Director of Educational Support Services

Job Description

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an independent, culturally diverse institution providing quality education and research in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other related fields with residential campuses located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona. The University's Worldwide campus provides educational opportunities online and at approximately 130 locations throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central/South America.

As the largest and most comprehensive aviation and aerospace-focused university in the world, Embry-Riddle is a unique institution. Over the past 90 years, the University has evolved with industry to break new ground and produce top-level graduates who serve the ever-changing needs of aviation and aerospace, and other STEM-related disciplines. Embry-Riddle offers programs in seven primary fields of study including: Applied Science; Aviation; Business; Computers and Technology; Engineering; Safety, Security, and Intelligence; and Space.

For Academic Year 2020-21, there were over 10,700 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students that attended the University's residential campuses and approximately 32,700 students in total enrolled with the University around the world.

The Opportunity:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Arizona campus is looking to hire a Director of Educational Support Services to join the Office of the Vice Chancellor's Team. Embry-Riddle's Prescott Campus is respected worldwide for cutting-edge instruction and training for tomorrow’s aviation, aerospace, security, and intelligence leaders. Prescott is a mile-high city and its climate reflects seasonable weather excellent for flying. Daytime averages are 80°F in the summer and 45°F in the winter. At 5,000 ft. above sea level, it boasts a mild climate, clean air, pristine wilderness areas, and nearby national forests. The university is a small, private, residential university in the mountains of Arizona with approximately 3,500 students. Staff/faculty/student interaction is highly valued and is a central theme of our campus. It is located 100 miles north of Phoenix and 120 miles south of the Grand Canyon.

The Director of Educational Support Services (DESS) position provides accurate data-driven information to the Assistant Dean of Student Support (ADSS) and Vice Chancellor. Under direction of the ADSS will assist academic departments with the same.

The DESS will report directly to the ADSS, with a co-working relationship with the director of Teaching and Learning Excellence (TLE) as director of education assessment/reporting purposes.

The primary duties for the DESS include:

• Serve as our campus liaison with Institutional Research (IR) and leadership to have the Prescott Campus (PC) reports ready for review and discussion as needed by the chancellor and/or vice chancellor.
• Retrieve data from Campus Solutions, CRM, and Canvas as needed for reporting and projection modeling and assist in garnering artifacts for GenEd assessment (and other campus assessments as directed by the ADSS).
• Member of SIT 2 for the Prescott Campus and will report updates for PC to help with the student success efforts of the Colleges; work with the various departments at the Prescott Campus/IR to obtain various types of data (admission, enrollment, retention, grade reports, others as necessary). Generate reports, analyze data, and perform data mining.
• Implement work-related technologies: Microsoft Office Suite (in particular use advanced Excel functions and features such as VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, PivotTables, PivotCharts), extract data from Campus Solutions and Discoverer. Create reports as needed by the College and University Administration (many noted below), using advanced Excel, SPSS, and PowerPoint.
• With IR, track student success trends, maintain reports, and perform analytics as directed by the ADSS and VC. Track persistence patterns and analyze statistical data for student success studies, including academic progress across all students and programs. Use best practice as supported by the literature to suggest and implement initiatives aimed at improving student success.
• As directed by the ADSS/VC and in partnership with TLE, assists faculty and staff in identifying trends and researching best practices in student success, persistence, and completion.
• As directed by the ADSS, assist with tracking student success initiatives including academic pilot projects and proficiency placement testing (e.g., in partnership with Math Placement Coordinator).
• Supply DFWs reports to deans and analyze as directed by ADSS/VC and report out at ALC and CLC. Consult with deans on flagging courses or matters of concern.
• As directed by the ADSS and in partnership with the Director of Advising, support the college's early alert program and other related student success initiatives and collaborate with college faculty and staff to facilitate student success, retention, and persistence.
• Support New Faculty Orientation educational participation for retention training, in conjunction with TLE.
• Support Academic Advising in identifying students whose behaviors indicate a lack of academic success strategies, and to refer students for academic skills assistance, including tutoring, counseling, and/or career guidance.
• Chair and manage members and charge of the campus retention committee.
• Summarize PC student survey findings including those aimed at determining campus climate for educational experience.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Additionally, the DESS will work with other offices on campus including but not limited to Registrars at our Daytona Beach and Worldwide campuses, Information Technology, Admissions, IR, and Academic Advising. The DESS will facilitate strong, accurate communication among academic support units and other offices across campuses.

Serve or provide representation on both permanent and ad-hoc committees that impact academics and academic support across the campus and university.

ERAU benefits include:

• Retirement Plan - ERAU offers immediate vesting and provides a 6% gift and will match up to 4% of employee contributions
  
  
• Two BCBS health plans – PPO and high deductible plan with a health savings account
  
  
• Tuition waivers for employees, spouses, and dependent children
  
  
• Use of various campus services: fitness center, library, mailroom and enjoy observation flights
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Math, Statistics, Data Science, or related field
• Master's degree in Math, Statistics, Data Science, or related field preferred
• Years of applicable experience can be substituted for any professional degree requirement at the discretion of the hiring supervisor
• Minimum of three to five years of work related experience

• Required skills, knowledge, and abilities:
  
  
• Analytical skills with an in-depth knowledge of information systems and technical expertise with Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS); Microsoft operating systems, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook/email, and Internet end-user applications.
• Strong research skills, problem-solving and decision-making skills, initiative, and teamwork
• Demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills
• Able to work in a fast-paced student oriented environment
• Planning, analytical, and budgeting skills
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Knowledge of assessment practices inducing development of learning outcomes and producing reports
• Interpersonal skills such as leading presentations organization, communication, strong work ethic, event and retreat planning, student supervision and management, and have the ability to make sound decisions