Senior Director of Retention and Completion

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Position Summary

The Senior Director of Retention and Completion provides strategic leadership within the Texas Guided Pathways framework for student persistence, re-enrollment, and completion for all Dallas College credit and non-credit programs of study. This data-driven leader develops, implements, and assesses institution-wide strategies, tactics and partnerships to support student pathway clarification, entrance, persistence and learning, leading to increased student retention and timely credential completion. The Senior Director supports the Guided Pathways work of the Dean of Pathway Success and collaborates with Vice Provosts, Success Coaching Deans and other Pathway Success leaders to scale evidence-based practices that work across departments to promote holistic student pathway success from entry to completion.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership and Visioning

• Student Success Strategy and Tactics

• Data-Driven Decision-Making

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Change Management

• Team Development and Supervision

• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the purpose of community colleges and the vision of Dallas College.

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the relational impact of academic advising, degree audit, Guided Pathways, career development, and transfer.

• Demonstrated understanding of the principles of program evaluation and student outcome assessment.

• Demonstrated experience using data and technology to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.

• Proficiency in the use of quantitative and qualitative data to examine service delivery outcomes to support continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated experience in coordinating goal-oriented strategic initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience leading, tracking and monitoring employee performance in a remote work environment.

• Demonstrated experience in team building, rewarding team behavior that produces desired outcomes, and effectively addressing team behavior that conflicts with the mission, values and goals of the division and College.

• Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies and the effective application of service technologies to enhance academic planning, and engagement with students.

• Strong time management, organization, problem-solving, and communication skills, with an emphasis on verbal and written skills that effectively communicate complex ideas with clarity and precision.

• An ability to work effectively and collaboratively with administration, faculty, students, staff, and other constituent groups and partners, both within and outside a college or university.

• Excellent interpersonal skills using collaboration, tact, patience, and courtesy.

• Highly collaborative leader with demonstrated experience in a comparable and complex college with a proven track record of enhancing pathway support for student success.

• Possess an understanding of budget preparation and management.

Physical Requirements

Normal physical job functions performed within a standard office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with physical challenges to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Student Affairs, or a related field plus five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education student success, retention, or academic affairs OR

• Master’s degree plus eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education student success, retention, or academic affairs.

• Experience leading teams of student success professionals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Education or related discipline.

• Experience leading Guided Pathways or large-scale student success reforms.

• Proven track record of improving student retention and completion outcomes for adult, first-generation in college and/or economically disadvantaged students.

• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.

***Will be subject to a criminal background check. Some positions may be subject to a fingerprint check.***

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of a comprehensive, pathways-aligned student retention and completion plan aligned with institutional goals that elevate best-practices across all Dallas College Schools while addressing the particular needs of students in each School.

• Oversees the implementation of integrated systems, tools and practices – including comprehensive training and quality assurance plans – that support proactive pathways advising and persistence-focused interventions.

• Establishes metrics for and monitor progress on lagging and leading indicators of successful student pathways entry, retention and completion to drive continuous improvement of Guided Pathways work at all levels of the institution.

• Works collaboratively with the Deans of Success Coaching and Associate Deans of Degree Audit, Career Services and Transfer Services to align cross-departmental processes, practices & technology use supporting timely credential completion, stop-out student re-entry and post-completion success for all Dallas College Students.

• Supervises and supports Senior Pathway Coordinators, people-managers who work with Deans and Department Chairs in their assigned School to clarify academic pathways and lead School-aligned teams responsible for student pathways entrance, persistence & completion support.

• Responds appropriately to issues in a dynamic rapidly changing educational/economic environment.

• Ensures compliance with relevant policies, grants, and reporting requirements.

• Completes required Dallas College professional development training hours per academic year.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Incumbents may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Position requires regular and predictable attendance.

Dallas College

Since 1965, Dallas College, formerly Dallas County Community College District, has served more than three (3) million students. Comprising seven campuses located around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we are one of the largest community college systems in the state of Texas.  We strive to be a leader in the community college space, placing students at the center of everything we do.

Dallas College is committed to cultivating an environment of opportunity and belonging for all students and employees. We recognize that the Dallas College workforce, and the diverse talent that stems from it, is directly linked to our success. We are part of an equal opportunity system that provides education and employment opportunities without discrimination on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, veteran status, pregnancy or any other basis protected under applicable law.  In accordance with applicable law, Dallas College will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.  

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