Department Manager, Environmental Studies

University of California, Santa Cruz; California; On-site; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

University of California, Santa Cruz is seeking a department manager to lead administrative operations for the Department of Environmental Studies. You will oversee budget, personnel, and space, while helping shape long-range plans and program support.

The role requires strong leadership, budget experience, and excellent communication skills to coordinate across faculties and staff in a dynamic academic setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience / training.
• Extensive administrative and management experience with supervision.
• Ability to manage change and resolve problems independently.
• Experience with computing applications and learning new systems.
• Financial and budgetary experience.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Manages a full range of administrative operations including budget and facilities.
• Advises chair on long-range and strategic operational plans.
• Plans and improves administrative services and processes.
• Oversees budget, staff FTE, and space planning.
• Represents department on institutional committees.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Strategic planning

Policy interpretation

Writing & communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

AIS

Cognos

Banner

InfoView

FileMaker Pro

Job description

Initial Review Date (IRD)

11-16-2026

About UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It’s known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus’s DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

Department Overview

The Department of Environmental Studies is a dynamic group engaged in world-class research and committed to providing outstanding education and mentoring to graduate and undergraduate students. A crucial feature of the department’s success rests on collegiality, shared decision-making, and collaborative leadership between faculty and staff. With an annual operating budget of nearly $SM, the department consists of 21 permanent faculty and approximately 40 researchers and administrative and technical support staff who teach and do research in both the social and natural sciences. Research facilities in our building include wet labs for biological research and computer labs for analytical work, as well as roof‑top research greenhouses, which are administered by the UCSC Greenhouses. The department offers the Ph.D. degree, four undergraduate majors, and four undergraduate concentrations. We also have a robust internship program (634 completed in 2018‑19), and field study opportunities (654 openings in field study courses in 2019‑120). There are currently 50 graduate students and approximately 750 proposed and declared majors in the program. The department annually offers 170 lecture, seminar, lab and secondary sections designed for enrollment of 4,500 graduate and undergraduate students.

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the department chair, the department manager is responsible for department planning and program support, curriculum management, financial management, equipment, facilities and space coordination and security, staff and academic human resources, development and public information, and oversight of the graduate and undergraduate programs.

Appointment Information

• Budgeted Salary: $105,000.00 - $120,000.00 / Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
• Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.
• Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits
• 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 Code Classification: 007375 (ADMIN SUPV 2) - Grade 23
• Travel: Never or Rarely

Job Duties

60%

• Manages, plans, and administers a full range of administrative operations to support the academic department, Administrative operations include budget and fiscal activities, staff and academic personnel, student services, space, facilities and equipment, and program and curricular implementation.
• Provides expert advice and support to the chair in the development of long-range and strategic plans for the operations listed above.
• Using advanced knowledge, prepares short and long range planning for administrative services operations and improvements to processes,
• Performs administrative operations activities as predominant focus of position, with accountability for operational and budget processes, staff FTE, finance, human resources and space planning.
• Represents the department on business issues to the institution community and serves on committees.

20%

• Facilitates delivery of instruction for the department, working closely with the department chair, curriculum committee chair, graduate director, undergraduate program coordinator and graduate program coordinator; analyzes resource Implications and establishes funding priorities based on analysis of data.
• Serves as contact for department in curricular matters, ensures curricular coordination between various divisional departments and other academic departments as appropriate and assists in resolving issues and conflicts.
• Monitors enrollment levels and recommends changes in course offerings, instructor assignments and resource needs.
• Oversees the hiring of TAs and readers for each quarter, Oversees the implementation of graduate and undergraduate program policies, including graduate admissions.
• Oversees the editing and updating of the department's information in various publications including web presence and other program publications.

20%

• Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the effective and efficient operation of departmental functions.
• Manages daily activities of administrative staff, sets priorities and deadlines for completion of tasks, establishes internal procedures and effective utilization of resources.
• Serves as a resource for faculty and researchers who hire staff and non-academic student employees.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Extensive related administrative and management experience, including training, supervising and motivating staff.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with ability to effectively manage change and resolve complex problems independently.
• Experience with personal computing applications and computerized information systems with the willingness and ability to learn new systems in a highly technical environment.
• Financial and budgetary experience.
• Excellent organizational, planning and analytical skills with ability to prioritize workloads, anticipate needs, oversee and participate In projects, and function Independently to meet deadlines, often with frequent interruptions.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to communicate complex material in written and oral forms.
• Political acumen to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse constituents,
• Ability to promote administrative innovation, quality customer service, teamwork, open channels of communication, and a safe work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to assimilate; interpret and apply administrative policies and procedures and to exercise confidentiality, flexibility and good judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of UC academic and staff personnel policies and procedures,
• Experience working in an academic setting with knowledge of university programs, policies and procedures related to budget, personnel, students and curriculum.
• Experience and/or training in UC administrative systems (for example, AIS, Cognos, Banner, InfoView, Business Objects) and FileMaker Pro as well as other web-based business systems (UC recruit, Div Data etc).

Special Conditions of Employment

• Selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-employement criminal history background check and a pre-hire credentialing check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting..
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Safety Statement

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

Notice of Availability

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at: https://chancellor.ucsc.edu/annual-security-reports/. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.