Senior Director, Student Success

The Senior Director, Student Success and Progression provides executive leadership for institutional strategies that advance student success, persistence, and degree completion. This role oversees Big E Central as the university’s front door for student support, driving an integrated, student-centered service model that removes barriers and accelerates student progression. The Senior Director leads cross‑functional strategies that improve enrollment yield, reduce melt, strengthen retention, and support re‑enrollment and completion.

Through data‑informed decision-making, strategic partnerships, and operational excellence, this position ensures coordinated, high‑impact services that enhance the student experience and deliver measurable institutional outcomes.

Education: Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Enrollment Management, or a related field.

Experience: Three years of related experience required.

• 30% – Strategic Vision and Planning:
  Develop and communicate a clear, forward‑looking vision for Big E Central, aligning university priorities into an integrated, student‑centered service delivery model. Establish and advance long‑term student success outcomes by leveraging predictive analytics, data‑informed strategies, and cross‑functional partnerships. Identify and address systemic barriers to student progression, ensuring proactive and scalable solutions. – (Essential)
• 25% – Departmental Leadership:
  Provide strategic and operational leadership for Big E Central, ensuring alignment across all functional areas. Drive performance, accountability, and service excellence through clear expectations, outcome monitoring, and continuous improvement. Ensure all unit activities align with divisional goals and institutional priorities. – (Essential)
• 25% – Student Success and Progression Strategy:
  Direct the execution of institutional strategies to improve enrollment yield, reduce melt, strengthen retention, support stop‑out recovery, and advance degree completion and career readiness. Leverage data analytics to inform decision‑making, guide resource allocation, and optimize program effectiveness. Monitor key performance indicators and provide regular insights, reporting, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership. – (Essential)
• 10% – Budget Oversight and Fiscal Management:
  Provide strategic oversight of the unit’s budget, ensuring fiscal stewardship and alignment with institutional priorities. Lead financial planning and resource allocation decisions to optimize operational effectiveness and advance student success outcomes. – (Essential)
• 10% – Stakeholder Relations and Advocacy:
  Serve as the primary representative for Big E Central across university units, external partners, and key stakeholders. Build and sustain strategic relationships while advocating for divisional priorities, resources, and initiatives that support institutional goals. – (Essential)

Not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Funding Source:
Institutional.

Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, ethnicity, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in the admission to, or participation in, any educational program or activity (e.g., athletics, academics and housing) which it conducts or any employment policy or practice.

Offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.