Dean, Counseling and Special Programs

Ohlone College (CA); Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 183,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohlone College seeks a Dean of Counseling and Special Programs to lead counseling, disabled student services, EOP&S, transfer center, orientation, and student success initiatives. This role reports to the VP of Student Services and Equity and requires strong governance, data-driven improvement, and a focus on equity-minded practices.

The ideal candidate will guide faculty, staff, and administrators, approve budgets and personnel actions, and ensure compliance with state/federal regulations

Qualifications

• Master's degree and leadership experience in education administration.
• Commitment to equity-minded, student-centered services.
• Experience in California Community Colleges or similar setting.

Responsibilities

• Direct departmental policy implementation and long-term planning.
• Ensure compliance with regulations, bargaining agreements, and policies.
• Oversee Transfer Center and coordinate day-to-day operations.
• Approve personnel actions and manage budgets for responsible areas.
• Support student success initiatives and outreach programs.
• Prepare required regulatory and district reports.

Skills

ACCJC Standards

Budgeting

Policy compliance

Data reporting

Program review

ERP systems

Data gathering

Office software

Education

Master's degree

Tools

ERP Software

Data gathering software

General office software

Job description

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;

AND

One year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrator’s administrative assignment;

AND

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;

AND

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: The below items must be uploaded as attachments for your application to be complete and considered.

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: What does it mean to have a commitment to diversity, and how would you apply this commitment as you conduct your responsibilities in this position?

Salary Placement

Management Salary Schedule Range 230. Initial salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources. Management employees typically advance one step on the salary schedule each year and have the potential to reach the current maximum step of $203,103.00 annually.

Equivalency

If you do not meet minimum qualifications as stated, a completed equivalency form with all related documents must accompany the application or your application will not be considered. The equivalency form can be found on our website at: https://www.ohlone.edu/sites/default/files/users/mmoore25/ohlone_equivalency_form_-_final.pdf

Foreign Transcripts

Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the filing deadline. Here is a list of approved foreign degree evaluations services: http://www.ohlone.edu/org/hr/forms/docs/evaluationofforeigndegrees.pdf

District Statement

Founded in 1967, Ohlone College is named in honor of the early Ohlone People who inhabited the San Francisco Bay Area. Ohlone College is committed to providing a high-quality education to serve our diverse population of over 15,000 students per year. Ohlone College is nationally recognized for our Deaf Studies and Interpreter Preparation programs, and is widely known for our nursing, health sciences, liberal arts, biomedical science, and smart manufacturing programs. As a learning community, we embrace and champion inclusivity, integrity, student expression, global citizenship, and continuous improvement.

Ohlone College is one of the top-ranked community colleges in California, serving the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Our campuses in Fremont and Newark are centrally located in the East Bay between San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. This region is known as a hub of innovation and economic activity, and home to some of the most advanced manufacturing, biomedical research, and clean energy companies in California, including Tesla, Meta, Seagate, and Lam Research.

The main campus in Fremont is located near Interstate 680 at the base of Mission Peak, just south of the historic Mission San Jose, and is the primary gateway to year-round hiking, biking, and hang gliding in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve. The Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology is located near Interstate 880 in a hub of new residential and commercial development. The two campuses are connected by shuttle to each other and the Warm Springs BART station, which offers convenient access to public transit throughout the Bay Area.

Vision Statement

Ohlone College will be known for inclusiveness, innovation, integrity, engagement, and exceptional student success.

Mission Statement

Ohlone College offers high quality educational and career pathways and personal enrichment courses to serve the diverse needs of all students and the community. Ohlone provides excellent instruction and support services, awards associate degrees and certificates, and promotes university transfer in an inclusive, equitable, and multicultural environment where student learning and achievement are paramount. Ohlone fosters innovation, encourages student expression, and promotes ethical behavior and global citizenship.

EEO Statement

The District is strongly committed to the principles of equal opportunity and to hiring qualified staff who reflect the diversity of our community. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age (40 or over), medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, military and veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding or related medical condition or any other protected basis in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants. If you have a disability and are in need of special services, equipment, or facilities in order to apply or interview for this opening, please call the Human Resources office at: [phone].

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon Governing Board approval. Employment with Ohlone Community College is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements. All new employees are required to submit official transcripts, proof of freedom from tuberculosis. In addition, you will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal “Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.” Pre-employment tests and/or medical examinations may be required. Ohlone Community College does not sponsor H1B visas. Employees must sign the Oath or Affimation of Allegiance and submit fingerprints for CA Department of Justice clearance. Employees must be California residents on their date of hire and for the duration of their employment with Ohlone Community College District.

Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986

Applicants selected for positions will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal “Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.”

*The District reserves the right to modify, rescind, or re-advertise this recruitment at any time*