Student Success Coach

Who we are: 
Here at Media Design School at Strayer (MDS), we do things a little differently. Our staff and teams thrive on being dynamic, resilient and responsive and this role is no exception. Just like our students, our employees are a diverse group who want to make an impact. We’ve built a culture that celebrates community, collaboration and innovation, where people love what they do. 

You will join a team of passionate staff who are playing their part in making sure that we are here to deliver an exceptional learning experience for students.

About the role:

As a Student Success Coach, you will play a key role in supporting students as they transition into tertiary study and throughout their foundation and degree programmes. Working closely with Student Services, Campus Services, faculty and external stakeholders, you will coordinate initiatives that promote student engagement, equity, academic success, retention and personal development.

Key Accountabilities:

Include but are not limited to the following.

• Work with Student Services, faculty and other teams to develop and deliver retention initiatives that meet the needs of diverse learners.

• Support orientation and induction activities, helping new students prepare for tertiary study and addressing barriers during the high-risk first 2-4 weeks and throughout their first year.

• Build a strong sense of belonging and community for students, creating opportunities to connect, collaborate and engage with alumni and industry practitioners.

• Monitor learner progress and proactively support students at risk, developing support plans, tracking progress and following up to strengthen retention and progression.

• Provide individual and cohort-based academic coaching, including study planning, goal setting, time management and effective learning strategies.

• Maintain accurate student records, coaching notes and progress reports, and connect students with academic, counselling, disability and other support services where required.

• Advise students on MDS policies and procedures and support initiatives that build understanding of the world of work and career readiness.

Who you are: 

• You hold a Bachelor’s degree; a Master’s qualification or formal coaching accreditation would be advantageous.

• You have experience working independently in a student support role within the higher education sector.

• You can apply adult learning principles, pedagogical approaches and student success and wellbeing practices to support diverse learners.

• You are a strong communicator with excellent customer service and retention skills, able to engage and inspire students in both one-to-one and group settings.

• You bring cultural awareness when working with Māori and Pasifika communities, with familiarity with relevant pedagogical approaches and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

• You are solutions-focused, organised and confident creating support plans, tracking progress, extracting information from databases and using student management systems.

• You have an understanding of NZQA compliance as it relates to student support.

To view the full job description, please click here. 

This is a permanent, part-time position (20 hours per week) based at Media Design School at Strayer in Auckland and is 100% on-site. The working pattern is full days Wednesday and Thursday, plus a half day on either Tuesday or Friday (flexible). 

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. All applicants must be a Permanent Resident or New Zealand Citizen.

Why join us? 
Our ambition is to revolutionise the world of education, increase student employability, and make a positive impact. We believe in the power of education to transform lives, and we put our people and students at the heart of everything we do. We want you to be bold, be creative, be good, and be global. 
 
MDS is an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and inclusion and are committed to the attraction, retention and development of all people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability. 
 

What we offer: 
We support your personal passions, development and wellbeing, to make your working life a more rewarding experience. At MDS, you’ll benefit from:  
- Study free in a course/degree related to your position (Permanent Staff only) 
- Access to internal opportunities 

- Be supported to learn, grow and move across the organisation 
 
Hiring process:

We aim to provide you with the necessary information you need at each stage of this process to put your best self forward. Should you have accessibility requirements or needs please contact [email protected] for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier free application process as we have a Reasonable Adjustment Procedure in place to support you through the recruitment process.  

We’d love to hear from you. 

Job Reference: R31276

To ensure a fair and thorough review process, applications for this role will close on 12th November 2026. You can expect to hear from our Talent Acquisition team after this date with any updates about your applications. 

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at [email protected]