of Arts & Sciences has an outstanding opportunity for an Assistant Director of Academic Services to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to Senior Director of Academic Services, the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Advising provides day-to-day management and leadership for a team of undergraduate advisers across an assigned portfolio of Arts & Sciences departments. This position is part of the College’s evolving academic services leadership team and plays a central role in building a coordinated, high-quality advising community. 

In addition to managing an advising team, the Assistant Director leads the development and documentation of standardized operating procedures across college advising.  They will create shared resources that strengthen consistency and support advising across all units.   

This role is based on the Seattle campus and may be eligible for a hybrid schedule. 

Key Responsibilities

Staff Management & Team Development (50%) 

• Provide day-to-day oversight for a team of undergraduate advisers across an assigned portfolio of departments 
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of advising staff by contributing to reviewing candidates and providing input on hiring decisions 
• Design and lead onboarding for new advising staff 
• Build and sustain professional development opportunities for the advising team, identifying growth opportunities, coordinating training and working with individual advisers and the Senior Director to support career progression and skill development 
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to provide guidance, day-to-day work direction and professional support 
• Provide regular and timely feedback to the Senior Director to inform formal staff evaluation processes 
• Ensure sustainable workload distribution across the team; monitor caseloads and flag concerns for leadership 
• Foster a collaborative, professional advising culture within the assigned team and across the broader college advising community 

Advising Operations (30%) 

• Ensure consistent, high-quality advising service delivery across assigned departments in alignment with College standards and student success goals 
• Lead the development, documentation and ongoing maintenance of standardized operation procedures for undergraduate advising across college units, creating shared resources that create consistency of practice 
• Build and maintain a shared advising operations handbook covering key processes, workflows, service expectations, and policy guidance for use by advising staff across the college 
• Identify where advising practices vary significantly across units and work collaboratively with leadership to develop common standards where appropriate, while preserving unit-specific expertise where needed 
• Develop, implement and continuously review operating procedures and service expectations for the assigned advising team 
• Monitor student outcomes data, advising patterns, and service metrics; identify concerns and bring forward recommendations to leadership 
• Serve as a resource and escalation point for complex student situations that exceed individual adviser scope 
• Coordinate or provide interim advising coverage when team members are absent, ensuring continuity of service to students 
• Ensure advising materials, department websites, student-facing resources and campus partner contact lists are accurate and current across assigned units 
• Coordinate with leadership on advising policy questions, student complaints, and other complex situations 

Cross-Unit Collaboration & College Initiatives (10%) 

• Participate actively in college-wide advising leadership meetings and planning discussions 
• Serves as a collaborative partner to College leadership and other campus partners 
• Contribute to shared advising practices, tools and initiatives being developed  
• Maintain liaison relationships with campus partners on behalf of the assigned advising team 
• Represent the assigned advising team in cross-unit conversations about student needs, enrollment patterns and advising challenges 

Outreach, Recruitment and Student Programming (10%) 

• Coordinate advising team participation in undergraduate recruitment and yield events, transfer orientations, new student orientations and admitted student days 
• Ensure consistent team representation at student-facing events; provide coordination across the advising team for programming responsibilities 
• Support prospective and incoming student communications 
• Support additional student-facing programming and events in alignment with departmental and college priorities as assigned 

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least four years of progressively responsible experience in undergraduate academic advising, student services, or a related higher education role
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

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Additional Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to provide work direction, coach, and support the professional development of staff or peers 
• Deep knowledge of undergraduate academic policies, degree requirements, and advising practice sufficient to serve as a resource and escalation point for a team of advisers 
• Experience developing, documenting, or standardizing operating procedures, advising workflows, or staff-facing process resources 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage team operations, multiple workflows, and competing priorities simultaneously 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including ability to communicate clearly with students, faculty, staff, and college leadership 
• Experience providing advising coverage or managing complex student situations independently 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment in compliance with FERPA 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, counseling, student personnel, or a related field 
• Experience supervising or providing lead oversight of advising staff in a college or university setting 
• Familiarity with UW advising systems including SDB, EARS, DARS, and BI Portal 
• Experience advising students across multiple departments or disciplines within a college-level advising structure 
• Demonstrated ability to build team culture, onboard new staff, and support professional development in a higher education advising context 
• Experience developing shared resources, training materials, or process documentation for use across multiple units or teams 
• Familiarity with transfer student advising and community college articulation processes 
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and student-centered advising practice 
• Experience with student outreach, recruitment events, or orientation programming 

Working Conditions

• Office based work on the Seattle Campus.
• This position operates in a hybrid environment; direct student advising, recruitment and outreach activities are primarily conducted in person, while some administrative and operational functions may be performed remotely. 

About the Team

Why UW and the College of Arts & Sciences?

• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A collaborative and supportive work culture

• Meaningful work supporting student persistence, timely graduation, and academic excellence in a world-class public research university.
• A collaborative professional academic services community that values professional judgment, adaptability, and thoughtful innovation in student services.

If you are an adaptable, student-centered professional who enjoys working across varied academic contexts and building structures that help students thrive, consider joining the College as an Assistant Academic Services Director.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

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About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.