Assistant Director of Academic Success

Job SummaryCentral Washington University is recruiting an Assistant Director of Academic Success to join our Academic Advising-Exploratory team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.Who we are:We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9AWhat we offer:Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.The Role:The Assistant Director of Academic Success manages the day-to-day operations of Academic Success to support student persistence, retention, and success through targeted intervention and student programming. This position will design programs and provide operational leadership for initiatives including Early Academic Alerts, peer mentoring, academic success coaching, first-year retention, academic recovery, and university enrichment programming to support students' academic success. Responsibilities include supervising professional staff, serving as a backup for student supervision, providing direction to professional staff regarding their program areas, and assisting with budget forecasting and spending approvals for the budgets related to their areas. This position regularly collaborates with a variety of stakeholders to achieve department and university goals as well as ensure effective implementation of policies and procedures.This position directly affects the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by creating and promoting a welcoming environment where students, faculty, and staff feel supported. All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.Minimum QualificationsBachelor's degree.4 or more years of experience in working in higher education or student support services.Excellent interpersonal, written, communication, presentation, and listening skills.Demonstrated ability to work with students, staff and faculty.Demonstrated ability in the use of Word, Excel, email and/or similar software applications to produce written correspondence, create and maintain spreadsheets, and receive and respond to email inquiries, tasks, etc.Demonstrated ability to work independently to accomplish tasks and projects.Demonstrated ability and/or experience fostering a supportive and effective workplace while working with students and/or colleagues to uphold institutional excellence. OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.Preferred QualificationsMaster's degree.Knowledge of student development theories and best practices in student success.Data driven decision making experience.Experience supervising individuals or teams.Experience using student information systems such as PeopleSoft, Civitas, or other related software.Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of best practices and industry standards in supporting student retention, persistence, and completionAbility to incorporate a variety of perspectives and relevant societal issues into everyday conversations.Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds.CompetenciesAccountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!Pay, Benefits, & Work ScheduleSalary: The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $53,000 - $67,000 annually. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the full annual salary range for this position is $49,833 to $69,766.Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator. An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.How To ApplyTo apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting; Resume including work history, education, training; and Contact information for three professional references.Screening Begins: May 18, 2026**Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.CWU is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Veteran/Disability Employer.