Health Science Advisor

Posting Details

Classification Information

FLSA Exempt

Position Information

Position Title Health Science Advisor Position Number FS3-HS-ADV Position Type Full Time Leave Format Staff Shift As required to support the program. Supervisor Title Associate Dean of Student Services Location Main Campus (Dobson) Job Description - Summary

The Health Science Advisor at Surry Community College is responsible for providing comprehensive advising and support to pre- and current health science students, ensuring their success from recruitment through program completion. This role serves as a liaison between students, faculty, healthcare employers, and community partners to align academic pathways with industry needs and workforce demands. By guiding students through complex program requirements, offering targeted interventions, and fostering partnerships with local high schools and healthcare providers, the Health Science Advisor helps ensure students are prepared for both academic success and a smooth transition into the healthcare workforce.

The position, which is housed in Student Services, requires regular engagement across multiple locations, including local hospitals, high schools, and other SCC buildings, centers, and campuses. The Health Science Advisor works closely with faculty, business partners, and various community stakeholders to support the college's health science programs and enhance student outcomes. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Student Services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Serve as the Student Success Advisor for pre- and admitted health science students.

2. Create a welcoming, friendly, and supportive atmosphere for students, faculty, staff, and the outside community.

3. Provide exceptional and innovative academic advising services to prospective and current health and pre-health science students, individually or in groups, about college policies, health sciences selective admissions, and health sciences programs of study.

4. Guide students through complex program and prerequisite requirements in health sciences, ensuring they make informed decisions to stay on track for timely completion.

5. Track and monitor the progress of students on assigned caseloads using the Watermark SS&E platform. Identify at-risk students and provide targeted advising and timely interventions to improve retention and persistence in health science programs. Advise students on the academic consequences of their decisions and connect them to appropriate support services.

6. Provide targeted advising and interventions for at-risk students to improve retention and persistence in health science programs.

7. Assist with all phases of Health Science student recruitment, such as K-12 school visitations, career fairs, college days/camps, open houses, informational sessions, and new student orientation.

8. Serve as a liaison between students, faculty, and healthcare employers to facilitate apprenticeships, internships, and job placement opportunities, ensuring students are prepared for the workforce.

9. Build, maintain, and expand partnerships with healthcare business and industry partners to communicate workforce needs and ensure health sciences programs align with current industry demands.

10. Collaborate with K-12 students and parents, current students in curriculum and continuing education programs to advise on health science programs and admission processes.

11. Leverage the student success platforms (Watermark SS&E) to track and monitor student progress, identify at-risk students, and provide timely interventions on alerts for students on assigned caseload.

12. In partnership with the Health Science Admissions Coordinator, review, interpret, and evaluate applicant test scores and other relevant information to ensure smooth transitions for prospective students entering health science programs.

13. Participate in opportunities for professional development, such as workshops, conferences, and trainings.

14. Perform other duties that support the mission and initiatives of the college.

15. Collaborate with health science faculty and staff to improve student support and success initiatives.

16. Maintain a clean and safe work area.

17. While primarily housed in Student Services, this position requires regular travel to various locations, including hospitals, high schools, and other SCC campuses, to engage with healthcare partners, prospective students, and community organizations.

General Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and must meet the requirements listed below that represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to be successful. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common correspondence and reports
• Ability to articulate professional responses to common inquiries and/or complaints from students, faculty, staff, or the public at-large
• Ability to write using proper grammar and punctuation
• Ability to effectively present information to management, students, faculty, staff, or the public at-large

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to design and implement a fiscal budget

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Understanding of barriers faced by first generation economically disadvantaged college students

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree related to health science, student development, counseling, human services, education, or an academic related field. Experience/proficiency in the use of various software packages, effective oral and written communication skills, and the ability to coordinate and prioritize duties.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in education, or a related academic field; Experience in health care and/or health care education. Experience in online educational settings and work with students from diverse backgrounds.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit, stand, & walk; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standard office environment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low

Position Budget Information

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number SFP990 Proposed Start Date 12/01/2026 Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date 11/03/2026 Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicant

For information about this position, contact Melissa Recknor, Associate Dean - Student Success, at recknorm@surry.edu or (336) 386-3628.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• How did you hear about this employment opportunity?

• Surry Website

• Mount Airy News

• Employment Security Commission

• NCCCS Website

• Winston - Salem Journal

• Job Board (Ex: Monster)

• Personal Referral

• Other

• Indeed

• If 'other', please list where you learned of the position.

(Open Ended Question)

• How many years of experience do you have that is related to the position?

• 0-3

• 4-6

• 7-10

• 10+

• Do you have the required degree for this position?

• Yes

• No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Unofficial Transcript 1

Optional Documents

• Other Document
• Unofficial Transcript 2