Learning Skills Specialist - (PRO00000386)
Description
Salary Range:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
About SMU
SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Department:
The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA), housed within the Office of the Provost, is dedicated to promoting the academic achievement, personal growth, and overall success of all SMU Division I student-athletes. ADSA provides a comprehensive system of academic support designed to help student-athletes successfully balance the demands of collegiate athletics with their academic responsibilities.
Through its intervention program, ADSA offers a range of individualized support services, including literacy specialists, peer tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and academic skill development. These services are designed to address the diverse learning needs of student-athletes by strengthening skills in reading, writing, organization, time management, study strategies, and self-advocacy.
Our mission is to empower student-athletes to achieve their highest potential both in the classroom and in competition by providing the resources, guidance, and support necessary for long-term academic and professional success.
About the Position:
This role is an on-campus, in-person position.
The Learning Skills Specialist supports the academic success of SMU student-athletes by providing individualized academic coaching, teaching evidence-based learning strategies, and implementing targeted interventions that promote academic achievement and personal development.
Working collaboratively with Academic Counselors, and the Learning Support Team, this position assesses student learning needs, delivers individualized and small-group instruction, and helps students strengthen executive functioning, study skills, and self-advocacy.
Essential Functions:
Conduct individualized and small-group academic coaching sessions with assigned student-athletes, providing instruction in reading comprehension, note-taking, test-taking strategies, time management, executive functioning, organization, and other evidence-based learning strategies. Monitor student progress and promote accountability through consistent follow-up and documentation.
Assist in administering and interpreting academic readiness and learning assessments for incoming and current student-athletes. Collaborate with the Learning Support Team to develop and implement individualized, data-informed interventions that address identified learning needs.
Implement individualized learning plans developed by the Learning Support Team by providing targeted instruction in study strategies, executive functioning, memory, concentration, motivation, classroom engagement, and self-advocacy while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
Meet regularly with student-athletes to reinforce academic expectations, review progress toward learning goals, and communicate recommendations and updates to members of each student's learning team (academic counselors, etc.).
Guide student-athletes through the Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) process by assisting with accommodation requests and promoting the effective use of approved academic accommodations.
Maintain regular communication with Academic Counselors, Literacy Specialists, tutors, and other members of the Learning Support Team regarding student engagement, attendance, academic progress, and recommended interventions to ensure coordinated support.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of student interactions, assessment results, instructional strategies, accommodations, and academic progress. Ensure student records remain current and facilitate communication among members of each student's learning team.
Participate in ongoing professional development related to learning support, executive functioning, higher education best practices, culturally responsive teaching, and NCAA academic support initiatives. Apply emerging research and instructional practices to enhance student learning outcomes.
Assist in day-to-day functions of the tutor program; including but not limited to, the conduction of tutor observations, feedback, & training of tutorial techniques to enhance student-athlete learning opportunities.
Participate in ongoing professional development related to learning support, executive functioning, higher education best practices, culturally responsive teaching, and NCAA academic support initiatives. Apply emerging research and instructional practices to enhance student learning outcomes.
Working on occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays to provide academic support will be necessary.
Occasional travel for professional development may be expected.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Master's is required.
A degree in Counseling, Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sport Administration closely related field is preferred.
A minimum of 1 year of experience around underlying attention, memory, language, social skill, and executive functioning challenges and how they impact learning & academic success is required.
Experience working providing differentiated instruction to meet needs of diverse learners including but not limited to interpreting & understanding elementary & high school learning plans (IEPs, 504s, accommodations) is preferred.
Experience working with students who have language-based learning disorders, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, ADHD, as well as students who experience challenges with executive functioning, attention, memory, and pace-of-learning is preferred.
Experience working specifically with college student-athletes and/or students with learning differences is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, time management and multitasking skills.
Candidate must possess the ability to work with diverse learners, accomplish lesson objectives in a set amount of time, and use research-based assessments as well as the ability to create individualized, custom instructional intervention plans without a prepackaged program.
The ability to customize intervention plans to meet individual student needs by using a variety of resources as well as the ability to create flexible group support programming is a must.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
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Sit for long periods of time
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Bend
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Reach above shoulders
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Handle objects (dexterity)
Deadline to Apply:
Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by September 2, 2026.
Position will remain open until filled.
EEO Statement
SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
Benefits:
SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.
Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas
Job: Other
Organization: Provost - Other
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Staff
Employee Status: Individual Contributor
Job Type: Full-time
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time
Job Posting: Aug 12, 2026, 9:58:08 AM
