Director of Student Support Services

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with additional hours as required to meet business needs.

Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System, a statewide system of community colleges. The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board.

Virginia Western is located on a 70-acre campus in southwest Roanoke, VA. The service region of the College includes Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of over 9,000 students in credit courses and more than 1,400
enrollments in fast-track workforce and continuing education courses.

Virginia Western Community College is accepting applications for a Director of Student Support Services. This position provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for student-centered initiatives designed to enhance student well-being, retention, and success. This role ensures all students have access to vital non-academic resources that remove barriers to their personal, academic, and career goals.

Key areas of oversight include

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Director works collaboratively across divisions and with external stakeholders to create a holistic support ecosystem for students.

Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience in student support services, student affairs, or a related field in higher education. Demonstrated success managing diverse student support programs such as foster youth support, disability services, mental health counseling, and benefit access programs. Strong foundation in student development theory, trauma-informed practices, and holistic student success frameworks. Experience with behavioral threat assessment, crisis intervention protocols, and restorative approaches to student conduct. Familiarity with federal and state regulations affecting student support services, including ADA. Understanding of integration of career readiness into student services. Visionary leadership with the demonstrated ability to develop and implement cross-functional strategies that support student retention, well-being, and completion. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to effectively advocate for students and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders. Strategic thinking and organizational agility in managing budgets, personnel, and resources in a student-centered environment. Proficiency with student information systems, case management software, and CRM platforms used in higher education. Ability to lead staff development initiatives and foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable team culture.

Knowledge of public assistance programs and student case management. Knowledge of ADA compliance and trauma-informed care. Experience developing outreach initiatives for a variety of student populations. Ability to implement technology-driven student support solutions. Management/supervisory experience.

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The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts ( ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.