Description

Reporting to the Head of Veterinary Services, the Head of Student Services & University Relations provides strategic leadership & operational oversight for all AVMA Insurance Services student-facing initiatives. This role is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission by overseeing & developing the Student Services Representatives while designing & executing a comprehensive engagement strategy that supports veterinary students from matriculation through graduation while strengthening student engagement, expanding participation in complimentary coverage offerings, & guiding the development of student-focused programs, education initiatives, & university partnerships. This position will include significant (~50%) travel. 

Position Focus: 
Serving as the subject matter leader for student engagement, coverage education, & enrollment processes, the Head of Student Services ensures a structured pathway that promotes risk awareness, professional preparedness, & a seamless transition into insured AVMA members. The role oversees outreach strategy, workflow optimization, & academic relationship stewardship to ensure consistency, scalability, & alignment with organizational priorities. 

 The Head of Student Services cultivates strong relationships with university leadership, SAVMA chapters, student ambassadors, & veterinary students nationwide. Through campus visits & educational programming, convention seminars, & targeted communications, this position advances understanding of the products & services available through AVMA Trust.

 By integrating strategic planning, relationship management, & operational execution, the Head of Student Services drives long-term member value across the professional lifecycle & strengthens the Trust’s role as a foundational partner to the veterinary profession.  

Goals of the Position: 

1. Champion & operationalize the mission & vision of the AVMA Insurance Services across all student-facing initiatives.
2. Develop & demonstrate a clear, strategic understanding of the multi-stakeholder student services landscape – including AVMA, SAVMA, AAVMC, & individual academic institutions – to ensure aligned strategy, communication, coordinated engagement, & effective program execution.
3. Build a scalable Student Services infrastructure that outlines role responsibilities/duties, documents communication & educational outreach, outlines data/reporting metrics, & strategic forecasting (Student Service Playbook).
4. Strengthen & clearly articulate the student value proposition to increase meaningful engagement & long-term member retention.
5. Elevate the educational impact of Student Services to better prepare students for professional risk.
6. Build & mentor a high-performing Student Services team capable of executing strategic objectives with excellence & adaptability.

Core Responsibilities: 

1. Leadership Expectations 

• Champion adoption of new workflows & systems within the Student Services team.
• Maintain a student-first mindset while balancing compliance & operational excellence.
• Lead student-facing communication strategy.
• Lead annual strategic plan & clearly articulate implementation strategy to Student Services team members.
• Build & mentor a high-performing Student Services team capable of executing strategic objectives with excellence & adaptability.
• Support cross-functional collaboration with Trust Veterinarians, Head of Strategic Relationships, Marketing, & Pearl.

2. Strategic Student Engagement 

• Provide consultation & support to SAVMA students (i.e., Student claims, Policy questions, etc.)
• Develop & execute national strategy for SAVMA engagement, recruitment, retention, & educational support.
• Supervise student ambassador training & development.
• Oversee student professional liability & LIFE enrollment growth & retention.
• Lead segmentation strategy for continuing students vs. graduating students vs. recently graduated students. 

3. Coverage Administration & Compliance 

• Ensure compliant opt-in processes & enrollment documentation.
• Oversee renewal cycles aligned with academic calendars (January, May, August).
• Manage group-pay institutions & institutional partnerships.
• Ensure accuracy & integrity of student data within CRM systems.

4. Academic & Institutional Relationships

• Serve as primary liaison to veterinary schools & SAVMA leadership.
• Coordinate current & future curricular & extracurricular engagement efforts.
• Develop communication guidelines for universities & institutional partners.
• Support sponsorship strategy (e.g., SAVMA Symposium, VBMA, All for Students).

5. Product Stewardship & Education 

• Oversee student-facing insurance products including Student Professional Liability, Student LIFE, VetSTEPP, etc.
• Ensure educational messaging is clear, accurate, & risk informed.
• Partner with Marketing & Trust Veterinarians on risk education initiatives.
• Data, Reporting, & Performance Management
• Establish KPIs for student enrollment, retention, presentation reach, & product adoption.
• Provide monthly/quarterly/annual reporting metrics for AVMA Insurance Services leadership.
• Partner with Head of Veterinary Services to improve data visibility & forecasting. 

 Deadline for application is Thursday, April 30. Application must include cover letter & resume (or CV). Submit to: apply@avma.org.  

eoe/m/f/d/v

 Salary Range: $160,000 – $165,000.  Benefits: The AVMA Administrative Services offers a robust benefits package with access to health, dental, vision, life, AD&D, short-term disability, & long-term disability insurance; FSA & HSA plans; generous vacation & sick time; 11 Paid Holidays, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) & 401(K) retirement plan; paid dues for the AVMA, one local VMA, & state licensure. 

Requirements

Education & Background: 

• DVM/VMD preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within veterinary education, association management, or professional services.
• Experience in an academic setting is strongly preferred.
• Ability to teach, coach, & mentor student members.
• Strong verbal & written communication & time management skills.
• Strong understanding of professional liability, risk management, & member services.
• Proven ability to manage data-driven initiatives & operational systems.