Student Support Advisor/Student Onboarding Advisor, Prague

This unique position serves a dual role at Verto Education.  During the Fall semester (August – December) this individual serves onsite at Verto Locations as a Student Support Advisor.  During the Spring and Summer (January to July), rather than having a student cohort onsite, this individual serves in a Student Onboarding Capacity advising students for their Fall arrival on Verto’s locations in a remote capacity. Due to the nature of the role working primarily with students who are US based, working hours will favor US student/family availability, and may occasionally extend to 7 pm ET and occasional weekends. Additionally,  it is important that the successful candidate understands that the busy season in this role is April through August 1st and therefore vacation opportunities are limited then. Holidays local to the country of hire will be observed. 

A successful candidate has a passion for working with students, a commitment to student learning and development, and strong critical thinking and problem solving skills. A successful candidate demonstrates initiative, possesses the ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team, communicates effectively, and maintains a positive attitude.

Student Support Advisors (SSA) work to create an inclusive environment that champions academic success and promotes Verto’s core values of compassion, transformation, vulnerability and responsibility. SSA’s are responsible for providing comprehensive support to Vertoans, cultivating mentor relationships for approximately 30-35 students within their assigned Care Teams at Verto Education. An SSA serves as a resource both academically and personally for students in their community. 

The Student Onboarding Advisor (SOA) serves in a key role directly responsible for managing relationships with Verto participants and their families from point of enrollment until point of arrival on-site, and is a key player in setting students up for an overall successful Verto experience. The Student Onboarding Advisor provides comprehensive advising for students on a broad range of pre-departure and study abroad topics such as student health and safety matters, credit transfer, the visa process, housing, and collecting important documentation.  The Student Onboarding Advisor introduces students to the Verto Community by inviting them and encouraging them to attend community building events. Student retention is a key goal in this role; it is expected that Student Onboarding Advisors will work collaboratively across the organization to achieve this. 

This job description is meant to provide an outline of essential job functions of the position and is not an all-inclusive list. 

Reports to: From August- December this position reports to Student Life Manager or Program Director with a dotted reporting line to Academic Director or Manager. This position regularly collaborates with the Academic Coordinator and other academic staff in support of student advising and transfer services.  

From January to July this position reports to the Student Onboarding Manager with a dotted line to their in country Program Director. 

Responsibilities:

Student Onboarding Related Responsibilities:

• Serve as the main point of contact for each student from the point of deposit through the start of their semester with Verto. 
• Retain enrolled students through the pre-departure process and successfully prepare them logistically, emotionally, and culturally to the arrival of their program.
• Identify and address all potential obstacles for every Verto participant, including but not limited to concerns around finances, health, safety, travel documentation, academic support, and post-Verto plans. 
• Build and maintain timelines that ensure each student is on track to make timely decisions, complete necessary pre-departure action items, provide important documents, and have a smooth start to their Verto semester.
• Record detailed notes in Customer Relations Management tool (Salesforce) regarding all internal and external email, phone, and text communications to ensure proper follow-up and effective customer service.
• Master the visa processes for several countries, and provide accurate guidance and advice to students and families. 
• Develop and maintain extensive knowledge of program details and become an expert on designated sites.
• Work collaboratively with various departments across the organization, both domestic and internationally to create and continue to improve the student’s experience and business efficiencies.
• Other Duties as assigned 

Student Support Advisor Related Responsibilities:

Administration- 25%

• Prepare, attend, and participate in all meetings (ex: staff, committees, 1:1, trainings, etc.)
• Time management (ex: attendance/timeliness for meetings, availability in the study center, presence in community, etc.)
• Complete all front desk duties (if applicable)
• Proficient and appropriate use of Verto Education systems (ex: Salesforce, Maxient, Google,Campus Groups, Canvas etc.)
• Submit reports and paperwork on time and complete projects thoroughly
• Regularly monitors student academic progress, updates corresponding records, and follows through on necessary academic actions and related reporting.
• Conducts Health & Safety inspections and student well-being checks, as directed by supervisor or duty staff
• Monitor student academic accommodations and help students self-advocate with faculty for resources.
• Complete required 1:1 meetings with each of your assigned Community members during the course of the semester. 

