Senior Academic Advisor - Sobey School of Business

Date Posted: March 3, 2025

Posting Deadline: March 17, 2025

Department: Sobey School of Business

Type of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time

Group Affiliation: APC Group, Group 6 ($67,407 - $86,862 annually)

At Saint Mary's University, you will be surrounded by a talented and dedicated team of professionals committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success. We are currently looking to fill the position of Senior Academic Advisor to join our Advising team in the Sobey School of Business.

What we offer

As a team member at Saint Mary's, we are proud to offer many benefits. Some of these include:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Defined Contribution Pension plan
• Vacation
• Personal days
• Flexible Workplace
• Professional development
• Holiday closure
• Summer hour schedule
• Employee Transit EPass through Halifax Transit

Job Information and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the BCOM Program Coordinator, the Senior Academic Advisor will:

• Uses knowledge of student development and success theories and applies best advising strategies and techniques, assesses and interprets individual student needs and recommends a course of action or intervention to solve immediate problems and facilitate long term personal and academic success.
• Serves as an administrative point of contact for undergraduate students, providing them with impactful referrals and directing them to appropriate contacts or resources, as required.
• Creates and maintains a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for all students.
• Provides program-based, one-on-one advising in multiple formats (in-person, on-line a, via phone and email) and monitors the success and progress of undergraduate students.
• Supervises two (2) full time Academic Advisors and student staff (as required).
• Oversees the on-boarding, orientation, and training for new Academic Advisors.
• Assist associate Dean(s) in identifying, planning, and implementing strategic initiatives to improve student support.
• Support the establishment and continual improvement of academic advising processes and information management to ensure efficient and student-centric operations consistent with best practices in academic advising and student success.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to maintain knowledge of academic advising best practices, and institutional support program and initiatives.
• Act as the Team Lead for the Advising Centre, and ensure efficient and effective operations, collaborating with team members to assign and balance responsibility. Serve as the point of contact for requests for advising participation in cross-campus initiatives / events.
• In collaboration with Academic Advisors and Associate Deans from the other undergraduate Faculties, identifies potential improvements in university processes, academic regulations, and student support services.
• Liaises with other offices on-campus to explore feasibility of identified student experience improvements.
• Lead the development and ensure the on-going maintenance and optimization of the new CRM Advise system for the BCOM program.
• Works with BCOM Program Coordinator (and other key stakeholders) to develop informational resources on faculty-based processes, standard practices, academic regulations and senate policies, and university supports and services for full-time and part-time faculty.
• Supports the on-boarding of Department Chairs, Associate Deans and other key administrative staff and faculty roles, as required.
• Serves as the point-of-contact for Academic Advising participation in new student outreach initiatives and events (open houses, information sessions, classroom visits, etc.) and coordinates Academic Advising staff participation and support.

Experience and Education Requirements

To be the successful Senior Academic Advisor you will have:

• Undergraduate degree in a related field such as Education, Business, Social Work or Psychology.
• A Master's Degree would be considered an asset.
• Minimum three (3) to five (5) years of directly related professional experience.
• Understanding of theory, approaches, strategies, and best practices relevant to academic advising in higher education, including NACADA core competencies.
• Demonstrated ability to create rapport and build trusting advising relationships to meet the needs of diverse student populations.
• Supervisory experience would be considered an asset.
• Collaborative, positive, and professional approach to working in teams and with colleagues in a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Demonstrated intercultural awareness and a commitment to principles of equity and inclusion.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills: able to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and negotiate changes in priorities, as required.
• Professional judgment and discretion.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including strong facilitation / presentation skills.
• Proven ability to be persuasive and to effect positive change while building strong relationships.
• Experience teaching/mentoring adults.
• Strong analytical skills, and the ability to research, process, organize and present information interestingly and convincingly.
• Understanding of academic and administrative structures.
• Demonstrated intermediate to advances skill in using Microsoft Office, desktop publishing and communication software.
• CRM Advise experience an asset.

Application Details

Apply for this opportunity online using our online application system through Career Beacon. Click on "Apply Now" and complete all required information fields. Qualified candidates should submit the following with their application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References

Late applications may not receive consideration. We appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

At Saint Mary's University, equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we encourage all qualified candidates to apply; however, preference will be given to applicants who self-identify as Black/African Nova Scotians, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities and women. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected].