Academic Advisor

Job Description

Serves as an Academic Advisor for students within the Agriculture Agricultural Technology program and the Exploring Life Science Program. This role provides comprehensive, confidential one-on-one advising, including course registration, developing plans of study, tracking graduation progress, and explaining university policies.

• Advising:
  Advisor for the Associate Degree in Agriculture Agricultural Technology Program and the Exploring Life Sciences Program. Provide one-on-one advising; consistent, accurate communications with students; and confidential, consistent, and accurate maintenance of student records. Emphasis on advising majors, including course selection, request and registration advising, creating plans of study, monitoring progress to graduation, performing graduation clearances, explaining college and university policies and procedures, communicating to students electronically.
• Instructor:
  Lead in the preparation and instruction of the CALS Exploring Life Sciences section of the First Year Seminar (fall for Exploring Life Science students and spring for college-wide transfer students). Responsible for the direction of Peer Mentors for the courses.
• Administrative:
  Participate in recruiting and advising activities for the university, college, and unit, including new student orientation, welcome, change of major information sessions, open house, and prospective student visits. Lead and manage the CALS Ambassadors program.
• Manage Agricultural Technology application review process and onboarding of new students.

• Master's Degree from an accredited institution, preferably in student development, counseling, education, or relevant discipline; or Bachelor's Degree with equivalent training and/or experience in advising.
• Excellent communication, organizational, time management, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently to meet deadlines and set work priorities.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain high level of confidentiality by following FERPA, university, and department guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population, including students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and prospective students and their families.

• Employment experience in academic units, including previous work in areas of academic student services, advising, recruiting, and curriculum processes.
• Proven record showing the ability to comprehend and communicate technical careers in agricultural and green industries.
• Experience using student information systems such as Banner and Navigate.

Exempt:
Not eligible for overtime

Regular

$52,221‑73,109

40

01/18/2026

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College.

The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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