Job Details

Position Summary

The Lead Academic Advisor plays a key leadership role in helping Fowler College of Business students successfully navigate their academic journey from enrollment through graduation. As a member of the Center for Student Success, this position provides comprehensive advising to a diverse population of approximately 8,500 undergraduate business students while serving as a resource and leading the academic advising team. Beyond direct student support, the role helps shape advising initiatives, trains and develop advisors, and partners with Center leadership to strengthen retention, degree progress, and the overall student experience. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced advising professional who is passionate about student success and ready to combine hands-on advising with team leadership and strategic program development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive individual and group academic advising to prospective and current students and graduation candidates across multiple service formats.
• Counsel academically at-risk students and those facing barriers to degree progress, developing solutions and connecting them with appropriate College and campus resources.
• Serve as a lead resource for academic advising staff, including training and supporting new and current advisors and promoting consistent advising practices.
• Partner with Center leadership to evaluate advising initiatives and recommend strategies that strengthen student success, retention, and timely graduation.
• Contribute to Coordinated Care Advising, Center for Student Success programs, events, policies, and procedures that enhance the undergraduate student experience.

Why Join Us?

• Combine direct student advising with meaningful leadership and mentorship responsibilities.
• Help shape advising strategies that support the success of thousands of undergraduate business students.
• Develop and mentor fellow advisors while promoting collaboration and consistency across the advising team.
• Partner with College leadership on initiatives that strengthen retention, degree progress, and the overall student experience.
• Join a collaborative Center for Student Success committed to innovative advising, academic achievement, and student-centered service.

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position. 
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation. 
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday -- Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.  
• This position is approved for partial telecommuting with onsite work in San Diego after the initial training period.

Department Summary

The Center for Student Success (CSS) within the Fowler College of Business provides all academic and informational advising for current, prospective, and former students and graduation candidates in the Undergraduate Program. It also focuses on students experiencing academic difficulty and those participating in special programs. It provides assistance to students in filling out academic forms and petitions, and in understanding university and college policies, requirements and procedures. The unit is responsible for implementing all policies, procedures, and decisions made regarding currently attending Business majors. The unit coordinates the following: primary commencement function (undergraduate for approximately 1,800 students/8,500 guests); undergraduate academic advising, tutoring, study abroad, incoming first year and transfer student orientation among others.

For more information regarding the Center for Student Success, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field; including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related.

Possession of the required knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. One year in the program area to which assigned may be preferred but is not required.

A master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Key Qualifications

• Ability to interact effectively with students, their support system, faculty, and staff and to work as a member of a team.
• Experience using MS Office Suite (or Google Workspace) and familiarity with web-based applications.
• Flexibility, and attention to detail are required. Ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Must maintain confidentiality of student information and records.
• Four years of experience working in a college or university's admissions, advising, evaluations, registrar, or other student services related office.
• Experience presenting to diverse audiences of varying size is preferred.
• Experience in student advising is preferred.
• Experience explaining and interpreting academic policies governing a public or private university either in person, via Zoom, on the phone or via email is preferred.
• Experience working in an academic setting is preferred.
• Master's degree is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:
 Salary is based on your experience, education, and qualifications, within the department's budget and equity guidelines.

• CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 - $7,893/month; hiring salary not expected to exceed $5,540/month.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU's Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by October 21, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Danan Pacheco (dpacheco@sdsu.edu).