Director, Student Success Advising

Job Description:

Berklee is the world’s leading institution for the study of music, dance, and theater. In 2022, we launched the Berklee Bridge, a transformative, holistic student success model. We are now seeking a Director of Student Success Advising—a leader and innovator who is passionate about making a 360-degree impact on the student experience: academic, personal, artistic, and professional. At Berklee, your work directly supports the next generation of creative leaders.

The Vision: The Berklee Bridge

The Student Success Advising team acts as the central coordinator of a vast success network. Moving beyond traditional course registration, this team ensures each student has a "wrap-around" support system. You will lead a team of professional advisors who affirm each student’s capacity for self-direction and growth within a highly personalized, cohort-based model.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership:

• Team Mentorship: Supervise and mentor 5-6 professional advisors. You will find fulfillment in their advancement, leading with empathy to foster a growth-oriented environment.
• Cohort Management: Oversee the holistic care of a cohort of approximately 1,500 undergraduate students, ensuring no creative voice goes unheard.
• Data-Driven Success: Work closely with the Assistant Dean to drive KPIs and leverage predictive analytics to inform retention and outreach strategies.
• Collaborative Advocacy: Partner with Academic Affairs, Health & Wellness, and the Equity Leadership Team to coordinate care for escalated and complex student cases.
• The CARES Committee: Serve as an active member of Berklee CARES, partnering across the college to support students of concern through assessment and intervention.

Direct Advising & Success:

• Caseload Coaching: Provide direct advice to an assigned caseload of students, helping them navigate milestones from major declaration to graduation.
• Proactive Outreach: Identify and coach academically at-risk students, connecting them with the specific Bridge resources they need to get back on track.
• Milestone Tracking: Monitor progress through the "music core" and other essential curriculum markers to ensure a timely path to professional success.

What You'll Bring

• Education: Master’s degree required.
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years in undergraduate advising and 3+ years supervising/mentoring professional staff.
• Technical Savvy: Comfort with predictive analytics and Student Information Systems (SIS).
• Interpersonal Excellence: A high level of empathy, listening skills, and the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of a diverse, global student body.
• Mission Alignment: A deep commitment to supporting students from over 100 countries as they develop as performers, educators, and therapists.

Why Berklee?

• Mission-Driven Impact: Help shape the future of the arts in a vibrant, innovative setting.
• Cultural Access: Enjoy nightly access to world-class music, theater, and dance performances right on campus.
• Comprehensive Benefits:  Competitive health and dental coverage, a 403(b) plan with matching contributions, and tuition benefits for you and your family.
• Time Off: Generous PTO plus a paid winter break to recharge your own creative battery.

Join us in redefining student success for the world's most inspired artists!

Hiring Range: $95,000 to $108,000; salary dependent on experience and education.

Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about our benefits.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

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