Remote New 
Dean - Student Retention and Completion
 Maricopa Community College district | |
life insurance, paid time off, sick time, long term disability, tuition reimbursement, 403(b)
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 United States, Arizona, Mesa | |
 Sep 24, 2025 | |
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Dean - Student Retention and Completion Job ID: 321877 Location: Mesa Community College Full/Part Time: Full Time Regular/Temporary: Regular Hiring Salary Range $110,561.00 - $143,729.00/annually, DOE Grade 125 Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm; some evenings and weekends may be required Summer Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7am-6pm Work Calendar 12 Months Maricopa Summary 10 Colleges. Unlimited Opportunities. The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college systems in the nation. Home to 10 individually accredited community colleges and 31 satellite locations, we proudly serve students in every corner of the Valley. Each day, our dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators, live out our vision- creating excellence in education for a better world. We focus on people-not profits. With 100% acceptance, zero rejections, and affordable tuition, we provide the flexibility and support our students need to succeed in and beyond the classroom. Discover how we're changing college. We don't just support our community-we help build it. We are the largest provider of workforce development training in the state. The activities of our colleges and their students support one out of every 28 jobs in Maricopa County. Learn about our economic impact. We believe our employees are our most valuable asset. Our 10 colleges and District Office support nearly 10,000 jobs and careers throughout Greater Phoenix. Join us in making a real difference in the lives of over 140,000 college students each year. Campus Statement Mesa Community College (MCC), which is celebrating its 60th anniversary during 2025, is nationally recognized for its excellence in university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, and innovative education. Serving more than 25,500 students annually, MCC offers a range of degree and certificate programs across its two campuses and additional locations. MCC students contribute more than 8,500 hours of community service annually. MCC serves as a key resource for education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The college enhances student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services. A Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly 50% of MCC students are first-generation college attendees, and it boasts the largest Indigenous student population among Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) colleges, supporting students from 22 Arizona tribes and additional out-of-state tribes. Our award-winning faculty are committed to helping students achieve their goals through high-quality education, training and undergraduate research opportunities. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of 10 MCCCD colleges. Learn more at mesacc.edu. Benefits Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is committed to providing a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports our employees' and their families' health and well-being. Therefore, the MCCCD benefits support every stage of life and are designed to meet the diverse needs of our community. Explore the wide range of benefits and perks available to eligible employees at MCCCD: Affordable and Comprehensive Benefits Package:
Employee Health & Wellness Programs:
Job Summary The Dean for Student Retention and Completion is a strategic leadership position responsible for designing and implementing institution-wide strategic efforts to improve community college student retention, persistence, and credential completion. This senior-level role leads a portfolio of student-centered programs and policies, ensuring measurable progress toward outcomes across diverse student populations. Through visionary, innovative, and collaborative leadership across academic, student services, and institutional research teams, the dean will harness data, research, and best practices to proactively identify barriers to educational attainment and implement targeted interventions, policies, and programs and foster a data-informed, student-centered culture of success and advance Mesa Community College's strategic goals and objectives. This leadership position provides oversight for a strategic retention plan, as well as develops, implements, and assesses student-centered programs and services within Student Affairs under the direction of the Vice President of Student Affairs. This is an on-campus in-person position within a student-facing administrative office and serves in the best interests of the college on matters of student achievement, engagement, and institutional accountability. The ability to effectively work with a team of diverse faculty, staff and students is essential for success. Essential Functions 60% Leadership * Provide strategic leadership and oversight for academic advising, first-year success, and student engagement programs and functions. * Provide direct supervision to the following: Director, Academic Advising, Success Programs, TRiO and other designated personnel. * Design and operationalize an integrated and comprehensive plan that meets the needs of a diverse learner population and increases persistence and retention. * Provide strategic direction for the development and continuous improvement of programs and services, ensuring data-informed decision-making aligns with MCC's institutional goals. * Prioritize closing opportunity gaps that support student retention, academic success, and career readiness, with a particular emphasis on addressing the needs of at-opportunity student populations. * Develop and implement targeted student success initiatives that promote access to essential resources, ensuring comprehensive support for all student populations. * Design and implement student success programs and outreach and monitor the success of those programs. * Consider ways First-Year Seminars can most effectively increase retention/persistence, and design effective co-curricular approaches to ensure students are positioned for success. * Monitor student persistence, retention, and success metrics, using data to drive decision-making and improve student outcomes. * Lead college retention and persistence efforts including academic recovery and adoption and the effective use of the Academic Alert system. * Develop metrics, policies, and procedures and program health assessment for establishing and achieving objectives in retention, persistence, and student success. * Develop and utilize a robust data strategy and other technological advances to create a model retention program for in-person and online students. * Serve as a liaison for proactive and relational advising and outreach initiatives in partnership with and support of institutional academic, student success, and advising staff. * Assist the Vice President, Student