Academic Pathway Advisor

Salary: $57,000.00 - $63,000.00 Annually
Location : Highline College 2400 S 240th St Des Moines, WA
Job Type: SALARIED OVERTIME ELIGIBLE
Job Number: -APA
Division: STUDENT SERVICES
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

General Summary

Posting will remain open until filled. Priority consideration for applications received by Sunday June 21, 2026.
The Academic Pathway Advisor provides academic advising and academic planning services to community college students. As part of Phase 2 of Highline's 4-phase advising model, the Pathway Advisor supports new students (0-30 credits) in their transition to college by teaching students to explore and connect interests, values, skills and goals with academic program offerings and future transfer or career opportunities. The Pathway Advisors remain current on certificate/degree programs, transfer options and careers within the college pathways.

Pathway Advisors develop proactive strategies to engage students within their first 30 credits at the college in early career exploration, educational planning, course selection and enrollment, college navigation strategies, and understanding of graduation requirements for their chosen program. Advising may be conducted in groups, on an individual basis, via email, phone, or virtually, and through programming and outreach.

This position is salaried overtime-eligible, at-will, full-time position.

Must have availability to work 8:00 am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday (Monday through Thursday in Summer).

Essential Tasks

Reporting to the Director of Advising, Career, and Transfer Services, this position will:

Academic advising and direct student support (70%)

• Provide general academic advising to current college students within their first 30 credits at the college;
• Create academic plans with and for students in their 30 credits at Highline, using various advising tools and informed by degree pathway program maps;
• Teach students to explore academic degree options, identify appropriate courses, navigate college processes, and begin to consider their next steps of career either via direct to workforce program or via transfer to a baccalaureate program;
• Teach students to access and use student services and other academic resources, both on campus and virtually;
• Facilitate engaging, effective group advising, transfer and career exploration sessions;
• Evaluate unofficial high school and college transcripts for course placement and initial degree planning;
• Maintain student records, documenting and summarizing advising sessions;
• Communicate and interpret academic policies and procedures to students, faculty, and staff;
• Adhere to institutional, state, and federal policies related to confidentiality, and required reporting;
• Participate in advising events including new student orientations, workshops, and group advising sessions, career focused workshops and outreach to groups of students in classes and through special events.

Student programming and workshops (15%)

• Facilitate pathway exploration workshops;
• Facilitate group advising and course registration workshops;
• Facilitate career and transfer exploration workshops.

Administrative (15%)

• Assist with the development and maintenance of advising guides, career and transfer information, forms, publications, and webpages ensuring accuracy and clarity;
• Support departmental operations as needed to include advising students in the general population, reception of students at the front counter, responding to email and phone inquiries;
• Develop collaborative relationships internally and externally to effectively connect students with current information, services, and resources;
• Develop relationships with faculty to support faculty advising initiatives and facilitate student advising connections with faculty;
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities, remaining current on issues and trends in academic advising and college success;
• Attend staff, department, and divisional meetings;
• Serve on various campus committees, including screening committees;
• Participate in campus-wide events or functions.

Ability to:

• Assess student advising needs and use time effectively and efficiently;
• Clearly and…