Assistant Dean of Students, Leadership & Involvement

University of California, Santa Cruz; California (MO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

UC Santa Cruz is seeking an inaugural Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership & Involvement to set the strategic vision and lead the Center for Leadership & Involvement.

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, you will provide executive leadership for the Center, its departments, programs, and services, shaping a student-centered ecosystem that advances belonging and student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Advanced leadership, planning, and assessment skills.
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic, visionary leadership for the Center for Leadership & Involvement.
• Establishes long-term goals, assessment frameworks, and family engagement strategies.
• Advises senior leaders on student engagement and the comprehensive student experience.
• Oversees budgets, governance, risk management, and program operations.
• Represents the unit in campus, system-wide, and external discussions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's Degree in related field

Master's Degree or Doctorate in Higher Education or related field

Job description

Job Summary

The Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership & Involvement is an inaugural leadership role responsible for establishing the strategic vision, organizational direction, and long‑term development of the Center for Leadership & Involvement at University of California, Santa Cruz. Under the general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean provides executive leadership and administrative oversight for the Center and its departments, programs, services, and operations. In a complex and dynamic campus environment, the Assistant Dean serves as a key architect of a coordinated, student‑centered ecosystem that supports student life. This role advances a comprehensive vision for student engagement that fosters belonging, deepens connection to the university, and strengthens student success and retention. As a key campus leader and recognized subject matter expert, the Assistant Dean advises senior leadership on student engagement strategy, leadership development, student organizations, orientation and transition programs, and family engagement, collaborating broadly across enrollment management, undergraduate education, housing, and other campus partners.

Appointment Information

Budgeted Salary: $125,000 - $135,000 / Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information

• Full‑time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon‑Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification

Career appointment

Job End Date

None

Work Location

UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation

Non‑Represented

Job Duties

40% - Organizational and Unit‑Wide Leadership and Strategy

• Provides strategic, visionary leadership for the Center for Leadership & Involvement.
• Establishes long‑term organizational vision, strategic goals, and assessment frameworks for student involvement programming, student leadership development, student organization advising, student media, cultural arts, new student orientation/transition programs, and family engagement.
• Advises the Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students and divisional leadership on student and family engagement strategy, student engagement, leadership development, and the comprehensive student experience.
• Works in close partnership with the Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students and collaborates with other Assistant/Associate Deans of Students to lead strategic planning efforts for the Student Development & Engagement unit, ensuring alignment of priorities, resources, and outcomes across functional areas.
• Represents the unit, division, and university in campus, system‑wide, and national discussions related to student involvement, leadership, and transition programs.
• Oversees organizational assessment, program evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts across the Center for Leadership & Involvement.
• Leads organizational planning, organizational design, and staff development efforts to strengthen effectiveness, alignment, and organizational capacity across the Center for Leadership & Involvement.

25% - Department Oversight, Management, and Project Integration

• Provides strategic and administrative leadership for departments and programs within the Center for Leadership & Involvement, including Transitions & Involvement and SOMeCA, ensuring organizational alignment, coordination of departmental priorities, effective stewardship of financial and operational resources, and integration of programs, services, and operations.
• Directly supervises the Director of SOMeCA and the Director of Transitions & Involvement, providing leadership, strategic guidance, performance management, and professional development support.
• Provides strategic direction and support for key functional areas, including:
• Orientation, transition programs, and first‑year experience initiatives
• Student involvement and engagement opportunities
• Student organization advising, including Greek life
• Student media
• Cultural arts and diversity programs
• Family engagement
• Ensures programs operate as educational environments aligned with institutional mission, student development principles, and inclusive excellence goals.
• Oversees risk management, policy development, and governance structures related to student organizations, programs, and events.

