Student Services Manager for Graduate Programs

Position Summary
This position is eligible for a SIGN ON BONUS of $5000 to be paid in two installments: $2500 within 40 days of your hire date and $2500 twelve months after hire date. This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. The Student Services Manager ( SSM ) for Graduate Programs will serve three educational programs in the School of Data Science and Society ( SDSS ). 80% of the position will be dedicated to the residential M.S. in Data Science and the residential Ph.D. in Data Science whereas 20% of the position will support the online M.S. in Applied Data Science. ( MADS ). The residential M.S. in Data Science and the residential Ph.D. in Data Science were approved by the Board of Trustees in the fall of 2025; thus they are both brand new programs. The SSM for Graduate Programs will be instrumental in establishing policy and procedure for these new programs as well as setting up infrastructure within SDSS Academic Affairs unit to serve both programs going forwards. The primary focus of the position will be managing administrative processes within the Universitys adopted platforms including but not limited to Slate GradStar GSHIP and Connect Carolina. The SSM for Graduate Programs can expect to primarily work with the Executive Director of Graduate Programs who oversees admissions curricular logistics student support services and continuous quality improvement. This position will be a member of the SDSS Academic Affairs team comprised of undergraduate and graduate data science programs and will report to the Executive Director of Graduate Programs. The position will support Academic Affairs overarching goals of providing a community of belonging for all students; preparing students for their post-graduation destinations through up-to-date curricula; and offering support services that contribute to student growth and opportunity. SDSS is a new professional school that will combine with the existing UNC School of Information and Library Science ( SILS ) by July 1 2026 requiring staff to actively design and build academic infrastructure. As such the ideal candidate has prior student-facing experience in the field of education genuine enthusiasm for student interactions and their academic journeys demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning excellent written and verbal communication skills tolerance for ambiguity persistence in the face of challenges creative problem-solving and strong work ethic.

Required Qualifications Competencies And Experience
Ability to address complex issues and provide solutions using excellent judgement while maintaining confidentiality. Ability to take initiative and work independently in a team environment with limited supervision. Strong organizational skills to prioritize work and the needs of students Strong oral and written communication skills and experience teaching training or facilitating. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations to groups.

Preferred Qualifications Competencies And Experience
Masters degree in education counseling or a related field. Deep familiarity with the intersectional framework and best practices required to achieve student success including academic wellness engagement and financial components. Experience using an intersectional framework to create desired learning outcomes and develop educational programs. Ability to write reports business correspondence and procedure manuals. Familiarity with UNC -adopted platforms including but not limited to Slate GradStar GSHIP and Connect Carolina.