Assistant Director of Academic Advising

Posting Details

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA).

Posting Details

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.

Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life-creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As a member of the Seahawk community, you'll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

Hiring Range Determined based on qualifications and/or experience. Working Title Assistant Director of Academic Advising External Link to Posting https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/40858 Vacancy Number E1619 Position Number 2079 Location of Workplace Main UNCW Campus Home Department CHSSA Dean's Office - 32100 Division Academic Affairs - 30 Division Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Assistant Director of Academic Advising is part of a leadership team in the CHSSA Dean's Office Academic Resource Center (ARC). The ARC is a team of primary-role advisors who collaborate with the academic departments to provide holistic advising support for undergraduate students in our college. The ARC focuses on the recruitment and retention of CHSSA students, orientation advising for incoming students, and registration advising each semester.

Reporting to the CHSSA Director of Academic Advising, the Assistant Director serves as the primary leader and liaison for implementing effective advising strategies for multiple CHSSA academic departments and is responsible for the initial onboarding and continuous training of academic advisors within the ARC. This work involves a comprehensive, solution-oriented approach to managing curriculum, policy, and process changes impacting CHSSA academic departments and ARC primary role advisors by conveying pertinent information and applying creative problem-solving. The Assistant Director provides oversight and leadership to up to six Academic Advisors and provides direct academic advising services for a caseload of approximately 100-150 new and returning students in support of the College's strategic goals regarding orientation, transitional support, enrollment, retention, persistence, progression, and major declaration. This role serves as a key member of the ARC leadership team, assisting the Director with overall unit management, strategic planning, and policy implementation. This position requires effective communication, collaboration, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders, including CHSSA Academic Departments and campus partners, to ensure consistent, high-quality advising services.

The Assistant Director provides oversight and leadership to up to five Academic Advisors and provides direct academic advising services for a caseload of approximately 100-150 new and returning students in support of the College's strategic goals regarding orientation, transitional support, enrollment, retention, persistence, progression, and major declaration. The ARC team helps students understand academic policies and procedures, their degree plans, and campus resources and services available to them. These positions advise on course selections appropriate to the student's academic goals, monitor academic performance, assist in timely declaration of a major or pre-major, maintain advising files, and support students during academic and personal difficulty and make appropriate referrals as needed. The ARC team identifies problems requiring intervention and assist with strategies for academic recovery as needed.

The ARC team helps students understand academic policies and procedures, their degree plans, and campus resources and services available to them. Working with other faculty and staff, the Assistant Director provides support to help position students for success during and after their time at UNCW. Advisors work with students from diverse populations with different strengths and needs. The Assistant Director will develop a detailed understanding of student-related policies and advising best practices in order to provide individualized support for students.

The Assistant Director will use a holistic approach to address student needs by establishing strong relationships with students to guide them in exploring areas of study and resources necessary to be successful. The ARC team participates in orientation sessions and provide accurate academic information to support students as they make enrollment and curricular decisions. This position will report to the Director of Academic Advising. This position relies heavily on effective communication via phone, video conference, email, and in-person; therefore, the Assistant Director needs to be an excellent communicator, self-starter, quick learner, and able to work in a collaborative environment.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Master's degree in related field plus 3 years of related experience working with college students in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to attend to details with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to utilize and learn various advising and software applications, learning platforms, and technology-based delivery systems, including Microsoft Office Suite as well as enterprise platforms (Banner, Starfish, Degree Works, Web Now, etc.).
• Demonstrated professionalism in effective judgment and professional integrity.
• Demonstrated commitment to and execution of customer service.
• Ability to work irregular work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to manage time effectively in a busy environment.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Possess a proven track record for effective advising, coaching, and communication skills within a diverse student population as part of a team.
• Experience providing supervision and leadership to team members.
• Experience with assessment of programs and/or services.
• Knowledgeable of best practices and theoretical foundations in the fields of adult learning, student development, counseling, supplemental instruction, advising, and student services.
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws, university regulations, and programs/policies required for compliance.
• Experience with and commitment to working with students from diverse backgrounds (e.g. first-year, continuing, and transfer students; pre-professional students; military students; adult learners, on-campus and on-line students; students from historically underrepresented populations) and knowledge of issues of these student populations.
• Experience in an academic advising setting in a university environment, preferably at a four-year institution.
• Work experience related to administering services and programs related to supporting varied student populations, program assessment and evaluation, and retention initiatives.
• Experience offering a high-level of customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Required Certifications or Licensures

N/A

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is housed within the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts which houses approximately 240 faculty and 53 staff.

The college is comprised of 14 departments and 1 program:

• Department of Anthropology
• Department of Art and Art History
• Department of Communication Studies
• Department of Creative Writing
• Department of English
• Department of Film Studies
• Department of History
• Department of International Studies
• Department of Music
• Department of Philosophy and Religion
• Department of Public and International Affairs
• Department of Sociology and Criminology
• Department of Theatre
• Department of World Languages and Cultures
• and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs

College/School Information University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings Single Incumbent Special Notes to Applicants

PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Months Per Year 12 Months FTE 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) Type of Position Permanent Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited Positions Job Posting Date 09/18/2026 Posting Close Date 10/18/2026

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Describe a time when you identified a gap, bottleneck, or problem in your advising department (or current workplace) and took action to fix it. How did you rally others to support your solution, and what was the outcome?

(Open Ended Question)

• • Leadership often involves developing others. Describe an experience where you mentored, trained, or coached a colleague, a graduate assistant, or a student leader. How did you approach their growth, and how did you measure their success?

(Open Ended Question)

• • As an Assistant Director, you will manage both macro-level processes and micro-level student issues. Tell us about a program, event, or major project you coordinated from start to finish. What were the logistical challenges, and how did you manage your resources?

(Open Ended Question)

• • How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)

• UNCW Website

• UNCW LinkedIn Page

• UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)

• UNCW Employee Referral

• UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)

• UNCW Job Alert

• Chronical of Higher Education

• Glassdoor

• Higher Ed Jobs

• Indeed

• Inside Higher Ed

• North Carolina Job Network

• Craigslist

• Career Events/Job Fairs

• Billboards/Marquee

• Other

• • If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.

(Open Ended Question)