Director, Office of Veteran Success

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Office of Veteran Success (OVS), including developing departmental vision, mission, and annual budgets.
• Supervise, train, and professionally develop six permanent full-time staff members and manage the university’s VA work-study program.
• Direct the certification and accuracy of all VA education benefit certifications for over 1,300 veteran and military-connected students.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and agency regulations, including managing annual VA audit compliance visits and risk-based surveys.
• Collaborate with university departments (Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar, etc.) to resolve student success challenges and ensure regulatory mandates are met.
• Develop and administer programs and services designed to enhance the retention, persistence, and success of military-connected students.
• Manage an annual operating budget of $500k and oversee the reconciliation of departmental expenditures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in higher education, with an emphasis on student services and veterans affairs.
• 8–10 years of direct experience working with VA education benefits in a college or university environment.
• Minimum of 5 consecutive years of experience as a fully trained and qualified School Certifying Official (SCO).
• Demonstrated supervisory or management experience, including the ability to lead teams and manage complex processes.
• Strong knowledge of applicable VA laws, regulations, and the ability to interpret complex requirements.
• Proficiency with PeopleSoft, OnBase, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Enrollment Manager, and Microsoft Office 360.

Preferred Qualifications

• Military service experience.

About the Company

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with a pioneering history dating back to 1870. Located in the heart of New York State, the university offers a diverse range of academic programs across 13 schools and colleges, serving a global community of students and alumni. Syracuse University is deeply committed to supporting veterans and the military-connected community through dedicated educational and employment initiatives.