Director of Rocky Top Gateway Division of Student Success UTK

Housed within the Division of Student Success Rocky Top Gateway provides a unique and powerful opportunity for students to live the Volunteer experience from day oneon campus in the classroom and connected to all that makes UT specialall while completing their first-year coursework in partnership with Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC). It is designed to help students start strong belong early and transition smoothly into full-time UT life during their second year. Rocky Top Gateway expands access to a UT degree by offering a clear and supported pathway for a broader range of students strengthening UTs overall talent pipeline. Serving approximately 550 students annually the program ensures that those who begin their studies through PSCC can still participate fully in UTs community and resources while establishing foundational academic habits and early campus engagement.

The inaugural Director of Rocky Top Gateway provides visionary strategic and operational leadership for Rocky Top Gateway program a signature student success initiative within the Division of Student Success. The Director oversees all aspects of this high-impact partnership between the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) and Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC). Supervised by the Senior Director of First-Year Experience and Undergraduate Pathways this position leads a proactive relationship-driven support model that expands access to UT increases first-year student success ensures students meet semester-by-semester academic requirements and prepares at least 80% of participants to seamlessly transfer to UT as sophomores. The Director manages program operations recruitment and yield initiatives inter-institutional collaboration staff supervision budget assessment and continuous improvement while advancing a full UT student life experience cohort-based living-learning environment and curated academic and social engagement for all Rocky Top Gateway students annually.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

-Develop and implement long-term goals policies and structures for Rocky Top Gateway aligned with UTs mission and Division of Student Success priorities.

-Establish a high-touch proactive support model that increases retention preparedness and UT matriculation.

-Guide strategic planning assessment design and continuous quality improvement.

-Remain informed of best practices in transfer student experience and student success.

-Build and foster Rocky Top Gateway as a nationally recognized access and transition program.

Program Operations Recruitment & Partnership Management

-Oversee all daily operations ensuring consistent communication progress tracking and proactive student support.

-Lead yield and recruitment strategies with Undergraduate Admissions highlighting affordability support structures and full UT student life access.

-Effectively communicate program benefits to prospective students and families.

-Serve as primary liaison between UT and PSCC ensuring alignment across advising academic support enrollment process student fees and student services.

-Partner with academic colleges advising units Student Life Financial Aid and Enrollment Management to integrate coaching major exploration and engagement opportunities.

-Work with OIT partners on development and use of technology and data tools to support program operations.

Supervision & Staff Development

-Supervise and evaluate the Associate Director and Assistant Director.

-Provide leadership training and professional development for staff.

-Foster a culture of care accountability collaboration and student-centered service.

-Assist with future staff hiring and onboarding as programs expand.

Budget & Fiscal Management

-Manage and monitor the Rocky Top Gateway budget including any donor or foundation funds as available.

-Approve expenditures analyze financial needs and ensure compliance with university and state policies.

-Identify opportunities for efficient resource usage or revenue enhancements.

Data & Assessment

-Implement assessment tools to measure retention academic progress engagement and student satisfaction.

-Use data to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making.

-Provide regular reports to Division of Student Success leadership and key stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Education:
  • Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration Student Affairs Counseling or related field.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration student success academic advising or related student-facing functional areas.
  • Experience leading or coordinating programs that support student retention access transition or completion.
  • Experience supervising full-time professional staff including evaluation coaching and performance management.
  • Experience managing program operations including student communication plans event delivery or case management-style support.
  • Experience supporting or participating in recruitment or yield activities especially those requiring persuasive communication with students and families.
  • Experience working effectively in a hybrid work environment including managing priorities communication and productivity across in-person and remote settings.
  • Experience supervising or coordinating staff in a hybrid or flexible work setting.
• Knowledge Skills Abilities:

  • Ability to design and implement student-centered support structures that promote belonging persistence and academic success.

  • Skill in proactively identifying student needs and deploying timely interventions.

  • Knowledge of effective recruitment yield practices and communication strategies tailored to prospective students and families.

  • Skill in developing long-term strategic plans that align with institutional priorities and drive program growth.

  • Ability to translate vision into actionable goals policies and operational structures.

  • Knowledge of partnership-building practices across academic and administrative units including external institutions.

  • Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and maintain productive collaborative relationships.

  • Skill in supervising mentoring and evaluating professional staff to foster a high-performing team environment.

  • Ability to promote accountability professional growth and a culture of care and student-centered service.

  • Knowledge of assessment tools data collection methods and student success metrics.

  • Ability to analyze data to inform decisions evaluate program effectiveness and implement continuous improvement.

  • Skill in communicating clearly persuasively and strategically with students families staff faculty and leadership.

  • Ability to influence decisions and advance program goals through strong interpersonal and public-speaking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience:
  • Experience leading or working with a bridge program transition pathway or dual-enrollment program.
  • Experience designing or overseeing living-learning communities cohort-based models or high-touch student engagement structures.
  • Experience with proactive case management or student tracking systems (e.g. Navigate Salesforce Slate Banner).
  • Experience presenting to campus leadership external partners or large groups (prospective students families or community organizations).
• Knowledge Skills Abilities:

  • Knowledge of best practices in bridge programs transition programs or dual-institution academic pathways.

  • Knowledge of emerging trends in first-year experience retention strategies transfer success and student development theory.

  • Skill in creating high-touch relationship-driven support systems for large student populations.

  • Knowledge of effective student recruitment and yield techniques especially for specialized pathway programs.

  • Ability to represent the program professionally to diverse stakeholders including campus leadership PSCC partners students and families.

  • Knowledge of community college transfer ecosystems and common barriers to transition.

Work Location

University of Tennessee Knoxville

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range:MR 15
• Anticipated hiring range:Minimum $100000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structurehere
• Find more information on UT Benefitshere

Application Instructions

For best consideration applicants should submit cover letter resume and three professional references.