Dean, Counseling and Special Programs

Ohlone College; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohlone College in Fremont, CA seeks a Dean of Counseling and Special Programs to lead counseling, EOP&S, Transfer Center and related student services. The role drives budget, policy, and program effectiveness while partnering with faculty, staff, and administrators to remove barriers and improve student outcomes.

The ideal candidate will bring California community college leadership experience, a strong equity focus, and a commitment to shared governance, data-driven improvement, and culturally

Qualifications

• Master's degree required with leadership experience in higher education.
• Equity-minded, student-centered approach and ability to work with diverse constituencies.
• Experience managing budgets, compliance, and personnel in a community college setting.

Responsibilities

• Directs counseling department, disabled student services, EOP&S, transfer center, and orientation services.
• Oversees budgets, personnel actions, and regulatory compliance for multiple programs.
• Advocates for students and staff while advancing equity, access, persistence, and completion.

Skills

Equity-minded leadership

Data-driven decision making

Strategic collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree

Tools

ERP Software

Data gathering software

Job description

Dean, Counseling and Special Programs

Ohlone College

Salary: $159,135.00 - $203,103.00 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time

Division: Student Services

Opening Date: 09/16/2026

Location: Fremont Campus and/or Newark Center

Job Number: 202300207

Department: Student Services

Bargaining Unit: Unrepresented

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate for the Dean of Counseling and Special Programs is an experienced, equity-minded, and collaborative leader with a strong understanding of counseling and Student Services within the California Community Colleges. The candidate is approachable, ethical, and student-centered, with demonstrated ability to lead and support faculty, classified professionals, and administrators; manage complex programs, budgets, compliance requirements, and institutional priorities; and build trust across diverse constituencies.

The successful candidate values shared governance, uses data and assessment to guide continuous improvement, and understands the importance of integrated student support services in removing barriers and improving student access, persistence, transfer, and completion. The candidate is an effective advocate for students and employees, embraces technology and innovation, and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, culturally responsive service, and continuous improvement.

Position Description

Under the direction of the Vice President of Student Services and Equity this position is responsible for administrating the operations of the District's counseling department, disabled student services, EOP&S program, the transfer center, orientation services, student recruitment, and student success initiatives. The position approves all personnel actions for all areas under responsibility to include the approval and use of budgetary funds and ensures that the goals and objectives of the executive are implemented in the areas under supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Directs the implementation of departmental policy changes, policy modifications, the development of new curriculum, changes to curriculum, special assignments, action plans, and institutional effective plans to obtain short- and long-term objectives for all areas under responsibility.
2. Ensures that all programs under responsibility, instructional activities, policies and procedures are in compliance with state/federal/local regulations and collective bargaining agreements.
3. Provides administrative oversight of the Transfer Center and collaborates with the Transfer Center Director/Counselor responsible for coordinating its day-to-day operations.
4. Authorizes departmental personnel action.
5. Approves of student success in reach strategies to provide support services for students.
6. Approves outreach and orientation initiatives, workshops, and events.
7. Approves the use of financial resources for all departments and areas under responsibility.
8. Ensures that required assessments are completed for all departments under responsibility.
9. Participates in the District's recruitment process to hire full time and part time staff; recommends the hire of full-time certificated staff to the student services executive.
10. Analyzes employee performance to develop performance evaluations and address performance issues for faculty, classified staff, and administrators under responsibility.
11. Apportions work amongst subordinate administrators, certificated staff, classified staff, and unclassified staff to ensure that the needs of all areas under responsibility are being met.
12. Engages in employee discipline.
13. Approves paid time off for all employees under supervision.
14. Directs the preparation of various federal, state, county, and District reports to ensure compliance with regulatory report deadlines.
15. Ensures that grant guidelines and outcomes are being met.
16. Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
17. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

1. Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Standards.
2. California Community College (CCC) Chancellor Office guidelines.
3. State regulations governing the employment of faculty and academic practices.
4. Federal regulations governing Title IX.
5. State and Federal regulation regarding mandated reporting.
6. District policies governing areas under responsibility.
7. Collective bargaining agreements.
8. Student learning outcome assessments (SLOs) and program review assessments.
9. Data gathering software.
10. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software.
11. General office software and equipment.

Skill To

1. Apply knowledge of ACCJC Standards to develop accreditation reports and ensure that all programs under responsibility comply with such standards.
2. Ensure departmental programs, curriculum, are in compliance with CCC Chancellor Office standards and guidelines.
3. Apply knowledge of state regulations District policies, and collective bargaining agreements, to ensure the supervision of employees, class schedules, faculty assignments, approve personnel actions, and budgets are in compliance.
4. Use knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding mandated reporting to organize the gathering of information and data in a timely manner to produce mandated reports.
5. Apply knowledge of SLOs and Program Reviews to ensure that such assessments are completed in an accurate, timely manner and that such assessments are used to develop/assess short/long term departmental goals and grant outcomes.
6. Use enterprise resource systems to view and approve budgetary requests and employee information.
7. Use data gathering software to run reports.
8. Use general office software and equipment to develop reports, aggregate data, and communicate with District staff and students.

Ability To

1. Maintain up to date on any changes to state/federal/local regulations to govern the area under responsibility.
2. Effectively hire, appraise, discipline, and dismiss subordinate employees.
3. Sets the standard and level of service for the areas under responsibility.
4. Effectively follow provisions of collective bargaining agreements, state regulations, and District policies as it pertains to the management of subordinate employees and departmental operations.
5. Represent the department/District in college, regional, and state meetings.
6. Maintain current on any developments impacting areas under responsibility.
7. Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
8. Apportions work equitably among subordinate staff members.
9. Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
10. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with District staff, students, and departmental visitors.

Minimum Qualifications (Title 5 Section 53420 - Minimum Qualifications for Educational Administrators)

• Possession of a Master's degree;
• One year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrator's administrative assignment;
• Commitment to community college goals/objectives of being an equity-based and anti-racist institution, and providing quality programs and services for culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse students and students with disabilities; personal qualities to work effectively and with sensitivity in a multicultural environment; awareness of and commitment to the needs of non-traditional and/or re-entry students with diverse abilities and interests;
• Must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Experience serving as, or working closely with, counseling faculty and staff within the California Community Colleges.
2. Understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of shared governance.
3. Experience supporting instructional, counseling, and Student Services programs within a community college environment.
4. Knowledge of Title 5 requirements and other applicable regulations governing counseling and special programs.
5. Effective written and oral communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituencies within and outside the District.
6. Knowledge and understanding of institutional frameworks, including learning communities and other integrated student support models, designed to remove systemic barriers, close achievement gaps, and provide comprehensive wraparound resources for disproportionately impacted students.
7. Demonstrated effectiveness in advocating for students, Student Services programs, faculty, and staff within institutional decision-making and resource allocation processes.
8. Proven ability to implement, evaluate, and continuously improve new and existing technologies that effectively and accurately support the operational and service needs of Student Services programs, faculty, and staff.
9. Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, develop, and evaluate counseling and Student Services programs, including personnel, operations, budgets and resources, compliance, and continuous improvement, to effectively meet evolving student needs.
10. Knowledge of and experience with state reporting systems and accountability platforms, such as VAR, NOVA, and SARC.

Required Application Materials

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
2. A cover letter addressing the listed desirable qualifications and personal/professional qualities.
3. A list of three (3) professional references including name, position, organization, phone number, email, and relationship to the applicant.
4. Unofficial copies of all college transcripts. Official sealed transcripts will be required at the time of hire.
5. Diversity question response: