Lead Academic Counselor/Advisor

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead academic advisor for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering majors, providing guidance from orientation through graduation.
• Provide expert advice to department leadership on complex curricular issues and new program introductions.
• Resolve intricate student issues, grievances, and personal crises, escalating to leadership when necessary.
• Manage the logistics and organization of "Discover UCLA Engineering," a large-scale annual recruitment event for prospective students.
• Support the transfer admissions process by evaluating coursework, interpreting data, and preparing applicant paperwork.
• Coordinate and staff information booths for major university outreach events like Bruin Day.
• Administer the student-run mentoring program and supervise student employees.
• Utilize database queries and systems to generate student data, statistics, and reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related area or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Ability to interpret academic transcripts and manually calculate GPAs and units with high attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database management.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with students, faculty, and university staff.
• Excellent time management and the ability to multi-task in a demanding, high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently and make strategic recommendations based on experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of University and School rules, regulations, and student affairs policies.
• Familiarity with University online systems such as SIS, MyUCLA, DARS, and Assist.
• Experience with supervisory tasks, including training and delegating to student employees.
• Experience working with campus resources like the Registrar, Financial Aid, or the Center for Accessible Education.

About the Company

UCLA is a world-renowned public research university located in Los Angeles, California. The Samueli School of Engineering is dedicated to excellence in education, research, and student support, fostering an inclusive environment for the next generation of engineering leaders.