United States onlyReporting to the Executive Director of Learner Services, the Director of Online Student Success will develop and articulate a strategic vision for online student success in alignment with UT Digital Learning’s overall objectives. The Director will lead the online student success team, fostering a culture of excellence, professionalism, empowerment, and innovation in delivering personalized student coaching and support at scale, while optimizing operational considerations.
Strategic and Team Leadership
- Develops and articulates a strategic vision for online student success in alignment with UT Digital Learning’s overall objectives.
- Develops long- and short-range goals with specific emphasis on activities and experiences that improve online student success.
- Implements enhanced, level-specific online success coaching, ensuring that students receive timely and relevant guidance throughout their academic journey.
- Provides leadership, training, development, mentorship and evaluation for student success coaches.
- Develops KPIs and ensures success coaches are meeting and exceeding performance goals.
- Oversees and participates in the hiring, training and evaluation of staff
Student Persistence and Retention
- Leads development of Digital Learning’s strategic approach to increasing persistence, retention, and returns, including the implementation of scalable processes to identify and support at-risk students.
- Monitor and analyze persistence, retention, and graduation data, identifying trends and opportunities, and implementing targeted interventions to improve online student persistence and graduation rates.
- Implement proactive processes to support students who decide to stop-out from their programs including the pre-planning of their return plan when possible, and the continued engagement and re-engagement of stopped-out students.
- Collaborate with academic advisors, online programs faculty, and leadership to establish clear communication channels and efficient processes for addressing student concerns and closed-loop feedback to support continuous improvement.
Data analysis
- Effectively develop methodologies to use data to inform strategic and operational recommendations and decisions, and to set and measure progress against goals.
- Analyze data and feedback to identify areas for improvement, developing and implementing strategies to address individual and systematic challenges.
- Analyze reports related to the day-to-day operations and overall productivity of the team to drive performance.
Student Engagement
- Lead efforts to enhance overall student engagement and experience.
- Lead efforts to create community for online students to foster a sense of belonging at UT and support their educational and career objectives through programming, connection with campus communities and resources
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree and 6 years of related work experience which includes 3 years of supervisory experience
Or,
- Ten years of related administrative experience, which includes 3 years of supervisory experience
Or,
- Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral Degree
- Experience using Salesforce
- Experience in academic advising
- Experience with online learner population with specific emphasis in student success initiative.
Work Location
- Knoxville, TN
- This position would ideally function in an in-person/hybrid working capacity but fully remote could be an option for the ideal candidate.
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: MR 13
- Hiring Range: $100,000 - $115,000 per year, commensurate with experience
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions
- For full consideration, applicants must attach a letter of interest, resume, and the name, address, email, and phone number of three professional references, in addition to completing the applicant file to the Human Resources online application system, Taleo. This position does have the potential for a hybrid working capacity.
- Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. DL_UT
About The College/Department/Division
Digital Learning at UT, is a unit charged with advancing UT’s commitment to discovery, creativity, learning, and engagement, specifically for online learners. Using advanced and innovative technologies, Digital Learning at UT will provide scalable solutions that enhance the online learning experience and reduce barriers to student access and success, providing a tremendous impact to online learners across the state and the nation. At Digital Learning, we want to be bold and impactful, transforming the future of online education through innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. Join our dynamic and inclusive Digital Learning team where we take pride in teamwork, excellence, and a shared commitment to shaping the future through education and innovation.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