15% - Divisional & Campus Leadership, Student Engagement, and Campus Climate

• Participates as a member of the Associate Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students leadership team and contributes to broader divisional leadership through participation on the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success Cabinet.
• Engages with and advocates for students and their concerns to support their individual and collective success.
• Represents the unit, division, and university on divisional, campus‑wide, and system‑wide committees and workgroups related to student engagement, leadership development, student organizations, new student and family programs, the first‑year experience, and other related areas.
• Contributes to the planning and facilitation of professional development opportunities, trainings, and unit‑wide gatherings for the Student Development & Engagement unit.
• Serves as a leader on the Student Engagement Team (SET), contributing to divisional and campus‑wide response and support to student protest, demonstration, and other issues of campus climate and conflict.
• Maintains current knowledge of national trends and best practices, research, and emerging issues in student affairs and adjacent fields, including student engagement, student activism, free expression, leadership development, new student and family programs, and inclusive excellence in higher education.

10% - Family Engagement, Advancement, and Revenue Generation

• Leads and advances a comprehensive divisional family engagement strategy that strengthens connection to the university, fosters belonging and support, and cultivates a sustained sense of investment in the student experience and campus community.
• Provides strategic direction and oversight for family engagement programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment with divisional priorities and the broader student engagement ecosystem.
• Partners with University Advancement to support parent and family donor cultivation strategies and broader philanthropic engagement connected to student programs and priorities.
• Identifies and develops revenue‑generating and self‑supporting strategies aligned with family engagement and student success initiatives, including fee‑based programs, signature events, sponsorship opportunities, partnerships, and other engagement experiences that enhance connection to the university.
• Cultivates and sustains external community partnerships that support family engagement efforts, student programs, leadership development opportunities, and campus events.
• Ensures family engagement and revenue strategies align across units and advance divisional priorities, including student‑centered decision‑making, equity and inclusion, and innovation.

10% - Budget, Human Resources & Administrative Oversight

• Oversees budgets and financial planning for the Office of Transitions & Involvement and SOMeCA.
• Makes decisions on hiring, performance management, salary actions, and organizational structure for respective departments.
• Ensures compliance with university policies, risk management practices, and financial controls.
• Oversees development of systems and procedures that support program operations and risk management.
• Develops policies and procedures affecting multiple departments and programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Advanced experience with strategic planning, program development, organizational leadership, and assessment, including the ability to develop long‑range goals, evaluate effectiveness through data‑informed decision‑making, lead organizational change, and drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Experience providing leadership, supervision, support, and personnel management across multiple functional areas, including supervising professional staff, fostering accountability and growth, and managing complex programs, services, and operations.
• Experience managing budgets, allocating resources, and stewarding financial and operational processes in support of organizational and student success goals.
• Advanced leadership experience in student activities, student organization advising, leadership development, orientation programs, and/or first‑year experience initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships with and effectively advise, mentor, and support college students, student leaders, and student organizations.
• Ability to analyze complex information, situations, and organizational challenges; formulate sound conclusions; establish priorities; and make thoughtful recommendations and decisions.
• Demonstrated political acumen and sound judgment in navigating sensitive, high‑profile, and complex issues, with the ability to balance competing interests and perspectives within a diverse and dynamic campus environment.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor to senior campus leaders, providing sound judgment, strategic insight, and thoughtful counsel on complex and sensitive student affairs, organizational, and campus climate matters.
• High level of cultural fluency and demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging.
• Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive issues and information.
• Strong oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in group processes.
• Excellent writing skills to produce concise reports, policies and procedures, and correspondence. Ability to make clear, informative and persuasive presentations to internal and external groups.
• Demonstrated skill in conflict resolution, mediation, and navigating complex interpersonal and organizational dynamics with diplomacy, professionalism, and a student‑centered approach.
• Knowledge of national best practices and philosophies of student development theory, including co‑curricular learning and involvement, first‑year experience, student leadership, and issues related to access, equity, and retention.
• Ability to understand, interpret and apply university and campus regulations, policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree or Doctorate in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Selected candidate must pass a pre‑employment criminal history background check.
• Must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must work primarily on campus, with remote work possible on an as‑needed basis.
• Must be able to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Must complete mandatory compliance training within specified time frames.
• Must report crimes, incidents, and disciplinary reference statistics as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
• Must comply with the mandatory mandates of mandatory obligatory COVID‑19 vaccination requirements mandated by the University of California.
• Must comply with Mandated Reporter obligations under Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).
• Must exercise discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of their duties.

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