Director of Student Success

The Director of Student Success provides leadership for Ivy Cares, overseeing the development, coordination, and assessment of comprehensive wraparound services that address barriers to student success. The Director connects students with campus and community resources to address basic needs, financial challenges, and other personal or situational barriers that may impact their ability to persist and complete their education. The Director develops proactive support strategies, coordinates services and interventions for students experiencing challenges, and collaborates with campus partners and community organizations to ensure students have access to the resources they need to succeed. In addition to leading Ivy Cares, the Director supports First-Year Experience programming and other student success initiatives, including targeted interventions for at-risk student populations. Using institutional data, student feedback, and established best practices, the Director evaluates the effectiveness of services and advances institutional goals related to student retention, persistence, and completion.

Wraparound Services & Student Advocacy

• Provide leadership for the development, coordination, management, and growth of the Ivy Cares Office and its programs and services.
• Identify the needs of student populations and align Ivy Cares goals, operations, and services accordingly.
• Develop and implement programs, services, and initiatives that address basic needs and other barriers that may interfere with student success, persistence, and completion.
• Coordinate campus programming that increases student access to resources and raises awareness of student needs and the impact of poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, childcare, mental health, trauma, and other external factors on academic success and persistence.
• Develop strategies to increase awareness and utilization of Ivy Cares programs and resources among students and employees.
• Facilitate student access to and use of campus and community resources through referrals, individualized support, case management, outreach, and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate, confidential student records in accordance with FERPA, College policies, and applicable requirements.

Student Success & Persistence

• Lead the development, coordination, implementation, and assessment of student success initiatives that promote engagement, retention, persistence, and completion.
• Develop and implement programs, services, and outreach strategies that support at-risk student populations and address barriers to student engagement, persistence, and completion.
• Develop and coordinate First-Year Experience programming and other initiatives that support student transition, connection, belonging, and academic success.

Supervision, Staff Development & Operations

• Supervise assigned staff and student employees, establish clear expectations, assign responsibilities, and monitor performance and service delivery.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback and coaching, and support professional development and employee accountability.
• Develop staffing plans and workflows that ensure effective program delivery, appropriate service coverage, and responsible use of personnel.

Campus & Community Collaboration

• Collaborate with academic and student affairs departments to identify student needs, coordinate support, and develop integrated student success initiatives.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, social service agencies, schools, foundations, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the College in community meetings, events, and initiatives related to student success, student retention, and basic needs support.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor program goals, participation measures, retention indicators, referral outcomes, and other key performance metrics.
• Analyze institutional data, student feedback, and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, identify emerging needs, and guide improvements.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for supervisors and campus stakeholders regarding program effectiveness, student needs, resource allocation, and opportunities for improvement.

Budget, Operations & Resource Development

• Develop and monitor program budgets, allocate approved resources, and ensure responsible use of College funds.
• Identify grant and funding opportunities and collaborate with College partners on proposals, implementation, and reporting.
• Maintain accurate program, budget, staffing, and partnership records.

Other Responsibilities:

•  Serve on the AWARE/Behavioral Intervention Team and other relevant campus and College-wide committees.
• Collaborate with campus partners to identify students of concern and coordinate appropriate support and referrals.
• Promote awareness and utilization of campus programs, services, and resources that support student achievement.
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered team culture focused on service, accountability, continuous improvement, and student outcomes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.  

Hiring Range:

• This role is budgeted between $55,000 and $65,000 per year based on experience and qualifications.

Work Hours:  

• Typical business work hours, occasional evenings and weekends may be required for special events.

Minimum Qualifications:

•  Bachelor’s degree in student personnel, counseling, higher education, social work, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, student support, social services, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Experience developing, managing, or assessing programs that promote student success, participant engagement, retention, or access to support services in higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Experience supervising employees or student staff, providing performance feedback, and coordinating team responsibilities.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and using data or assessment results to evaluate program effectiveness, identify participant needs, and guide program improvements and decision-making.
• Experience managing multiple projects, leading teams, and building collaborative partnerships.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, take initiative, and manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintaining confidential records.
• Commitment to inclusion and supporting a diverse student population.
• Flexibility to attend meetings and events outside normal working hours as needed.    

Preferred Qualifications:

•  Master’s degree in student personnel, counseling, higher education, social work, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Community college experience.
• Experience with basic-needs support, emergency aid, case management, or wraparound services.
• Experience with early-alert systems, at-risk student populations, retention, persistence, and completion initiatives.
• Experience developing or coordinating First-Year Experience programming.
• Experience supervising professional staff, student employees, or interns.
• Experience with grant writing, funding proposals, and resource development.
• Experience developing community partnerships.
• Experience with program assessment, data analysis, and continuous improvement.

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution

• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia

• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses

• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources

• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards

• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care

Retirement & Financial Security

• 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years

• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage

• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

Educational Benefits

• Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs

• Paid professional development opportunities

Work‑Life Balance

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess

• Flexible work arrangements where available

• Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)

• Paid parental leave (4 weeks)

Additional Perks

• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services

Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits.

Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.