Program Specialist, Advising, Recruitment,

Four (4) years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student affairs, employee development, training, organizational development, higher education administration, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Human Resource Development, Business Administration, or related field and two (2) years of professional experience in a related field.
• Doctoral degree in any field and one (1) year of professional experience in a related field.
• Experience coordinating recruitment and hiring processes.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development or training programs.
• Experience onboarding and developing professional staff.
• Experience in academic advising, student success, or higher education administration.
• Experience leading projects, initiatives, or organizational improvement efforts.
• Experience utilizing assessment and data to evaluate program effectiveness.

Job Description:
Responsible for providing administrative and operational support for the development, coordination, and evaluation of programs within assigned department.

Job Duties:
Position DescriptionThe Program Specialist for Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives provides strategic leadership and coordination for the recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and continuous growth of all professional academic advising staff. Reporting to the Program Manager of Strategic Advising Initiatives & Operations (PM – SAIO), this position oversees strategic advisor talent development initiatives that strengthen advising practice, enhance advisor effectiveness, and promote a culture of learning, collaboration, and excellence.

Guided by the philosophy that academic advising is more than choosing classes, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives develops and implements strategic programs, resources, and experiences that equip advisors to engage students in meaningful conversations about their path, goals, interests, progress, and future. The position serves as a key resource for strategic advisor development in collaboration with the center's Assistant Directors, by coordinating hiring processes, supporting advisor onboarding, facilitating training programs, and leading professional development initiatives that advance advisor competencies and student success outcomes.

In addition to advisor development responsibilities, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives supports and participates in strategic academic advising initiatives, assessment efforts, special projects, and continuous improvement activities that advance advising effectiveness, operational excellence, and student success. Through collaboration with advising leadership, academic advisors, faculty, and campus partners, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives contributes to the development of a highly skilled advising workforce committed to providing holistic, proactive, and student-centered support.

Essential ResponsibilitiesAcademic Advisor Recruitment and Hiring

• Coordinate and manage recruitment and hiring processes for academic advising positions.
• Collaborate with advising leadership to develop recruitment strategies that attract highly qualified and varied candidates.
• Coordinate position postings, candidate communications, interview scheduling, and hiring logistics.
• Assist search committees and hiring managers throughout the recruitment and selection process.
• Develop and maintain hiring resources, interview guides, evaluation tools, and onboarding materials.
• Support workforce planning efforts and talent pipeline development initiatives.
• Monitor recruitment outcomes and recommend strategies to improve hiring effectiveness.

Advisor Onboarding and Training

• Coordinate the onboarding experience for new academic advisors.
• Partner with Assistant Directors and advising leadership to develop and deliver advisor training programs.
• Develop onboarding plans, training schedules, and advisor development resources.
• Ensure advisors receive foundational knowledge related to advising philosophy, student success practices, university policies, technologies, and advising procedures.
• Maintain advisor training documentation, learning resources, and competency development materials.
• Assess onboarding effectiveness and implement improvements based on participant feedback and organizational needs.

Advisor Professional Development and Competency Development

• Lead the design, coordination, and implementation of professional development opportunities for academic advisors through the coordination of workshops, communities of practice, mentoring opportunities, learning cohorts, and professional development events.
• Develop programs that support advisor competency development, career progression, leadership growth, and professional excellence.
• Identify emerging trends, best practices, and research in academic advising and student success to inform development initiatives.
• Support advisors in pursuing professional certifications, conference participation, scholarly engagement, and leadership opportunities.
• Maintain advisor development plans and competency frameworks aligned with departmental expectations.

Advisor Mentorship and Leadership Development

• Coordinate peer mentoring and advisor support initiatives.
• Facilitate opportunities for experienced advisors to share knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Support leadership development pathways for advisors interested in advanced roles and responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth across advising teams.

Strategic Advising Initiatives and Special Projects

• Support the planning, implementation, and assessment of strategic advising initiatives.
• Participate in projects related to student success, retention, persistence, advising effectiveness, and operational improvement.
• Assist with the implementation of advising technologies, processes, and service enhancements.
• Collaborate with advising leadership on organizational development and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support university, division, college, and advising center initiatives as assigned.
• Serve on committees, task forces, and working groups related to advising and student success.

Assessment, Data, and Continuous Improvement

• Collect and analyze data related to advisor onboarding, training, professional development, and workforce effectiveness.
• Develop reports and recommendations to support advisor development and organizational improvement.
• Assess advisor learning outcomes, training effectiveness, and professional development participation.
• Utilize assessment findings to inform future training and development efforts.
• Support accreditation, assessment, and reporting efforts related to advising effectiveness and advisor development.

Additional Information to Applicants:
You will be required to attach:

• A resume and cover letter detailing how the applicant meets all required and preferred qualifications must be uploaded for full consideration.

Additional Information:

• This position requires occasional work outside of normal business days, including occasional evenings and weekends, to attend University functions.

Job Open Date: 09/22/2026
Job Close Date: 09/30/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Normal Work Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Normal Work Hours Start: 8:00AM
Normal Work Hours End: 5:00PM

Posting Notices:


Legal and Required Notices:
Texas State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law in employment, educational programs, and activities and admissions.

Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including, but not limited to, criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, and employment eligibility verifications.

In accordance with federal law, all new employees must complete the Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States. Texas State University participates in E-Verify, and employment is contingent upon the successful verification of work authorization. Employees are required to maintain valid work authorization to satisfy the conditions of Form I9 at all times during their employment and the university makes no implicit or explicit promises to financially support visa or permanent residency applications.

Quicklink: https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/58450/a"">https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/58450

For a detailed description of this position and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9844337"">https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/58450 or call (512) 245-2557 or visit our office at 601 University Dr., J.C. Kellam Bldg., Suite 340.

About Texas State and San Marcos:
Texas State University is a emerging research institution located in the burgeoning Austin-San Antonio corridor and in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It is the largest of eight campuses in the Texas State University System and one of the 75 largest universities in the country, with over 38,000 students and approximately 4,000 faculty and staff

Texas State is located in San Marcos, a growing community of over 50,000 people located about half way between Austin and San Antonio. Texas State enjoys a setting that is unique among Texas universities. The beauty of the crystal-clear San Marcos River and the stately cypress and pecan trees on the campus add to the charm of the university's picturesque setting. Our location on the banks of the San Marcos River provides outdoor recreational activities throughout the year.

Why work @ Texas State?
• Amazing health insurance: various coverage options starting your first day of employment for full-time employees with Texas State paying 100% of the employee premium and 50% for your dependents!
• Generous paid time off: vacation, holidays, sick days and many more!
• Excellent work life balance resources: mother and family-friendly resources in addition to a comprehensive FREE wellness program
• Great professional development opportunities: choose from a variety of workshops, training, online learning and even access educational leave opportunities and reimbursement for academic courses
• An inclusive Bobcat community: join our many social networks offered on and off-campus
• Retirement peace of mind: TRS pension, retirement plans and voluntary saving options with generous employer contributions

By joining the Texas State Bobcat team, you'll be a part of one of the most beautiful, diverse, and growing universities in the nation.


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