Affairs in the strategic review of data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for enhancing student success initiatives, with a focus on reducing disparities and increasing equity in retention and completion rates. * Facilitate partnerships and programs that enhance students' access to academic, career, and personal development resources, both within and outside the college, with an emphasis on closing opportunity gaps. * Collaborate with faculty to analyze, interpret and implement processes as they relate to student engagement, retention, persistence, academic advising, and student success. * Collaborate with faculty to address first-year experience courses, orientation, summer bridge programming, and similar initiatives. * Build collaborative partnerships with college departments to develop integrated student success strategies. * Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to integrate student success strategies into the campus culture. * Provide leadership to develop, plan, and operate retention communication plans. * Maximize full utilization of student success software programs to enhance academic advising, degree planning, and tracking to improve retention and completion rates. * Develop goals and objectives for areas of supervision. Collaborate with the Vice President, Student Affairs in the area of long-range planning and coordinate special projects and other initiatives with internal and external stakeholders. * Communicate effectively, share vision, focus on people, initiate positive change, value differences and foster collaboration. Inspire others to achieve college, unit, and individual success. Challenge processes and willing to break from the status quo to improve individual and unit performance. * Supervise, hire, lead, manage, evaluate, coach, train, and develop a high-performing team and build unit capacity to ensure that staff and unit operations are optimally aligned with the needs of the service population. Ensure high levels of retention, achievement of goals and quality results from all team members. Research and offer appropriate professional development to employees within the department. Manage the daily activities of the team and set retention goals for the team on a regular basis. o Direct, supervise, and support all assigned areas to ensure students receive personalized guidance for academic planning and career pathways for persistence and credential/degree completion. o Ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and students are receiving services as delegated. o Lead, monitor, and manage Early Alert services and data to ensure practices are effective in addressing students who are demonstrating academic difficulty. * Create a unit that thinks creatively and executes with precision and speed for the purpose of creating a climate of belonging and care for all students. * Budget Management: Prepare, manage, and oversee budget expenditures. Engage in expenditure development and review. Maintain operating budget, including development of financial models, projection of expenses, and assessing financial needs. Develop, update and responsible for budgets for student support programs, ensuring efficient use of resources. * Demonstrate self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy, social skills and group work skills. Trustworthy, understanding and helpful. Considerate. Work well and productively on committees. * Act with integrity. Make the right decision even when that may not be the most popular decision. Poised. Coachable. Respect authority and the rights of others. Fair. * Identify/address problem areas before they escalate into crises. Solve problems courageously and creatively, plan effectively and carry out those plans. Improve individual and unit performance. Manage ambiguity and align the unit and college values with performance. Productive, demonstrate a strong work ethic and sense of ambition. Make good use of resources. Accountable. * Engage in other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Student Affairs, supporting initiatives that advance the mission of the office and the division. * Ability to act in the absence of the Vice President, Student Affairs and assist with projects and program quality improvements. 30% Program/Operation Implementation * Develop, direct, plan, organize, and implement long-range retention and student success strategies/programs that align with accreditation agencies, institutional policies, administrative regulations, and support research-based best practices for college-wide enrollment, retention and persistence efforts. o Identify at-risk students, develop and implement intervention strategies, and coordinate efforts between faculty, advisors, and support services to ensure students remain on track to complete their degree. * Participate in and support strategic enrollment planning activities at the system and campus level, and in partnership with the Vice President, Student Affairs, setting and implementing a strategic direction for SEM planning. * Plan, organize, and conduct retention events, program sessions, and special events to promote the educational transition and awareness for new students, especially for at-risk student populations. * Develop campus-wide enrollment and retention initiatives and programs for at-risk student populations to include faculty and multiple departments. * Coordinate the early alert system for all students in the college identifying students at risk and implementing interventions to promote retention. Incorporate diverse technology systems for effective early alert and other retention and completion practices. Coordinate technology tracking systems, data collection, and analysis. o Develop an early alert system to identify underperforming students in specific coursework, and collaborate with instructional aides and tutors to intervene. * Co-chair the College Enrollment Management Committee. * Work with Institutional Effectiveness to identify areas for institutional improvement regarding student success, retention, completion, and collaborate in project management of initiatives for success. * Conduct workshops, seminars, and presentations to students, parents, faculty, employers, and community partners enhancing awareness and utilization of student success resources and emphasizing strategies to reduce opportunity gaps. * Collaborate with faculty and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of programs and practices. Partner with department chairs, directors, and deans to create strategic pathways for student retention. * Incorporate technology into academic advising and other departmental processes. * Problem-solve and refine strategies, assistive technologies, and/or reasonable accommodations. * Embed learning opportunities to develop student self-advocacy skills and foster autonomy. * Connect students with relevant on- and off-campus resources and offer guidance and support in navigating dynamic, fast-paced learning environments. * Demonstrate capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success. * Implement and continually develop best practices. 