Director of Student Success Strategy
Springfield, IL, US, 62701
Job Requisition ID: 48029
Closing Date: 07/17/2025
Agency: Illinois Board of Higher Education
Salary: Starting salary commensurate with experience, within the range of $115,000 - max $147,500//yr
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon; Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Cook; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson ; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford
Number of Vacancies: 1
****A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****
Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV), cover letter, a copy of your transcripts or diploma for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licensures to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. Please note that the Illinois Board of Higher Education must verify proof of higher education for any degree earned (if applicable) before any offer can be extended. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.
About the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)
IBHE has been supporting higher education in Illinois for more than 50 years. We are a dedicated team of professionals, overseen by a Board appointed by the Governor, who are working for a strong, equitable higher education system, which we believe is essential for the state to thrive. We work with leaders in colleges, universities, state and federal government agencies, governors, legislators, and other entities to strategically further this mission.
In its strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth, IBHE has identified three goals and 25 strategies to help achieve its vision of a higher education ecosystem that ensures individuals, families, and communities across the state thrive.
- Equity - Close equity gaps for students who have been left behind.
- Sustainability - Build a stronger financial future for individuals and institutions.
- Growth - Increase talent and innovation that drives economic growth.
About the position:
As a member of the IBHE leadership team, the Director of Student Success Strategy provides the vision and strategic oversight of the new Student Success unit, charged with leading the agency’s statewide efforts to improve student outcomes and expand support systems across Illinois’ colleges and universities to achieve the goals outlined in the IBHE Strategic Plan: A Thriving Illinois; oversees key initiatives related to student mental health, basic needs, equity plan implementation, retention, persistence, and completion; serves as the agency’s primary point of contact for student success; coordinates programs and partnerships aligned with state priorities.
IBHE offers the state's comprehensive benefits package
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Responsible for creating a vision, designing, and overseeing implementation of the Board’s strategies to strengthen the student success infrastructure at institutions of higher education, including mental health, basic needs, equity plan implementation, student retention, persistence, completion, and transition to workforce, as outlined in the strategic plan A Thriving Illinois
- Serves as the agency’s primary advisor on issues related to student engagement, wellness, retention, persistence, and completion; develops strategic partnerships and promotes innovation in student-centered practices and policies; analyzes student success data to inform policy recommendations
- Oversees key programs such as the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (MHEAC), the Illinois Campus Cares Technical Assistance Center (ICC TAC), the HOUSE liaisons, Benefits Navigators, among others; manages related student-focused grant programs, including development, implementation, and compliance
- Collaborates with other state agencies to align efforts and provide coordinated responses to student needs; leads joint initiatives and crisis responses that support holistic student wellbeing across sectors
- Acts as a liaison to student success leaders at public and private colleges and universities; convenes and expands statewide communities of practice, targeted assistance, and webinars for institutions to strengthen student success practices
- Serves as an IBHE representative in national and state-level partnerships focused on student well-being and success
- Serves as a member of the IBHE leadership team, providing direct oversight and management of the assigned unit(s); contributes to agency annual planning, goal setting, budget development, legislative priority development, and Board reporting; contributes to a collaborative agency culture
- Supervises and mentors a diverse, multi-faceted team; provides leadership for hiring, onboarding, and professional development across the student success unit
- Other duties as assigned, within scope of position
Education and Experience
Required:
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
- Minimum of 7 years of related experience in Student Services or supporting student programs, with 2+ years’ experience supervising a staff team
- Demonstrated understanding of holistic student success strategies
Preferred:
- Experience in developing, managing, or reporting on state or federally funded grant programs a plus
Knowledge Requirements:
- Experience working with a Board or similar
Skills and Traits
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate and work well within teams
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems independently and maintain a positive, solutions-oriented approach in a dynamic environment
- Strong project-management skills; excellent follow-through and ability to organize and prioritize
- Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of constituents and stakeholders, including but not limited to Board members, senior government executives, elected officials, institutional officers, and private sector leaders
- Commitment to higher education equity goals
- Knowledge of current trends in higher education policy, student support services, and equity-based interventions
- Demonstrated ability to support and develop professional staff
Work Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Mon - Fri
Work Location: 1 N Old State Capitol Plz Springfield, IL 62701-1323*
*IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. IL Residency is required. Travel within Illinois is expected, as required by the work.
Agency Contact: Human Resources
Email: humanresources@ibhe.org
Phone #: (217) 782-2551
Posting Group: Leadership & Management; Education
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
- donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
- systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
Nearest Major Market: Springfield