Manager, Student Success

Location: Flexible within the US

Type: Full-time

Team: Student Affairs and Student Services

Start Date: 10/1/2026

Priority Application Review Deadline: September 8. 2026

Summary:

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited not-for-profit institution of higher education serving thousands of educators from across the country, from pre-service teachers to system-level leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by excellent educators, in order to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

The Student Affairs and Student Services team focuses on creating a safe, inclusive, and meaningful experience for all Relay students and alumni. The Manager, Student Success (MoSS) ensures that students are equipped to complete their program and meet educator certification requirements by providing proactive and culturally responsive advising. Reporting to the Director, Student Success, this role serves as the primary advisor for an assigned caseload, maintaining consistent communication and meeting key success metrics (e.g., retention, certification progress, course completion) throughout each student’s academic and certification journey. The MoSS collaborates closely with faculty, staff, and external partners to remove barriers, promote persistence, and ensure a positive, affirming student experience from enrollment to completion.

Role’s Contributions (Duties and Responsibilities): 

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

Direct Student Support & Experience Enhancement (50%)

• Build authentic, trusting relationships that cultivate belonging, affirm students’ lived experiences, and increase persistence rates.
• Provide proactive, culturally responsive advising for course planning, degree progress, and licensure progress and completion.
• Conduct check-ins at key points each term (e.g., start, midterm, pre-registration) to address challenges and keep students on track.
• Identify academic, emotional, or logistical challenges and connect students with relevant institutional and community resources.
• Translate complex processes into clear, accessible information for decision-making.
• Support students in navigating educator certification milestones, including exam preparation, documentation, and application timelines.

Systems Management & Operational Excellence (30%)

• Monitor student performance using institutional dashboards and data tools to anticipate needs and respond proactively.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records for advising and certification progress to support intervention and accountability.
• Conduct degree and certification audits in collaboration with the Registrar and other administrative partners.
• Resolve issues related to registration, enrollment, or administrative holds that may disrupt student momentum.
• Ensure all certification requirements are met and properly documented, including state-specific testing and eligibility criteria.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., Student Financial Services, Faculty, Academic Compliance) to eliminate procedural barriers and support student retention.

Policy Communication & Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Communicate certification policies, timelines, and procedures in a clear, student-friendly, and culturally responsive manner.
• Advise on how program changes (e.g., placement, certification area, or re-enrollment) impact certification timelines and eligibility.
• Liaise with state licensure agencies to submit verifications, resolve issues, and advocate for student licensure needs.
• Monitor and interpret changes in state certification regulations, and ensure timely updates are communicated to students and staff.
• Develop and maintain tools and resources (e.g., handbooks, FAQs, certification guides) to support the understanding of students and staff.
• Engage in institutional working groups, initiatives, or committees to inform policies and practices that enhance student success and equity.

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the Manager, Student Success must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, or a related academic field required.
• 5-7 years of teaching experience in a PK–12 classroom.
• Evidence of applying proactive and culturally responsive advising practices to support student success.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, and institutional partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated proficiency in using student information systems and leveraging data to inform advising decisions.
• Track record of advancing equity, access, and student-centered decision-making in advising or academic support settings.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Familiarity with state certification policies and licensure requirements
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in academic advising, student services, or certification function in higher education.

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $74,250-$111,375. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range, $74,250 to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience,
• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.   

WORK LOCATION POLICY

Employees must have a primary work location within the U.S., where they are legally authorized to work. Relay is a registered employer in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and Washington DC. Please note that Relay Graduate School of Education's headquarters are in New York City. Employees who choose to perform work from states not listed here will be subject to NYC state withholdings.

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.