5% Compliance * Ensure compliance, and follow, understand, and adhere to federal, state, District Office, and institutional regulations/laws/policies. * Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by accreditation agencies, school policies, and administrative regulations. * Utilize relevant, appropriate, and approved systems to communicate and monitor student interaction and progress. * Monitor the compliance and reporting standards and remain abreast of district, state, and federal regulations. Maintain student confidentiality, including accurate and confidential records. * Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Use access to sensitive and/or not yet public college-related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of the position and exercise care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others. * Prepare accurate reports and documentation as required and requested. Track and monitor federal grants; prepare and monitor department budgets and other related budgets and operations. * Ensure students equal access to MCC's curricular and co-curricular activities. Support students and counsel them to better understand their MCC experience. 5% Other * Serve on various executive boards, college and district committees (including locally, regionally, and nationally) as designated and participate in meetings and conferences. * Responsible for other reasonable related duties as assigned commensurate to the grade level of the position. Minimum Qualifications Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution in education, student personnel, higher education administration, counseling, social work, student affairs, organizational behavior or field related to area of assignment and four years of progressively responsible management and/or leadership experience in student retention, academic advising, or student support services with demonstrated success improved retention and degree completion that includes two years of supervisory experience. Examples of student affairs academic support management/leadership experience includes: program management, project management, budget development and management related to programs or projects, staff supervision, policy development, administration, evaluation and compliance. No degree equivalency. Desired Qualifications A. A doctorate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in student personnel, higher education administration, counseling, organizational behavior or similar field. B. Six or more years of demonstrated progressive leadership experience in student retention (retention-focused roles), academic advising/ support, or student affairs in a higher education setting that improved student achievement and student success outcomes. C. Expertise in data analysis, institutional research, and using metrics to inform and support academic achievement and student success decision-making. D. Demonstrated experience developing and/or implementing tracking systems, using retention technology tools, and interpreting enrollment quantitative or qualitative data and student performance metrics, that included providing periodic analysis of program impact on student retention. E. Demonstrated success in developing, designing and/or scaling student engagement and retention initiatives with measurable outcomes. F. Experience working collaboratively and cooperatively with college-wide leadership, division, faculty, staff, and stakeholders in developing strategic enrollment management strategies and plans G. Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience managing professional staff (preferably including management of managers), developing and directing a high functioning team, and providing strong, effective, and intentional leadership skills to address complex and sensitive matters. H. Familiarity with institutional accreditation and compliance standards. Special Working Conditions This position requires considerable work schedule flexibility as there are special events, activities, and issues requiring evening and weekend hours Standard work schedule varies during the year: August through mid-May: Monday - Friday, 8 hour days; mid-May through the end of July: Monday - Thursday, 10 hour days This position is fully on-site, with no remote options Required to sit for a prolonged period of time; viewing a computer monitor May be required to travel or be assigned to another MCCD location Travel to campus during interview/selection process will be at candidate's own expense MCC does not sponsor individuals for work visas How to Apply Applicants are required to submit a cover letter and resume showing how the applicant meets the minimum and desired qualifications. All minimum requirements must be met at the time of the application. Additional materials will not be accepted after the job posting has closed. Missing materials or incomplete employment history will not be considered. Please ensure your materials clearly provide the following information.
Applicants who currently work for any of the MCCCD campuses/locations should utilize their HCM Employee Self Service page to apply for jobs by logging in to HCM and clicking on Navigator / Menu / Self Service / Recruiting / Careers. Click on link for instructions on how to apply. Applicants who are not currently working for any of the MCCCD locations should apply at https://www.maricopa.edu/about/careers. If you encounter a technical issue in the upload of documents or the submission of your application, please contact MCC Human Resources at strategicstaffing@mesacc.edu prior to the application deadline. We are accessible on business days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Arizona time. Additional Requirements A public forum is part of the hiring process for final candidates. Final candidates will be asked to provide a photo and half page bio that will be shared with our campus community. Posting Close Date Apply on or before October 24, 2025 to be considered. EEO, Title IX, & Clery Act Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) will not discriminate, nor tolerate discrimination in employment or education, against any applicant, employee, or student because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status (including document abuse), age, disability, veteran status or genetic information. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The policy of the MCCCD is to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of gender discrimination. Incidents of misconduct should be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator, as outlined in policy, contact information is available at this link Title IX Coordinators. The Clery Act is a Federal law requiring United States Colleges and Universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Crime reporting data for each of the Maricopa Community Colleges, as required under the Clery Act, is available at this link Clery Act. To apply, visit https://jobs.maricopa.edu/psp/MCPAHPRD/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1000&JobOpeningId=321877&PostingSeq=1 jeid-553719bf5b6dad40b9eaa47539af2877 | |