Academic Advising Manager, Undergraduate

As the Manager of Academic Advising, you’ll have the opportunity to lead a team of dedicated advisors while helping shape an advising experience that is proactive, collaborative, and focused on student success.

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. 

• Strategic Planning: Contribute to the broader advising unit’s strategic plan and lead all work specific to the unit population.
• Metrics & Assessment: Track unit goals and oversee the compilation of data regarding student-advisor interactions, advisor performance, and student persistence.
• Retention Research: Implement best practices and align unit policies with current research on student retention, completion, and change management.
• Resource Management: Grow and maintain advising resources specific to  student needs while contributing to the department’s general resource library.

• Supervision & Growth: Supervise, hire, train, and mentor a team of Advising Specialists; and conduct performance evaluations.
• Culture & Development: Build a cohesive unit culture and lead the planning and execution of professional development initiatives for staff.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay current on innovative advising strategies and higher education developments to apply directly to student interactions.

• Program Liaison: Act as a primary resource for Program Directors and Department Chairs, supporting them and Advising Specialists with complex academic policy questions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Registrar, Academic Affairs, Career Development, Admissions, and Faculty on special projects and student services.
• Recruitment: Direct the unit's involvement in university-wide recruitment efforts and represent the advising department in ad hoc committee meetings.
• Communication Oversight: Manage all communication streams tailored specifically to the unit population.

• Advising Excellence: Maintain a caseload performing all duties of an Advising Specialist, including degree planning and proactive outreach
• Escalation Support: Serve as the second-tier point of contact for complex learner concerns and interdepartmental alignment challenges.

• Education: Master’s degree required.
• Experience: 5+ years in academic advising or higher education administration, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.

• Proven leadership and people-development skills, with the ability to coach, mentor, develop, and hold advising staff accountable while fostering a positive and collaborative team culture.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, navigate differing perspectives, and communicate effectively with students, faculty, administrators, and staff across the University.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to use data, assessment, and research to identify trends, evaluate effectiveness, and improve advising practices and student outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate complex situations, interpret policies, exercise sound judgment, and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to lead through change and ambiguity, with the initiative and adaptability to move work forward when circumstances, priorities, or processes are evolving.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance strategic initiatives, team leadership, institutional partnerships, and a student caseload while maintaining quality and follow-through.
• Commitment to student-centered service and continuous improvement, with a proactive approach to identifying needs, strengthening processes, and creating an excellent advising experience.
• Knowledge of academic advising and student success practices, including retention, persistence, degree planning, and the needs of undergraduate, early college, and online learners.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.