Director of Student Development

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Reports to: Assistant VP of Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Position Summary

The Director of Student Development provides strategic leadership for institution-wide student retention and persistence efforts, with a strong emphasis on data curation, analytics, and proactive student engagement. This role is responsible for translating student data into actionable insights, designing evidence-based interventions, and fostering collaborative partnerships that improve retention, advancement, and graduation outcomes for all student populations.

The Director serves as a central liaison between academic affairs, student affairs, institutional research, and enrollment management, ensuring that resource connection, data-informed decision-making, and meaningful student engagement are embedded across the student lifecycle.

Essential Job Duties

Data Curation, Analysis, and Strategy

• Lead the curation, governance, and integration of student success data from multiple sources (e.g., SIS, LMS, advising platforms, surveys, early alert systems).
• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and predictive models to monitor retention, persistence, and risk indicators.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for campus stakeholders, including senior leadership, deans, advisors, and faculty.
• Implementing and managing potential retention and student engagement software.
• Partner with Institutional Research to establish metrics, benchmarks, and assessment frameworks for student retention initiatives.
• Ensure ethical, equitable, and FERPA-compliant use of student data in decision-making and intervention design.

• Design, implement, and assess proactive, scalable student engagement strategies focused on first-year students, transfer students, and other priority populations.
• Oversee early alert and case management processes that connect students to timely academic and co-curricular support.
• Collaborate with advising, tutoring, financial aid, residence life, campus involvement/engagement, and student support services to align engagement efforts and reduce barriers to persistence.
• Promote high-impact practices that foster belonging, academic momentum, and student connection to the institution.

• Serve as the primary campus coordinator for first-generation student support initiatives.
• Design and implement engagement programs, workshops, and communications tailored to first-generation students at key transition points throughout the student life cycle.
• Collaborate with orientation, advising, academic support, and student engagement offices to embed first-generation success strategies into retention efforts.
• Advocate for first-generation students by identifying systemic barriers and recommending improvements to policies, practices, or services.

• Provide leadership and supervision for retention-focused staff and initiatives.
• Serve as a campus leader and advocate for student success using data-informed practices.
• Convene cross-functional teams and committees focused on retention strategy, intervention design, and continuous improvement.
• Support grant-funded or externally supported student success initiatives, including data reporting and outcomes assessment.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of retention and engagement programs using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations on retention trends, program outcomes, and recommendations for improvement.
• Stay current on national best practices, research, and emerging technologies related to student retention and engagement.

• Bachelor's degree in higher education administration, educational research, data analytics, student affairs, or a related field.

• Master's degree in higher education administration, educational research, data analytics, student affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in student success, retention, institutional research, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience working with student data systems, analytics, and reporting tools.
• Strong understanding of student development, engagement strategies, and retention theory.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present data-driven insights to a wide audience.
• Experience at a regional public university or similar institution.
• Familiarity with predictive analytics, CRM or student success platforms, and dashboarding tools.

• N/A

• Data-informed decision-making
• Collaborative leadership
• Strategic thinking and project management
• Student-centered mindset
• Ability to bridge technical data work with relational student engagement
• Must have a strong work ethic and lead by example
• Must be a professional, credible and respected representative of the institution internally and in the community
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to act ethically and socially responsible
• Ability to communicate in a courteous manner