Assistant Director of Online Student Support and Retention

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Job Posting Title:

Assistant Director of Online Student Support and Retention

   

Position Type:

Professional / Unclassified

   

Department:

LSUAM Online - Online Student Retention (Courtney L Kirschner (00052229))

   

Work Location:

United Plaza XII

   

Pay Grade:

Professional

   

Job Description:

The Assistant Director of Student Support and Retention is responsible for enhancing the retention of current students within LSU Online and Continuing Education's fully Online programs. This position reports to the Director for Student Support and Retention and assists in providing leadership support to all Retention teams while also managing a team of Retention Managers. The Assistant Director is responsible for developing and implementing retention strategies, creating appropriate KPIs, monitoring performance, assisting with training managers and teams, and ensuring on-target achievement of retention goals. The Assistant Director will work closely with Student Support and Retention Leadership to ensure proper training and strategy execution for the retention team. The Assistant Director utilizes technology systems for automation, tracking, and coaching, including the CRM, SIS, text, and email systems. This position also plays a pivotal role in planning and executing retention strategies and supporting shared services initiatives aimed at enhancing the Online student experience. The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with various departments to ensure effective student engagement and support.

Job Responsibilities:

Lead and mentor a team of retention professionals, providing guidance, training, and performance evaluations to ensure the team's success in meeting yield, retention, and enrollment goals. Collaborate with teams across the family of LSU institutions, managing teams that recruit Online students for LSU A&M, LSUA, LSUE, LSU Nola and LSUS. Works in the University retention-related systems, including Salesforce and other systems. Monitors performance in these systems, and collaborates closely with OCE IT to ensure the creation of appropriate dashboards and reporting, and the creation of automations in support of scale. Be a training resource for new managers and will assist with manager and Student Success Coach development. 40%

Collaborate with the Director to create and implement comprehensive retention strategies to attract a qualified pool of Online students. Monitor market trends and competitor activities to inform retention strategies. Work closely with the Director and other stakeholders to enhance the Online student experience. Implement initiatives to improve student retention, satisfaction, sense of belonging and overall success. Analyze retention data and metrics to track progress and identify areas for improvement. Use data-driven insights to optimize retention efforts and make informed decisions. 30%

Oversee the admissions process for Online students, ensuring efficiency and a seamless experience for students. Collaborate with support staff to streamline processes and ensure timely communication with students. Foster strong collaborative relationships with academic departments, advising teams, and other university stakeholders to align support efforts with program offerings and university goals Prepare regular reports on retention activities, outcomes, and overall performance. In support of shared services, maintain documentation of retention processes, goals, and outcomes. 25% 

Some travel and other duties may be assigned. 5%

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with 3 years of experience

Specific Experience:

3 years or more of experience in student support or online program retention operation.  3 years or more experience with a CRM.  Experience within higher education. Field participation and cutting-edge field knowledge for current retention practices for fully online programs.  1-2 years experience leading and developing teams in a higher education retention environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree with 5 years of experience

Specific Experience:

4 years of experience with an online higher education student support and retention Online program. 4 years or more experience with a CRM.  Experience with auto-dialer and automated marketing.  Field participation and cutting-edge field knowledge for current retention and enrollment practices for fully online programs.  4 or more years of leading and developing teams in a student support/retention environment.  

Degree Substitute: LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply— a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.

Additional Requirements:

Operation Essential Personnel - This position may be asked to work during an official closure, but who is otherwise not required to report to the physical campus during a closure and whose absence does not present a risk to the safety, resources, and well-being of the campus per FASOP HR-01.

   

Additional Job Description:

Special Instructions:

Please provide cover letter, resume, (3) professional references and transcripts. Official transcripts are required prior to hire, if needed.

For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact Courtney Kirschner at [email protected]

   

Posting Date:

October 16, 2025

   

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

October 30, 2025

  

Additional Position Information:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

   

Essential Position (Y/N):

   

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions. This position is not eligible for H1B visa sponsorship.

   

HCM Contact Information: