Job Details

Santa Monica College
Dean, Student Success & Counseling
  • Position Number: 9938612
  • Location: Santa Monica, United States
  • Position Type: Deans - Other


Dean, Student Success & Counseling
Santa Monica College


Salary: $173,449.00 - $201,075.00 Annually

Job Type: Academic Administrator

Job Number: 00338

Location: 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, CA

Closing: 11/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Duties

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITYWith the goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students, Santa Monica College embraces diversity among students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve as an integral part of our history, a recognition of the complexity of our present state, and a call to action for a better future. Embracing diversity means that we must intentionally practice equity and respect toward one another, and understand that discrimination and prejudices create and sustain privileges for some while creating and sustaining barriers for others. In order to embrace diversity, we also acknowledge that institutional discrimination and implicit bias exist, and that our goal is to eradicate those vestiges from our system. Our commitment to diversity requires that we strive to eliminate those barriers to equity, and that we act deliberately to create a safe and positive environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as an educational community. To advance the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice for the success of students and employees, we must honor that each individual is unique and that our individual differences contribute to the ability of the college to prepare students on their educational journeys. This requires that we develop and implement policies and procedures, encourage individual and systemic change, continually reflect on our efforts, and hold ourselves accountable for the results of our efforts in accomplishing our goals. We are invested as a community in cultivating and maintaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are both intrinsic and explicit by valuing individuals and groups from all backgrounds, demographics, and experiences. Individual and group differences can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, religion, creed, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. We acknowledge that the concept of inclusion and diversity is ever-evolving, thus we create space to allow our understanding to grow through the periodic review of this statement. In service of these goals, Santa Monica College is committed to fostering an employment environment that offers equal employment opportunity for all and an educational environment that ensures the equal educational opportunity of all students.

Position Profile

The Dean of Student Success and Counseling is responsible for providing strategic leadership and administrative oversight for counseling services and student success programs across the College. This role focuses on developing, implementing, and institutionalizing initiatives that support student retention, equity, and overall success. The Dean will lead and provide direction in a broad range of programs and activities, including but not limited to:

  • Articulation
  • Back to Success (Academic and Progress Probation Services)
  • Black Collegians (Umoja Community)
  • CalWORKs
  • Career Counseling
  • Dream Program
  • EOPS/CARE
  • Foster Youth Programs (Guardian Scholars and NextUp)
  • Gateway to Persistence System (GPS/Starfish)
  • General Counseling and Transfer Services
  • Latino Center/Adelante
  • New Student Orientation
  • Pico Partnership
  • Student Success Teams
  • Rising Program


The Dean will also play a key role in recommending and shaping institutional policies in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities

Leadership

  • Supervise classified support staff, and provide direction to managers, counseling faculty with additional leadership responsibilities, counselors, and student workers.
  • Oversee Academic, Transfer, Vocational, and Career Counseling services.
  • Ensure robust transfer counseling services and maintain articulation agreements with four-year institutions.
  • Collaborate across departments to implement a comprehensive career services program including individual counseling, workshops, and job development.
  • Participate in the hiring, training, and supervision of managers, faculty, and classified staff.
  • Serve on the Crisis Prevention Team and co-lead New Student Orientation initiatives.
  • Implement and manage the Student Success Team Model for Areas of Interest (AOI) communities.
  • Maintain systems for documenting student eligibility and participation in special programs.
  • Participate in the Institutional Redesign Team and Equity Planning Committees.
  • Co-chair the Student Retention Committee.
  • Assign, schedule, and enter faculty and management assignments.
  • Serve as program or project lead, where appropriate.
  • Build partnerships with community agencies to support educational success for historically underserved populations.
  • Represent the District at local, state, and national meetings.
  • Communicate effectively across all college constituencies.
  • Attend relevant trainings and professional meetings.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Budget and Fiscal Oversight

