Student Services Manager for Graduate Programs

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

In 2022, UNC Chapel Hill launched the School of Data Science and Society ( SDSS), a new school devoted to data science teaching, research, scholarship, service, and creativity. The SDSS vision is to be a leader in shaping the field of data science through an interdisciplinary and rigorous grounding in theory and methods with a human centric approach to the entire data life cycle.

The mission of SDSS is to empower a diverse community of faculty conducting research in the fundamentals and/or the applications of data science. The school is training undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of data science leaders with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this data-driven world. The SDSS will serve the state, the nation, and the world through premier data science educational programs and innovative research directed to advancing the public good with human-centric and ethical applications.

The core elements of the SDSS include porous borders - leveraging our low-walled collaborative Carolina culture to solve major societal problems. Interdisciplinary research clusters that cross disciplines and school boundaries are a vital element of the school. The SDSS is focused on students and education - the emphasis is not just on data science majors but on all students becoming data literate. The school's culture has an open and transparent structure, governance, and business model.

This position is eligible for a SIGN ON BONUS of $5,000 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 University's 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.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent educational or instructional activities related to the delivery of student advising and counseling or student personnel services, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution.

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The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.