Assistant Director for the Colleges

This is a live-in position which requires the employee to live in the provided apartment full time. On-campus apartment accommodation provided, in accordance with Apartment Use Agreement.

Basic meal plan provided to support interaction, involvement, and community building with students, staff, and faculty in dining hall setting, during the academic year.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 08-25-2025

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

Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES) is a multifaceted organization within the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). CHES provides comprehensive leadership in student life, residential services, housing, dining, facilities, capital planning, conference services, early education services, and business and financial analysis. These units deliver educational and developmental programs that enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff, children, and external constituents.

CHES oversees on-campus housing and dining for approximately 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students across ten residential colleges and six multi-college residential communities, supporting both single students and students with families.

More information can be found at: https://csl-careers.ucsc.edu/educational-priority-and-learning-goals/index.html

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Director for Colleges is a dynamic leadership position within the College Student Life (CSL) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

Reporting to the Associate Director for Colleges, this role provides direct oversight and supervision of two colleges, focusing on community development, student support, leadership, crisis response, and operational excellence. The Assistant Director serves as a key advocate for students, ensuring their academic and personal success while maintaining community standards and safety. They supervise the Office Coordinator and CRE staff, mentor student leaders, and collaborate closely with other campus departments to ensure that students have a supportive, inclusive, and engaging residential experience. This position plays a critical role in managing mental health concerns, fostering student growth, and contributing to the overall safety and well-being of the residential communities they oversee.

This position is live-on, requiring the Assistant Director to reside within the assigned residential colleges to be available for crisis response and to build relationships with students in a community setting. On-call responsibilities are required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $83,000/annually
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

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 Code Classification: STDT LIFE DEVT SUPV 2 (004568)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Community Development and Student Support

• Foster an inclusive and supportive residential community within two assigned colleges, ensuring that all students feel welcome, valued, and supported.
  Serve as a resource and advocate for students, addressing their concerns, supporting their mental health and well-being, and connecting them to appropriate campus resources.
• Develop and implement strategies to engage students in meaningful ways, promoting leadership, personal growth, and academic success.
• Supervise Coordinators for Residential Education (CREs) and student staff (Resident Assistants), guiding them in their efforts to create positive communities and provide peer leadership.
• Support CREs in their efforts to cultivate meaningful relationships with residents, serving as a mentor and advisor to help students navigate college life.
• Ensure that CREs and student staff are actively promoting community engagement and fostering environments of inclusion, respect, and personal development.
• In consultation with campus resources, including the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Education (OSCCE), manages the implementation of student accountability and behavior, which includes serving as a conduct officer.
• Ability to drive personal and/or campus owned vehicles to locations on and off campus in order to provide on-call response for a variety of situations.

25% - Leadership and Supervision

• Trains, supervises, and evaluates full-time Coordinators for Residential Education (CREs) and Office Coordinator (OC), providing access to and resources for developing professional skills, leadership abilities, and personal growth.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with CREs, Office Coordinator, and student staff to provide guidance, assess their progress, and address any challenges or concerns.
• Lead weekly staff meetings with the CREs and ensure they have the resources, support, and training necessary to succeed in their roles.
• Create a supportive work environment where staff feel empowered to lead and contribute to the development of a cohesive and collaborative community.
• Hold staff accountable for their actions and ensure they adhere to CSL's community standards and policies.
• Provide timely performance feedback, conduct evaluations, and ensure staff are held to high expectations for community leadership, professionalism, and ethical behavior.

15% - Crisis Response and Emergency Management

• Lead and support crisis response efforts within the assigned residential colleges, ensuring that appropriate interventions are implemented in response to student emergencies, including mental health crises, conflicts, and medical emergencies.
• Provide on-call support for emergencies and respond to urgent student concerns during evenings, weekends, and holidays, coordinating with campus safety, counseling services, and other relevant departments.
• Participate in on-call roles and responsibilities, responding to residential emergencies and student concerns as needed.
• Provide leadership in crisis response and follow-up, ensuring students receive appropriate support and resources.
• Work closely with the Associate Director for Colleges in developing and refining crisis management protocols, ensuring that staff are trained to de-escalate situations, handle sensitive issues, and provide appropriate referrals.
• Mentor CREs and student staff on effective crisis intervention techniques and ensure they understand the procedures for managing challenging situations.

10% - Administration and College Operations

• Provide operational oversight for the assigned colleges, ensuring smooth operations for the residential programs.
• Support coordination of the move-in and move-out processes for students within your area, collaborating with other campus departments to ensure these large-scale events run smoothly and efficiently.
• Oversee office operations within the residential colleges, including maintaining the efficiency of administrative processes, managing student records, and ensuring that communication systems are effective and responsive.
• Support operational needs, including interfacing with facilities and housing staff, to ensure a seamless living environment for students.
• Assist in the development of operational policies and procedures for residential life that improve efficiency and enhance the student experience.
• Ensure office staff provide excellent customer service to students, parents, and other campus departments, addressing inquiries and ensuring effective communication as well as support physical safety and security including key and door systems.
• Participates on department and/or campus-wide committees and activities as assigned including planning committees, special projects, higher level conduct hearing boards, Title IX appeal hearings, etc.

5% - Training, Self Development, and Mentorship

• Assist in the planning and delivery of staff training, including orientation for new CREs and ongoing professional development for all student staff.
  Foster a culture of continuous learning by identifying and addressing training needs and providing development opportunities for student staff and CREs.
• Support the Associate Director for Colleges and other CSL leadership in the development of training programs that promote personal and professional growth in students and staff.
• Mentor CREs and staff in their leadership development, supporting their individual goals and career aspirations.

5% - Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with the Associate Director, other CSL staff, faculty, and campus partners to develop and implement initiatives that promote academic success, student engagement, and overall student well-being within the residential colleges.
• Maintain open and effective communication with all staff, students, and campus departments to ensure seamless coordination of services and initiatives.
• Act as a liaison between residents, student staff, faculty, and university departments, advocating for student needs and ensuring their voices are heard.
• Participate in regular meetings with the Associate Director for Colleges to provide updates, share concerns, and contribute to the strategic development of residential programs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Master's degree in higher education administration, student affairs, or in a related field and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Significant experience in student affairs, residential life, or a related field, with a strong background in student support, community development, and crisis response.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including the ability to mentor and develop professional residential staff and student staff.
• Experience in crisis management and conflict resolution, with the ability to effectively handle sensitive student issues with empathy and professionalism.
• Strong understanding of community standards, student conduct processes, and policies related to residential life.
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and their application within student affairs and residential life.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and manage multiple priorities effectively.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a leadership capacity within the University of California system or a similarly complex higher education institution.
• Crisis intervention training (such as Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention) or related certifications.
• Experience with the college model and Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)
• Familiarity with student conduct systems and residential life software.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must possess CPR/First Aid/AED certification or have the ability to obtain it within 60-calendar days of hire.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California.
• Ability to work on-call.
• Ability to work irregular hours including nights and weekends.
• This is a live-in position which requires the employee to live in the provided apartment full time. On-campus apartment accommodation provided, in accordance with Apartment Use Agreement. Basic meal plan provided to support interaction, involvement, and community building with students, staff, and faculty in dining hall setting, during the academic year
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• 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

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "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

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.