Director of Student Success & Career Development
📍 Location: 2329 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, VA 23518
Salary: Up to $82,000, based on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated success. Candidates with extensive leadership experience in career services, student success, retention, and graduate placement may qualify for compensation at the higher end of the range.
Schedule: Full-time | Some evenings and weekends as needed
Make an Impact on Students' Lives
Are you a higher education leader who is passionate about leading a team in helping students persist, graduate, and launch successful careers?
The Aviation Institute of Maintenance is seeking a Director of Student Success to lead our campus Student Success and Career Services teams. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for creating an exceptional student experience from enrollment through graduation and employment.
You'll lead initiatives that improve student retention, certification readiness, graduation rates, and career placement while developing a high-performing team dedicated to student success.
If you have experience leading teams in higher education, career services, student affairs, academic advising, workforce development, or student success, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
Lead Student Success
Develop and execute campus-wide retention and persistence strategies.
Monitor student attendance, engagement, academic progression, and barriers to completion.
Partner with Academic leadership to identify and support at-risk students.
Ensure proactive coaching and intervention plans are implemented throughout the student lifecycle.
Drive Student Outcomes
Oversee student progress toward FAA certification milestones and graduation.
Ensure students remain on track for certification testing and program completion.
Monitor graduation requirements and completion metrics.
Lead graduation preparation, exit interviews, and transition planning.
Lead Career Services
Oversee career coaching, resume development, interview preparation, and job search support.
Build relationships with employers and industry partners to expand career opportunities.
Monitor placement performance including interviews, offers, employment verification, and graduate outcomes.
Guide Career Services staff to achieve placement goals and continuously improve performance.
Develop High-Performing Teams
Supervise Student Success and Career Services staff.
Coach, mentor, and develop employees through ongoing performance management.
Foster a collaborative, student-centered culture focused on accountability and results.
Partner closely with Campus Executive Directors, Academic leadership, and Corporate Student Success teams.
Use Data to Improve Results
Monitor key performance metrics including:
Student retention
Certification success
Graduation rates
Graduate placement
Analyze dashboards and reports to identify trends and implement improvement strategies.
Ensure compliance with FAA, accreditation, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
Represent Student Success Across Campus
Lead New Student Orientation presentations.
Coordinate career fairs, employer engagement events, and student success initiatives.
Participate in commencement ceremonies and Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings.
Support onboarding and training of new Student Success team members.
What We're Looking For
Required
Bachelor's degree
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in Career Services, Student Success, Student Affairs, Academic Advising, Higher Education, or Workforce Development
Experience leading teams and driving measurable performance outcomes
Lead through ambiguity, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution while building new processes and driving continuous improvement
Strong analytical skills with experience using data to improve student success metrics
Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced, student-centered environment
Preferred
Experience in one or more of the following:
Postsecondary or higher education
Technical or vocational education
Career college administration
Student retention and persistence
Graduate placement and employer engagement
Career coaching
Academic advising
Workforce development
Why Join Us?
At Aviation Institute of Maintenance, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives while helping them build rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
We invest in our employees through competitive compensation, professional development, and outstanding benefits.
Our Benefits Include
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (effective Day One)
401(k) with Company Match
Paid Time Off
Paid Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Professional growth and leadership development opportunities
Join Our Team
If you're an experienced higher education leader who enjoys developing teams, improving student outcomes, and building meaningful employer partnerships, we'd love to meet you.
Apply today and help shape the future of student success at Aviation Institute of Maintenance.