DESCRIPTION

A unit within the portfolio of the Vice Chancellor-Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American (APIMEDA) Center provides community and retention support for students who are part of UC San Diego’s large and diverse APIMEDA communities.

APIMEDA Center serves students from a variety of ethnic and cultural groups that make up the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Southwest Asian, and North African American communities. The program encourages community development, enhances coalition building with and within the APIMEDA student community, staff and faculty, fosters greater visibility for the diversity within the APIMEDA community, and helps students gain skills for success in their future careers.

The Center fosters student leadership, enhances sense of belonging and community, promotes academic success, and provides resources.

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Equity and Inclusion (AVC-SEI), the Director plays a critical leadership role in fostering a dynamic and inclusive student, staff, and faculty experience at UC San Diego. The Director leverages advanced expertise to guide and support professional and student staff to deliver culturally responsive programs and services that cater to the unique needs of APIMEDA students, as well as develops new events and programs to benefit Center constituents, including both American-identifying as well as international students with shared issues, experiences, and identities, collaborating with Global Initiatives and others serving international students on the latter as needed. The Director's responsibilities include oversight of program development and management, student leadership development, assessment and analysis of Center impact, as well as collaboration and engagement with various campus stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate programs that promote student success, retention, and sense of belonging.

The Director oversees Center operations, including budget development and management, personnel management, outreach programs, and development of training opportunities that incorporate understanding of student development and leadership principles in the day-to-day operations.

Additionally, the Director serves as a Campus Diversity Officer and member of the Vice Chancellor's leadership team. In this capacity, the Director works closely with the campus Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Implementation Work Group, represents UCSD in external initiatives, and provides subject matter AANAPISI expertise to the campus community. The Director works broadly across the university to establish and nurture campus-wide collaborations, educate and promote understanding and awareness related to APIMEDA communities and other diversity issues. The Director acts as an information conduit, establishing effective communications between the VC-EDI and the campus community to help leverage diversity initiatives and fuel the diversity change process.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting APIMEDA-identifying students. Leadership Background: Knowledge of diversity and social justice issues including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual-orientation, religion, and class background. Proven strong political acumen skills and ability to apply in diverse, complex organization. Proven ability to apply high ethical standards to business practices and decision-making. Ability to lead by example. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership that motivates and develops staff and creates a positive work environment.

• Advanced knowledge of a variety of administrative operational activities such as event planning, basic fundraising processes, risk management planning, website design, accounting and payroll, and contracts and grants regulations and guidelines. Demonstrated knowledge of a broad range of related areas including retention strategies, succession planning models, competency development, campus climate issues, diversity, and change management. Proven ability to use key business skills, including thinking and planning strategically, applying business acumen, analyzing needs and proposing solutions, using financial and organizational measurement and other data, applying process redesign methods and practices, and influencing stakeholders. Ability to apply experience, knowledge, and judgment to discriminate between business practices that are good and poor, right and wrong, effective and ineffective.

• Advanced knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques, and / or human resources policies and procedures for staff and academic employees. Demonstrated strong knowledge of human resource management concepts and practices, performance management models and practices, and career development practices. Knowledge of the concepts of business and financial management principles. Ability to understand, analyze, and interpret financial information and to identify necessary action plan.

• Operational Management Background: Demonstrated extensive work experience in the development, interpretation and recommendation of complex protocols and guidelines. Demonstrated outstanding ability to design, adapt, implement, and evaluate new protocols, guidelines, and reports. Ability to think through the consequences of a decision prior to making it. Ability to accept uncertainty and deal with ambiguity by recommending or taking actions when answers to problems are not readily apparent. Demonstrated professional skills in instructional design, development and delivery, and outstanding presentation skills.

• Advanced skills in short- and long-term strategic planning, analysis, problem-solving and customer service. Experience in multi-tasking and performing under constant pressure of deadlines. Demonstrated experience working independently in unstructured projects and situations, identifying priorities, and applying creativity and originality in problem solving in an environment with changing priorities. Ability to analyze information, situations, problems, policies, and procedures to: (1) define problems accurately, (2) separate problems from symptoms, (3) identify potential solutions, (4) select appropriate solutions for application, and (5) formulate logical and objective conclusions from situations, data, and observations.

• Knowledge of general higher education mission, strategy, structure, and systems.

• Advanced interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness, advising and counseling skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact tactfully and diplomatically, yet assertively, with all segments of the campus and community; skill in resolving conflict situations and in recognizing politically sensitive situations. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one or in group settings, using appropriate vocabulary, considering differences in social, cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in creating a climate of trust and respect and in aligning strategic initiatives and operational goals with the mission, values, and business needs of the Center. Ability to be decisive when necessary and to effectively communicate rationale. Ability to be open to questioning of decision-making and exhibit openness to alternatives without displaying defensive behavior.

PREFERRED:

• Knowledge of general higher education policies and procedures related to facilities management as well as protocols and guidelines pertaining to financial management and payroll/personnel administration.

• Advanced knowledge of University rules and regulations, processes, protocols and procedures for budget, accounting and fund management, and / or personnel management. Thorough understanding of the consequences of non-compliance.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

• Duties may require direct contact and/or supervision of children (defined as individuals under the age of 18); completion of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) form will be required.