Job Details

Retention and Student Development Professional

Position Number: 6799144
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Position Type: Student Affairs and Services

Retention and Student Development Professional

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Retention and Student Development Professional - 37934 University Staff

Description
Retention and Student Development Professional

Undergraduate Education

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking a Retention and Student Development Professional to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery-a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

This position is funded by a US Department of Education TRiO Student Support Services grant awarded September 2025 and is contingent upon availability of continued annual funding for an estimated five years.

Salary Range: $46,077 - $51,454 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location: On-site

Benefits at a Glance

At UCCS, our employees are our most valued asset. We're proud to offer:

Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
Further Your Education: Avail twelve waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.
Wellness & More: From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.
Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete picture!

Summary

The Retention & Student Development Program Manager for the UCCS TRiO Student Support Services Program is responsible for coordinating all student programming, mentoring, and academic support tracking to ensure objectives are met for this U.S. Department of Education grant-funded program. In collaboration with the Project Director, this role is responsible for supporting strong student engagement and delivering holistic and effective support services to 140 eligible college students with a range of academic needs, who are first-generation, low-income students and/or have a disability. This position supervises and oversees the work of two part-time Graduate Assistants in specific areas of peer advocacy and student data tracking, to support student retention, development, and persistence and the SSS Project's collection, documentation, compilation, reporting, and use of data to drive continuous improvement in SSS Project outcomes.

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Plan, organize, oversee, and facilitate summer transitional orientation and assist with planning for Intensive Summer Bridge GPS first year seminar course for incoming SSS students
Coordinate and present workshops on academic, social, financial, and emotional support topics for students
Supervise Peer Advocate Graduate Assistant in the coordination of the Peer Advocate program for first year, sophomore, and new transfer students
Supervise Student Retention & Data Graduate Assistant in coordination of tracking student usage of campus resources
Provide academic and career advising, assistance with the financial aid process, and Academic Success Plan development to a caseload of approximately 60 SSS students
Develop effective collaborative relationships with campus partners and maintain communication about programmatic and referral resource updates
Assist with screening and selection of program participants
Collaborate with the Project Director to implement the grant
Compile data for weekly, monthly, and annual Project reports, using Student Access or similar database, ensuring that student data files are complete and up to date
Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities
Other duties as assigned

Tentative Search Timeline

Priority will be given to applications submitted by: January 9th, 2026.
Potential interview dates: Week of January 15th, 2026.
Potential start date: February 1st, 2026.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on sex in our employment or compensation practices.

Note: This job description outlines this role's general responsibilities, qualifications, and physical requirements at UCCS. It is not an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. The university reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities as needed to meet the university's needs.

Qualifications
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire:

Master's degree in education, counseling, student affairs in higher education, social work, or related field from an accredited college/university is required.
Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, student affairs in higher education, social work, or related field from an accredited college/university is required.
At least 3 years' experience providing advising, mentoring, or academic support focusing on student success and retention is required.
At least 1 year experience supervising student and/or professional staff is required.
Demonstrated knowledge of current student retention practices and student development theory.
Experience working with low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities who are academically under-prepared is preferred.
Experience developing effective advising and mentoring relationships with students is preferred.
Experience overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the Project's population.
At least 1 year experience presenting or teaching groups of students is preferred.
At least 1 year experience coordinating and tracking student referrals to campus resources is preferred.
Experience gathering, analyzing, and interpreting programmatic data is preferred and excellent written and oral communication skills

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Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applications submitted by 1/9/2026 will receive full consideration.

Applications submitted through email or surface mail will not be considered. Please apply at cu.edu/cu-careers (job #:37934).

Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

Upon request, please be prepared to provide five professional references (at least two previous/current supervisors), including their email contact information. If you have technical difficulties with your application, please contact the CU Careers help desk at 303-860-4200 #5 or cucareershelp@cu.edu. Job related inquiries should be directed to the posting contact. This position does not include new visa sponsorship for individuals outside the U.S. Candidates must already be in the United States with valid work authorization or an employment-based visa. The university will not initiate sponsorship for those who do not currently hold a U.S. work visa or authorization. If you already have valid U.S. work authorization or are on a visa that permits employment, we welcome your application. Applicants should either reside in Colorado or be prepared to relocate within two months of starting employment. We're excited to welcome new team members and will provide support and resources to help make your transition to Colorado as smooth as possible. Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV, Unofficial transcript(s) Application Materials Instructions: Please identify the job specific minimum qualifications you possess in your cover letter and be sure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting. To apply, please submit the following application materials to this posting. 1. A current resume. Must include date ranges to include month and year (mm/yyyy) and whether the position was full time or part time. 2. A cover letter that specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualifications. 3. Unofficial transcript(s) When submitting the materials, check the Job Specific Attachments box next to each document in order for the search committee members to see your materials.

Job Category: Academic Services

Primary Location: Colorado Springs Department: C0001 -- Colorado Springs Campus - 40363 - AA-Undergraduate Education

Schedule: Full-time

Posting Date: Dec 17, 2025

Unposting Date: Ongoing Posting Contact Name: Sean Dean Posting Contact Email: sdean@uccs.edu Position Number: 00420118

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To apply, please visit: https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=37934&lang=en