Senior Associate Director of Student Access and Success

Job Requisition ID: 47956

Closing Date: 07/17/2025

​Agency: Illinois Board of Higher Education

Salary: Starting salary commensurate with experience, within the range of $93,500 - max $115,000/yr

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time 

County: Sangamon; Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Cook; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson ; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford

Number of Vacancies: 1

****A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****

Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) AND COVER LETTER, a copy of your transcripts or diploma for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licensures to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. Please note that the Illinois Board of Higher Education must verify proof of higher education for any degree earned (if applicable) before any offer can be extended. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

About the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)

IBHE has been supporting higher education in Illinois for more than 50 years. We are a dedicated team of professionals, overseen by a Board appointed by the Governor, who are working for a strong, equitable higher education system, which we believe is essential for the state to thrive. We work with leaders in colleges, universities, state and federal government agencies, governors, legislators, and other entities to strategically further this mission.

In its strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth, IBHE has identified three goals and 25 strategies to help achieve its vision of a higher education ecosystem that ensures individuals, families, and communities across the state thrive.

• Equity - Close equity gaps for students who have been left behind.
• Sustainability - Build a stronger financial future for individuals and institutions.
• Growth - Increase talent and innovation that drives economic growth.

IBHE offers the state's comprehensive benefits package.

About the position:

The Senior Associate Director of Student Access and Success provides strategic leadership and oversight for advancing IBHE’s statewide equity agenda through implementation, coordination, and ongoing development of institutional equity plans and practices aligned with A Thriving Illinois, the state’s strategic plan for higher education and applicable statute; partners with Illinois public colleges and universities, IBHE leadership, and other cross-agency partners to support and monitor institutional progress on equity goals; responsible for convening technical assistance sessions, facilitating communities of practice, managing communications, and coordinating data reporting and analysis processes.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the development, implementation, and revision of institutional equity plans and practices to close gaps in enrollment, persistence completion, and student loan repayment rates, as required by Illinois statute; Monitors progress and ensures institutions are meeting established benchmarks, timelines, and reporting requirements; Ensures all work is aligned with A Thriving Illinois and other state education priorities
• Collaborates with a variety of stakeholders including institutional partners, state agency leaders and staff, to align efforts with strategic priorities, deliver coordinated support, ensure consistent messaging and program coherence; Serves as a central point of contact for institutions seeking guidance on student success and equity frameworks, practices, data collection, and compliance; supports the development of updated guidance documents, communication tools, and reporting templates
• Plans, leads, and assists in the facilitation of technical assistance events, professional development opportunities, and learning communities to support institutional student success efforts and practices
• Stays abreast and informed of applicable higher education legislation and best practices to provide insights to and recommend policy adjustments and strategic interventions; supports the design and collection of related data to inform statewide reporting and analysis; ensures high-quality, actionable data; drafts memos, frameworks, and reports for institutional partners, IBHE leadership, and state policymakers as required
• Serves as IBHE representative in meetings with legislators, advocacy groups, and educational leaders on related initiatives
• Other duties as assigned, within scope of position

Education and Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Public Administration or Policy, Social Work, or Social Justice, or a related field 
• 5+ years of experience in higher education, public policy, or equity-focused initiatives 
• Demonstrated understanding of equity challenges in postsecondary education, particularly in underserved communities
• Experience managing complex projects and cross-sector partnerships
• Experience setting direction and executing projects and work
• Experience with cross organization, agency, sector, department work

Preferred:

• Experience working in or with public institutions of higher education
• Familiarity with state-level higher education policy and planning
• Experience with facilitation, coalition building, and/or technical assistance delivery

Knowledge Requirements

• Knowledge of the Illinois higher education landscape
• Strong data literacy and ability to work with institutional and statewide data
• Knowledge of Illinois-specific legislative and policy structures

Skills and Traits

• Proven ability to set direction and execute work and projects 
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork 
• Flexibility and the ability to shift priorities as needed 
• Ability to work with multiple external partners and see things from a variety of perspectives 
• Ability to facilitate groups and bring groups to agreement, consensus, or decision 
• Strong problem-solving skills and a solution-oriented approach to the work 

​Work Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Mon - Fri

Work Location: 1 N Old State Capitol Plz Springfield, IL 62701-1323*

*IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. IL Residency is required. Travel within Illinois is expected, as required by the work.

Agency Contact: Human Resources

Email: [email protected]

Phone #: (217) 782-2551​​​​​​​

Posting Group: Leadership & Management; Education

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Nearest Major Market: Springfield