  • Develop, monitor, and manage budgets for counseling services and various categorical programs.
  • Assess staffing, program needs, and productivity to align with fiscal resources.
  • Collaborate with the college foundation and external entities to pursue and manage relevant grants.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Evaluation and Compliance

  • Track and assess student progress; implement interventions to support retention and success.
  • Oversee evaluations, audits, and program reviews for compliance and effectiveness.
  • Provide timely and accurate reports (oral and written) on program and personnel outcomes.
  • Ensure appropriate personnel coverage during all academic terms and sessions.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Program Oversight - Special Programs

  • The Dean works with faculty, supervisors, and managers to provide oversight for multiple equity-focused programs, including:
    • Black Collegians / Umoja Community - Program coordination, staff supervision, and budget management.
    • CalWORKs - Oversight of services, staffing, and community partnership engagement.
    • Dream Program - Supervision of staff and services for undocumented students; grant oversight.
    • EOPS/CARE - Coordination of services, staff supervision, and compliance with state and institutional reporting.
    • Foster Youth Programs (Guardian Scholars and NextUp) - Staff oversight, service coordination, and budget management.
    • Latino Center/Adelante - Supervision of program services and support for Latinx/e students.
    • Pico Partnership - Management of services and fiscal oversight of the associated grant.
    • Rising Program - Coordination of services and support for formerly incarcerated students, including staff supervision.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

  • Demonstrated commitment to equity and success for underrepresented and marginalized student populations.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of an administrative team to advance institutional goals.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Technological proficiency in student success platforms, data analysis, and program assessment.
  • Flexibility and adaptability to lead in a dynamic, fast-paced educational environment.
  • Ability to lead within a participatory governance structure.


Minimum Qualifications

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • One year of formal training, internship or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
  • Must have sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse socio-economic, academic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities as these factors relate to differences in learning styles.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Two (2) years of administrative and leadership experience in education, relevant to the assignment.
  • Three (3) years of professional experience in student services, preferably within a community college setting.
  • Two (2) or more years of experience teaching or counseling in an academic environment.


Additional Information

Academic Administrator Application Requirements

A standard application consists of the following:

  • Online District Application
  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • Transcript


PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE SELECTED FOR A FINAL INTERVIEW YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THREE (3) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION TO BE REVIEWED AS A PART OF THE FINAL PROCESS.

Diversity Statement

Recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom; and a willingness to use culturally responsive instructional practices.

Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity, and ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, cultures, and learning styles, as well as students with disabilities or varied levels of academic preparation.

Please review our Diversity Report: Faculty/Staff Diversity Reports - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)

Equity StatementSanta Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity and inclusion. Equity, diversity and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment. Equal Employment Opportunity DisclosureThe Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District's Board Policy 3420 (Equal Employment Opportunity) may be accessed at: http://www.smc.edu/ACG/Documents/Board_Policy_Manual/Updated%20Board%20Policies%202017/Board%20Policy%20Chapter%203.pdf (Download PDF reader) Equivalency Statement

The Santa Monica Community College District, in its desire to select outstanding employees from the largest possible pool of qualified applicants, recognizes the fact that candidates may attain expertise in a discipline through a variety of means. Certain combinations of education, experience and other accomplishments in the field may be judged by the District as equal to the stated minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who feel they possess such equivalent qualifications are encouraged to apply and provide appropriate documentation of their qualifications. If you are applying for the recruitment through equivalency based on work experience, you will be required to submit proof of your work history. For further details regarding equivalency criteria, please download the Equivalency Application Statement Form available at: https://www.smc.edu/administration/human-resources/employment/documents/equivalency-statement-for-application.pdf (Download PDF reader)

Conditions of EmploymentAppointment is subject to verification of official transcripts, current or previous employment, tuberculosis and fingerprint clearance. Selected candidate must provide identification and work authorization. In response to significant budgetary pressures facing the institution, this position is subject to two furlough days each month. Please note the salary listed does not consider the two furlough days each month.



To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/smcacademic/jobs/5537718/dean-student-success-counseling




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