_Are you passionate about supporting nursing students on their journey to success? Our School of Nursing is seeking a dedicated **Student Support & Retention Nurse Specialist** to join our team. In this pivotal role, you’ll serve as a resource, mentor, and advocate—helping students navigate academic challenges, build resilience, and stay on track toward graduation. If you’re a compassionate nursing professional with a commitment to student success and retention, we’d love to hear from you!_ **Responsibilities:** + Develops, implements, and evaluates successful models of student support at the UPMC Schools of Nursing. + Provides primary consulting services for the UPMC School of Nursing by offering expert recommendations on student retention, engagement, and cultural improvements. + Collaborate with executive leadership to design academic support models based on current evidenced based practices that promote student retention and success. + Includes test-taking strategies, study skills, critical thinking, clinical decision making, processes for planning/time management, and general test anxiety strategies. + Enhance faculty development to provide consistent academic support services. + Provides academic support to students/coordinates academic support services with designated faculty. + Meet with at risk students to identify needs for improvement and success. + Refer students to course faculty for further assistance with concept learning. + Assists with the coordination of program evaluation, and student support services. This requires a focus on increasing student retention by developing and implementing programs and processes to continually improve retention, developing student onboarding procedures, and developing the student support program to meet evolving student needs. I.e., surveys, follow up calls/discussions, and analyzes and reports on outcomes. + Creates strategies for pre-enrollment students' learning assessment needs and activities. + Plan pre-admission/orientation activities. + Creates strategies to engage students re-entering the nursing program following a break in enrollment to ensure academic and non-academic success. Preferred Qualifications: We are looking for a candidate who has a Masters in Nursing at minimum. Schedule: This position typically follows a Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, with flexibility based on your needs and department priorities. Occasional evening shifts may be required, along with minimal local travel. Depending on workload and coverage, there may also be an opportunity to work remotely one day per pay period. + Master's degree or doctorate in Nursing or a related field required. + If Masters in a related field, BSN is required. + 4 years of nursing experience required. + 2 years of teaching or closely related experience required. + Prior experience advising nursing students, and student services preferred. + Experience in academic support or academic counseling preferred. + Must possess outstanding communication skills. + Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office products required. **Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:** + Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in the state where the facility is located is preferred. CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire. + Act 34 **UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran**