Associate Registrar for Veteran and Military Support and Certification Services

The mission of the Office of the Registrar at the University of Texas at Austin is to support the academic mission of the University by empowering every student to succeed and equipping faculty and staff with tools to excel. We achieve this by safeguarding and maintaining academic records, collaborating to provide services that benefit our students and the campus community; delivering excellent service, and leading campus efforts to support, contribute to, and enhance the academic and student experience.

Position Summary: The Associate Registrar for Veteran and Military Support and Certification Services is a leadership position that integrates the oversight responsibilities of Veteran Certification and compliance, including the certification for GI Bill^® and Hazelwood benefits, with advancing University initiatives supporting military-affiliated students. This position demands operational excellence across Office of the Registrar functions while providing certification support and leading initiatives that support our veterans, active-duty service members, and military-affiliated students on campus.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Compliance (60%)

• Serve as a member of the Registrar's Office leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and service delivery improvements.
• Supervise managers and administrative staff across functional areas, including Veteran Certification and Veteran and Military Affiliated Student support. Work with Assistant Registrars and Office of the Registrar leadership team to manage caseload distribution and work assignments.
• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Develop and implement tools to identify compliance risks, develop mitigation strategies, and plans for peak periods.
• Liaise with auditors, accrediting agencies, and regulatory bodies, such as the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and collaborate with Enterprise Platforms technology team and campus stakeholders to enhance data integrity and operational efficiency.
• Lead efforts with campus partners to ensure resolution of student issues and implementation of process changes to increase effectiveness and student success.
• Lead team of managers and administrative staff who are School Certifying Officials for VA educational benefits; oversee certification and verification of enrollments.
• Direct and supervise staff within the Military and Veteran Services Center, ensuring compliance with VA and institutional policies. Ensure oversight and management of student-facing services that support our Veteran and military-affiliated students.
• Collaborate with campus partners and colleges/schools to ensure seamless integration of student support, military benefits, and academic progression.
• Oversees multiple functional areas within the Office of the Registrar, depending on office needs.

 Student Engagement and Support (20%)

• Advise and support student veteran and veteran-affiliated students on GI Bill^®and Hazelwood benefits.
• Partner with campus offices to plan and create events, workshops, programming, and orientation events tailored to military-affiliated students on topics such as campus resources and support and applying for VA benefits.
• Develop and coordinate programs that reinforce enrollment, retention, and graduation of veterans and military-affiliated students.
• Advocate for military-connected students across campus and within the broader community.
• Serve as a contact for veterans and military-connected students, providing campus referrals and proactive support.
• Conduct veterans’ needs assessments of academic policies and student services to identify current issues facing veteran students and address them accordingly.
• Ensure that eligible students are informed about University resources available to them, their VA education benefits, and impact of any new and existing laws.
• Ensure the presentation of Military and Veteran Resources and VA education benefits at new-student orientation resource fairs and other relevant university events by providing information and/or tabling.
• Serve as a resource and advocate for veterans regarding their academic issues and concerns.

Institutional Collaboration (20%)

• Lead and collaborate with colleges/schools and campus partners to create and implement programs relevant to student veterans and military-affiliated students.
• Develop academic advising partnerships to support students' educational progression and certification for VA benefits.
• Represent the university on committees and task forces related to military and veteran affairs. Chair the campus Veteran services committee.
• Partner with key campus offices, including the colleges/schools, office of admissions, academic advising, career services, academic support and tutoring, student accounts, financial aid, and student affairs, to ensure cohesive, veteran-friendly services.
• Monitor and respond to federal and state legislation affecting veterans' education.
• Lead campus-wide awareness campaigns for faculty and staff on issues impacting veterans in higher education.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with departments, schools, and colleges, and create a knowledge base of academic programs of interest and value to veteran students.
• Ensure effective outreach and recruitment strategies for veterans and military-affiliated students.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in a Registrar’s Office or professional experience working with veterans or military personnel providing service or support.
• Supervisory experience and demonstrated success, including hiring, training, and evaluating staff.
• Experience with and knowledge of VA educational benefits, military tuition assistance, interpreting federal and state regulations, and experience implementing successful programs and processes to ensure compliance.
• Strong organizational, communication, and effective problem-solving skills. Independent judgment to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified workload with attention to detail.
• Proven ability to lead high‑stakes, fast‑moving, and high‑visibility functions that require strong attention to detail and sound judgment. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.
• Ability to collaborate and work successfully in a team environment.
• Excellent oral, written, presentation, and customer service skills, and the ability to interact well with people of all ages and backgrounds, including families of veteran dependents.
• Ability to manage and adhere to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Experience identifying compliance risks and implementing policies or processes to mitigate associated risks
• Demonstrated commitment to providing high-quality customer service and ability to inspire trust in others.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively; establish, motivate, and lead effective teams; manage conflict and change.
• Proven expertise in the ability to think critically and creatively, act with strategic agility, deal with ambiguity, evaluate and resolve problems, and formulate strategies to deliver results on long- and short-term goals.
• Ability to recognize challenges, problem solve and introduce innovative solutions.
• Proven ability to implement policies and manage operations in a large, complex environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to interact with faculty, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in higher education, public administration, or related field.
• Direct experience working with military-affiliated populations in higher education.
• Experience working with the military-affiliated population and knowledge of resources available to the population.
• Experience working with accrediting agencies, auditors, or government entities.
• Project management experience and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Experience leading and developing managerial staff.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality service and build trust with various stakeholders.
• Advanced skills in planning, organizing, and managing competing priorities.
• Familiarity with university policies and student development theory.
• This position is designated as one of Special Trust and requires adherence to university data security and confidentiality standards.