Job Details of Sr Academic Advisor

Northwestern Qatar (NU-Q) fosters the pursuit of two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Communication and the Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Strategic Communication. The campus currently offers five minor programs, a robust modular curriculum, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary courses in the Liberal Arts.

The Senior Academic Advisor provides guidance to support students' career and academic advancement, advising on degree requirements, and assisting students with career development. This position supports situations and circumstances, creates, implements, and monitors recommendations that meet student needs, and ensures compliance with all associated policies rules and regulations.

Students at Northwestern Qatar are assigned to an academic advisor at the time of matriculation and are required to meet with their advisor throughout their academic career. Academic advisors serve as resources for students, providing guidance regarding course selection, degree programs, University policies and procedures, campus development opportunities and personal goals.

Please note: Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

Administration

• Administers strategic plans in close collaboration with supervisor (Director of Academic Advising & Student Success)
• Recommends changes & improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.
• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting.
• Researches best practices and peer institutions and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve administrative effectiveness, services and/or resources.
• Manages planning and arrangement of programs - meetings, workshops, trainings, events, etc., designed to provide information, promote resources and to build internal relationships
• Manages event details, including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology, ensuring that all are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Technology

• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art systems and tools as appropriate into all aspects of the advising and counseling program.
• Proficient in utilizing all student information systems to provide necessary support to students.
• Ensures accurate record keeping for students, including managing correspondence, registration and graduation forms, and degree audits in a timely manner.

Advising/Counseling

• Provides customer service-oriented, student-centered guidance and counsel based on individual circumstances, preferences, etc. and in compliance with all associated policies, rules and regulations.
• Researches, develops and implements practices and activities that enhance student-centered guidance and counsel.
• Responsible for regularly communicating with and advising 200+ undergraduate students from their first semester through to graduation.
• Responds promptly to all academic alerts for the student population, providing various resources, making appropriate referrals, and ensuring consistent follow-up.
• Manages retention initiatives for students struggling academically and/or on academic probation, extended absence, with special needs, etc.

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures
• Prepares documentation as required.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies :

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree and appropriate experience providing academic and/or career advising to students in a two- or four-year higher education environment
• Knowledge of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently, with good judgment and attention to detail
• Ability to take initiative and problem-solve
• Ability to leverage technology to improve workplace processes
• Ability to collaborate and work well in a team environment
• Knowledge of Arabic

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master’s or higher degree; OR appropriate experience providing academic and/or career advising to students in a five or six -year higher education environment
• Demonstrated experience supporting first-generation, low-income (FGLI) and historically underrepresented and minoritized students
• Experience working in with global, U.S. style educational institutions in the MENA region and/or Global South
• PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (SES), STELLIC, and/or similar
• Experience working with CRM/database
• Knowledge of and experience using communications systems to support students
• Successful track record leading engagement and persistence initiatives
• Advanced in Microsoft Office suite and Adobe products

The target hiring range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000 per year. The offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.