DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Retention and Success, the Director is responsible for the leadership, evaluation, and resources of the Chancellor’s Associates Scholarship Program. The CASP Director oversees services, programming, resources, and develops short- and long-range planning, accordingly, responding to projections for recruitment and enrollment of CASP scholars. Administer and manage program activities, communications, assessments, and budget for a comprehensive scholarship program designed to increase the retention of first-generation, low-income, diverse undergraduate students with a special focus on the transition of freshmen and transfer students.

The Director collaborates across SRS so that services, activities, and programming delivered are high quality, coordinated, and aligned with the best practices, including DEI practices, that promote undergraduate student retention, persistence, and graduation rates for targeted student populations. Exercises leadership and discretionary authority to solve managerial and programmatic concerns; utilizes a high degree of independence, ingenuity, and analytical skills to resolve complex problems. Provides various DEI consultations on training modules with other departments in the division.

In collaboration with multiple campus partners, designs, develops, implements, and assesses program recruiting and retention activities that are in concert with the objectives of the scholarship and requirements for renewal. Prepares reports for the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and Assistant Vice Chancellor detailing student academic success progress and makes recommendations for program, policy, and scholarship improvements to ensure retention and positive student development. Establishes and maintains communication and partnership with a broad range of campus constituents including the six colleges’ academic, student affairs and residence life units, the units within Enrollment Management, Development, Academic Affairs units, the office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, campus community centers, faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders as well as local K-12 and community colleges.

Responsible for the allocation and oversight of the CASP budget; staffing; evaluation, assessment, and reporting; space; and donor stewardship and communication in support of ongoing CASP expansion. Serves as a member of the Student Retention and Success Leadership team, which sets the strategic direction for the cluster.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Advanced knowledge of the theories and practice of counseling, learning, human and career development. **Advanced knowledge of higher education, student development and persistence, anddiverse learning environments and how these theories inform practice of counseling, learning, and program development.

• Advanced experience in managing and analyzing complex organizations. ** Proven ability to independently analyze complex problems, research issues, draw appropriate conclusions, and develop and implement innovative solutions. Demonstrated ability to compile and analyze data, to prepare information and summary and/or reports of findings relevant to areas of oversight and student success coaching programmatic impact.

• Skills in monitoring / assessing people, processes, and services, to make improvements. ** Ability to understand various diversity issues in higher education, including issues that affect the diversity climate, and ability to work with underrepresented students and their organizations.

• Skills in project management, social perceptiveness, to be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. **Demonstrated experience and skill to routinely monitor production and quality of work being produced by staff and set performance standards, observing behavior, providing objective feedback, counseling, and implementing corrective action as needed to mediate disputes or otherwise help to resolve conflicts and to provide effective leadership/coaching/mentoring. Demonstrated experience and skill to assess staff capabilities and workloads and redistribute when necessary. Demonstrated experience and skill to teach/train staff in all aspects of job duties/responsibilities.

• Demonstrated skills in problem identification, sound judgment and decision making, critical thinking, and creative problem solving. ** Must possess a strong portfolio of interpersonal skills: ability to interact with tact and diplomacy with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and organizational levels, ability to disarm anger and constructively handle complaints, ability to be flexible, to work collaboratively and to listen well and engender trust. Successful experience in forming collaborative partnerships with campus departments and off-campus organizations in developing programs and services.

• Excellent management and leadership skills. **Demonstrated abilities in leading and directing a complex organization that must be well articulated with other efforts on and off campus. Strong leadership skills and program management experience especially in a college/university setting.

• Knowledge of University and campus policies, processes, and procedures. ** Knowledge of personnel management and campus personnel policies, procedures, collective bargaining, and employee development opportunities. Experience working in a large, complex, multi-disciplinary academic environment, including familiarity with campus-wide offices, administrative contacts, and campus structures.

• Knowledge of risk assessment principles, and the ability to evaluate risks and the likelihood of consequences.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.

• Excellent organizational skills. ** Excellent organizational and time management skills to establish goals and prioritize workload of self and others; ability to meet deadlines; ability to work efficiently and effectively on multiple projects with competing deadlines; flexibility in dealing with people and competing demands; ability to manage details of complex projects and events and to independently follow through to successful completion.

• Knowledge of environmental processes that may influence students' well-being. ** Cognizant ofdiverse learning styles, social and cultural context, and linguistic frameworks undergraduates bring to the University.

• Demonstrated skills in using common desktop / web applications.

• Ability to delegate and coordinate complex tasks with attention to both overall goals and specific details. Skill in applying organizational development, team building, problem solving, and conflict resolution techniques in group situations.

• Experience in budget projections, management, report preparation, and presentations.

• Management ability and skills to direct and supervise professional staff with the ability to train, motivate and provide effective and sound judgment, coaching and leadership.

• Experience building capacity and facilitating shared responsibility for creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive department in which each staff member can thrive. May collaborate with campus constituents to conceive and implement strategic initiatives that drive and develop diversity within the department.

• Demonstrated ability to initiate and support creative and effective ways for direct reports to be culturally competent, including but not limited to participating in activities about equity, diversity and inclusion and the importance to the University’s mission.

• Advanced experience creating, promoting, and supporting working relationships that nurture and sustain a diverse and inclusive campus community.

• Demonstrated skills in promoting a climate of ethical leadership, respect, trust and fairness consistent with the UC San Diego Principles of Community. Ability to represent the interest of the department at all times in the conduct of regular business. Serve as a role model for behavior that ensures principles of equity, diversity and inclusion are being upheld within the workplace.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent on a clear background check.
• Must be able to work evenings and occasional weekends to support programs and events.
• This position is a mandated reporter of known or suspected child abuse or neglect, according to the California law, Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).
• Must complete eCourse: Managing Implicit Bias" Series.