Academic Advisor & Senior Academic Advisor

School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for an Academic Advisor and/or a Senior Academic Advisor. In the School of MCB, we seek answers to fundamental questions about how organisms work and the many implications for life. Through a rich culture of collaboration, we drive new discoveries in human health and empower students with the critical and analytical skills needed for successful careers. We educate students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and our alumni can be found throughout the world as leading healthcare providers, researchers in industry and academia, educators, and more. Meet the MCB community at mcb.illinois.edu

Academic Advisor

Job Summary

Academic and career advising for students in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB), with responsibilities to include academic and career advising for undergraduates in MCB, MCB+ Data Science, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, and Biology. The School of MCB seeks candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to collaboration, inclusive practices and empowering others to succeed, through their academic advising work.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Academic Advising:

Educate students regarding requirements of the majors, minor and certificates in the School of MCB through Individual conferences and group meetings. Assist end consult with students about course expectations end academic performance.

• Career Advising:

Provide career development coaching and guidance to undergraduates in our majors. Support students as they investigate and determine their vocational goals. Assist and consult with students for developing skills needed to be the best possible candidate for employment, graduate school and professional school.

• Student Engagement:

Assist with recruiting, orienting and welcoming new students to the School of MCB. Plan, host and advertise special programs and workshops to aid in the education and success of continuing students. Assist with convocation for School of MCB graduates.

Administrative:

Maintain accurate and timely records of all interactions with students. Attend School and College meetings as required. Foster positive collegial relationships among students, staff, and faculty.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree In biological science or related field or bachelor’s degree in education with substantial knowledge of biology, or related field.
• Training or demonstrated experience in advising. teaching, or counseling in a college or university setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree In biological science, higher education, or related fields.
• At least one year of professional experience in advising, student services, counseling, or teaching in a college or university setting. Experience working with undergraduates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or other large public university.

Successful Candidates Will Have

• Well established communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated attention to detail and effective record-keeping.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues both within and across units.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Experience with event planning.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to fostering engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly proficient with commonly employed software, databases, and web applications.
• Knowledge or previous experience with BANNER and/or OARS.

Senior Academic Advisor

Job Summary

The Senior Academic Advisor serves as a leader within the School of MCB's advising team, providing advanced academic and career advising for undergraduates in MCB, MCB+ Data Science, Biochemistry, and Biology. The School of MCB seeks candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to collaboration, inclusive practices and empowering others to succeed, through their academic advising work.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Academic Advising:

Provide leadership in academic advising initiatives, including training and mentoring junior advisors. Serve as a resource for complex advising cases and policy interpretation. Educate students regarding requirements of the majors, minor and certificates in the School of MCB through Individual conferences and group meetings. Assist and consult with students about course expectations and academic performance.

• Career Advising:

Develop and lead career-focused programming and workshops tailored to MCB disciplines. Establish and maintain partnerships with campus career services and external organizations to expand student opportunities. Provide career development coaching and guidance to undergraduates in our majors. Support students as they investigate and determine their vocational goals. Assist and consult with students for developing skills needed to be the best possible candidate for employment, graduate school and professional school. Maintain accurate and timely records of all interactions with students. Attend School and College meetings as required. Foster positive collegial relationships among students, staff, and faculty.

• Leadership & Professional Development:

Mentor and support professional development of advising staff within the School of MCB. Lead efforts to improve advising practices through data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement. Stay current with trends and best practices in academic advising and student development.

• Administrative:

Maintain accurate and timely records of all Interactions with students. Attend School and College meetings as required. Foster positive collegial relationships among students, staff, and faculty.

• Student Engagement:

Lead student engagement initiatives that promote retention and belonging. Participate in strategic planning and policy development for advising services. Assist with recruiting, orienting and welcoming new students to the School of MCB. Plan, host and advertise special programs and workshops to aid in the education and success of continuing students. Assist with convocation for School of MCB graduates.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree In biological science or related field or Bachelor's Degree In education with substantial knowledge of biology or related field.
• Five or more years of professional experience in advising, teaching, or counseling in a college or university setting. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a leadership capacity within an advising or student services team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree In biological science, higher education, or related fields.
• At least three years of professional experience in advising, student services, counseling, or teaching in a college or university setting. Experience working with undergraduates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or other large public university. Experience mentoring staff or leading advising initiatives. Familiarity with data-informed advising practices and strategic planning in student support services.

Successful Candidates Will Have

• · Well established communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• · Demonstrated attention to detail and effective record-keeping.
• · Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues both within and across units.
• · Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• · Experience with event planning.
• · Demonstrated ability and commitment to fostering engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.
• · Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• · Highly proficient with commonly employed software, databases and web applications.
• · Knowledge or previous experience with BANNER and/or OARS.
• · Demonstrated leadership in advising or student services, including mentoring staff or leading projects.
• · Ability to contribute to strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts.
• · Experience facilitating professional development or training for colleagues.
• · Capacity to interpret and apply institutional policies in complex advising scenarios.

These are a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the deadline date. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

Aacademic Advisor salary range: $55,000 - $65,0000.

Senior Academic Advisor salary range: $57,000 - $67,000

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on December 12, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact mcb-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

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The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

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Requisition ID: 1033165
Job Category: Education & Student Services
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu