Director of Retention/ Early Alert (Student Support Specialist V)

Job Summary

The Director of Retention provides leadership support to the Student Success & Retention area. Oversees various programs and activities related to the promotion of student success and academic persistence, including coordinating & managing early intervention strategies, student learning communities, and supervising related student support staff. Works closely with the Director of Student Success/Tutoring, the College Success/FYE Coordinator, area members, and college leadership, faculty, and staff to assist with the development and implementation of co-curricular academic activities and programs. Uses data collection and analysis to inform decision-making and assess the effectiveness of success and retention efforts of the area and college. The Director of Retention/Early Alert reports to the Associate Dean of Student Success & Retention.

Job Duties:

• Supervisor: Supervise the Retention Coordinator and other part-time student support staff. Includes recruitment, hiring, training, and management.
  
  
• Administrative: Responsibilities include budget management, purchasing & contracts, strategic planning, and area marketing & communications.
  
  
• Retention Initiatives: Manages college-wide Retention Initiatives including administration of the Early Alert System (currently Starfish) and coordination of college-wide communication campaigns (call, email, text). Manages outcomes of student-need surveys, referrals from Early Alert, and follow-up from communication campaigns to ensure student receive timely interventions and navigation support.
  
  
• Student Learning Communities and Programming: Develops, coordinates and facilitates a variety of student learning communities, including Success Academies. Includes staffing, recruitment, instruction, advising, and assessment.
  
  
• Evaluation, Analysis & Reporting: Develops evaluation tools as needed for area personnel and activities. Uses data collection and analysis, including enrollment and student tracking, to identify and assess trends and new initiatives related to retention & student success. Provides systematic reports and presentations to area supervisor and college administration.
  
  
• Campus & Community Engagement: Engages with institutional partners to support Retention Initiatives and Student Learning Communities. Provides college-wide training and presentations. Participates in recruitment activities, college events, community events, and ongoing professional development.
  
  
• Area/College: Serves, leads and actively participates on several college and system-wide committees as the representative for Student Success & Retention area and/or Bluegrass Community & Technical College. Actively collaborates with area personnel and assists as needed.
  
  
• All other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree and (6) Six Years Position-Related experience or equivalent 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related higher education field.
  
  
• At least 10 years of experience in student retention, academic advising, or related areas within higher education.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience managing retention programs and initiatives, which may include early alert systems, academic support services, summer bridge programs, and student outreach efforts.
  
  
• Familiarity with student information systems (e.g., Starfish, PeopleSoft)
  
  
• Experience with assessing student support effectiveness to inform decision-making.
  
  
• Experience working with different student populations and understanding factors influencing student success and persistence.
  
  
• Supervisory experience, including hiring, training, and evaluating staff.
  
  
• College-level teaching experience.

Additional Skills Requested:

• Excellent communication & marketing skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences and platforms.
  
  
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively both with area team members and stakeholders.
  
  
• Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance student engagement, persistence, and completion.
  
  
• Demonstrates strong self-motivation, organization, and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
  
  
• Ability to work with a variety of data sets and perform basic data analysis.
  
  
• Knowledge of best practices in student retention and success, including familiarity with relevant research and literature.
  
  
• Commitment to fostering a supportive campus environment that promotes student success for all students.
  
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and other relevant software applications.

Employee Rights - Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Equal Opportunity Employer - The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.