Dean, Academic Counseling and Student Success

Overview

Position Title: Dean, Academic Counseling and Student Success

Campus: West Valley College

West Valley College is seeking a collaborative, knowledgeable leader who thrives in a fast-paced and innovative environment to serve in the position of Dean of Academic Counseling and Student Success. Under the direction of the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Dean plans, directs, manages, and provides leadership to the Counseling Department and directors who manage a variety of student services and special programs.

Programs and services include Academic Counseling, CalWORKs, CARE, Career Services, Disabled Education Support Programs, EOPS, International Student Services, Next Up, Student Conduct, TRIO SSS, Transfer Center, Veterans, and other special programs. The Dean works in partnership with college directors and deans across areas to move the work of the college forward.

West Valley College is part of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. It is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, enrolls over 15,000 students annually, and is located near the Silicon Valley on 143 wooded acres. The student population represents diverse communities from nearby cities. Detailed information about the student population and student success data can be found on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research webpage.

The college is ranked for transfers and has received recognitions for its programs and services. West Valley College is committed to equity, social justice, and inclusive excellence and works to address inequities and injustices in higher education.

As a campus community, West Valley is committed to addressing inequities and injustices, and to ongoing equity, social justice, and racial justice work that transforms individuals and the institution. We embrace accountability and will act with courage, grace, and humility in fulfilling our commitment to learning and unlearning.

Assignment: This is an academic administrator position with an anticipated start date of April 2026. This is an exempt position and is not subject to overtime.

Salary and Benefits:

• Anticipated Salary: $198,174 – $211,059 annually (Administrative Salary Schedule, Range 25, Steps A-C).
• Annual salary step increases to a maximum of $247,060 (Administrative Salary Schedule, Range 25, Step H).

Benefits include:

• Additional compensation: $2,000 for doctorate added to base salary annually, prorated monthly.
• Employer-contributed medical, dental and vision for employee, spouse and/or dependents.
• Employer-paid long term disability for employee.
• Employer-provided life insurance.
• 14 paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday annually; paid non-workdays between Christmas and New Year.
• 22 days vacation leave accrued annually (25 days after 5 years).
• 12 days sick leave accrued annually.
• Personal necessity leave and personal business leave.
• Professional development and renewal leave.
• CalSTRS retirement.

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent to a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in education or a related field.
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in counseling at a college level, including two years of administrative and management responsibility.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty and staff.

Desired

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following desired qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in leading academic counseling and overseeing two or more student services and related programs.
• Proven success in delivering student support programs online.
• Broad experience in program development, student engagement, student success outcomes, collaboration with instructional programs, and institutional change.
• Ability to partner with academic deans to provide embedded counselors training and guidance to ensure comprehensive…