Community Building and Communication- 30%

• Create and maintain a student-centered environment when working in the office by interacting regularly with students and guests.
• Educate students on Verto procedures, including, but not limited to: safety and security guidelines, Code of Responsibility, and Academic Actions

• Be visible, available, and approachable in the community through holding regular events and meetings with students and by being available during working hours in the Study Center.
• Foster an inclusive Community environment
• Create and maintain positive working relationships with Global partners (Headquarters staff of different departments) through regular attendance and communication at global meetings. 
• Preserve the confidentiality of personal information about students and staff obtained in the course of employment. 

 Duty and Crisis- 15%

• Serve in an on-call rotation that observes, addresses, and responds to the needs of the community.
• Respond to emergencies in accordance with protocol and procedure which may take place after hours. 
• Educate residents on Code of Responsibility, Academic Actions/Integrity, and Housing related policies
• Support the Student Life Manager, Academic Manager and Program Director in addressing behaviors in violation of Verto Education policy.
• Foster a sense of community by encouraging students to respect the rights of others and empowering them to address issues in the community (ex: roommate disagreements, environment conducive to sleep/study, etc.)
• Make appropriate referrals to other resources when necessary (i.e counseling, tutoring support, medical practitioners)
• Write incident reports in a timely manner that are clear, concise, accurate, and appropriately detailed
• Follow up with students who are in crisis and/or have been confronted for policy violations

 Education and Leadership- 30%

• Actively demonstrate interest in students’ academic engagement and support appropriate academic success habits. 
• Provide general, first-response academic support to students, and supports escalation of student academic concerns. 
• Monitor the academic achievement and class attendance of assigned students. Make care-and-concern interventions when appropriate.
• Escalate cases of academic concern and assist in the prescribed interventions 
• Be familiar with the general process of Add/Drop and the guidance provided  to students.
• Be familiar with and help to uphold the on-site application of the main Verto Academic Policies and advise students accordingly (Attendance policy, Academic Integrity, Academic Actions, Academic Accommodations, Grading policy) 
• Support students in their academic pursuits and future post-Verto planning through mentorship and dialogue
• Lead a once per week Care Team meeting for your assigned students
• Promote student leaders when possible to increase student engagement on site
• Support Student Club programs and initiatives
• Demonstrate effective and ethical decision-making skills
• Plan and implement active and passive programs that align with the Verto Discovery programming model  
• Assess student’s programmatic needs and address them accordingly

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Must have legal authorization to work in the country listed on the job posting. Verto Education is unable to sponsor visas.
• 1-3 years of experience in a student-facing position involving university students or young adults 
• BA/BS from an accredited college or university
• Experience working in a mentorship capacity

• Must have a valid driver’s license and passport.
• Fluency in English
• Effective communicator with the ability to show empathy and compassion 
• Demonstrated ability to manage rapidly evolving priorities.
• Ability to work independently or with minimal supervision

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective relationships with Verto students, faculty, and staff
• Ability to coach students to build effective habits and executive functioning skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and build strong working relationships with others
• Appreciation for diversity in backgrounds, cultures, and experiences and a desire to work with a diverse student population
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive and to provide quality work under pressure and ever-changing conditions

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, you should still seriously consider applying. Studies show that you can still be considered for a role if you meet just 50% of the role’s requirements. 

WORK AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• SSA’s will be expected to attend overnight trips in which accommodations and schedule  may differ from typical conditions 
• The work pace is continually fast-paced and work is required for more than 4 hours at time
• The environment in which the job is performed outside may include exposure to extreme temperature, noise, heights, or other hazards 

At Verto Education we value voices of all backgrounds and experiences. We know that creating a diverse environment takes dedication and intentional hiring practices. We are cognizant of the gap between our current state and our commitments. In order to bridge that gap, we have to humbly evaluate where we are today.