Director of Student Success

About Bethel University

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

Position Overview

The Director of Student Success provides university-wide leadership for advancing Bethel’s Student Success Goals. Housed in Academic Affairs, this role serves as a central point of coordination, strategy, and accountability for student success efforts across the institution, working in close partnership with leaders in Student Experience, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and other cabinet areas.

The Director of Student Success advances vision and direction while remaining deeply engaged in the lived, ground-level work of student success. This role bridges strategy and implementation—ensuring that institutional priorities translate into aligned practices, coordinated initiatives, and meaningful outcomes for students. The position requires a holistic, integrated use of data—quantitative and qualitative—to inform decision-making, guide action, and assess progress.

Primary Responsibilities

Student Success Coordination

Drive forward work to implement a shared, institution-wide vision for student success aligned with Bethel’s mission and strategic priorities.Translate Student Success Goals into clear strategies, priorities, and coordinated initiatives across academic and co-curricular contexts.

University-Wide Coordination, Collaboration, and Communication

Serve as the central point person for undergraduate student success efforts, fostering alignment across Academic Affairs, Student Experience, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and other campus partners.Build strong collaborative relationships that support shared ownership, clarity of roles, and collective impact.Co-Chair (with a Student Experience leader) and lead the Student Success Committee, setting agendas, facilitating collaboration, and ensuring the committee’s work advances institutional priorities and measurable student success outcomes.Ensure clear and consistent communication related to student success priorities, initiatives, and outcomes across campus and to external partners when appropriate.

Data Leadership and Evidence-Informed Decision Making

Provide leadership for the collection, integration, analysis, and use of student success data, including both quantitative metrics and qualitative insights.Ensure data is accessible, meaningful, and used consistently to inform planning, intervention, and continuous improvement

Implementation, Enablement and Continuous Improvement

Guide and provide hands-on leadership for the implementation of student success initiatives, including leading early implementation of select Student Success Task Force recommendations. This work includes coordinating timelines, responsibilities, and cross-unit collaboration, and serving as project manager across units until initiatives are clearly defined, operationalized, and sustainable within existing structures.Identify barriers to student success and work collaboratively to design and enable effective solutions.Ensure student success initiatives are designed, implemented, and revised in ways that are financially responsible and sustainable, working in collaboration with budget owners and campus partners.

Assessment, Reporting and Accountability

Monitor progress toward Student Success Goals and provide regular updates to university leadership and other stakeholders.Lead or coordinate evaluation efforts that assess effectiveness, identify key insights, and inform ongoing strategy refinement.

Direct Program Leadership

Lead the Royal Bridge Program for students entering Bethel with no or few previous college creditsLead the BRIDGE Living Learning Community for students entering Bethel with no or few previous college credits

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in education, higher education administration or related field

Experience:

Minimum 3 years of strong and progressive leadership responsibilities in higher education, preferably with experience related to academic affairs.Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives that impact student success.Experience working with multiple stakeholders across an institution or organization.Ground-level experience in some area of student success.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strategic leadership: Ability to set vision, develop strategy, and implement innovative initiatives across complex organizations. Skilled at prioritizing and advancing multiple initiatives in a dynamic environment. Skills in change management and strategic planning.

Collaborative Leadership and Influence: Skilled at cultivating partnerships and building joint ownership of ideas, leading through collaboration and cross-departmental coordination rather than direct supervision. Demonstrated commitment to listening, learning, and integrating diverse perspectives

Student-centered approach: Deep commitment to creating transformative, mission-aligned student experiences.

Financial acumen: Recognition of financial considerations and the need to build for sustainability.

Communication excellence: Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills for diverse audiences, including the ability to utilize social media.

Analytical ability: Proficiency in using data for program evaluation, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Technological Knowledge and Application: Ability to strategically and responsibly leverage current and emerging technologies—including AI—to support practice, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement, while anticipating and guiding future innovation.

Benefits

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

 

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time 

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

 

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

The pay range for this role is:76,500 - 83,000 USD per year(Bethel University)