Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership and Involvement - UC Santa Cruz

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to shape the student experience at UC Santa Cruz. As the inaugural Assistant Dean of Students, Leadership & Involvement, you will establish the vision and strategic direction for the newly created Center for Leadership & Involvement - a campus-wide hub designed to help every Banana Slug build meaningful connections, develop as a leader, and find a sense of belonging from orientation through graduation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Center for Leadership & Involvement, establishing a long-term vision that advances student engagement, belonging, leadership development, and co-curricular learning.
• Develop organizational goals, assessment strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives that align with university priorities.
• Advise senior university leadership on student engagement, leadership development, orientation, transition programs, family engagement, and the broader student experience.
• Lead organizational planning, change management, assessment, and innovation across the Center.
• Provide executive leadership for the Office of Transitions & Involvement and SOMeCA (Student Organization Advising & Resources, Media, Cultural Arts & Diversity).
• Create a cohesive student engagement ecosystem that strengthens connection, belonging, and leadership throughout the student experience.
• Ensure programs are inclusive, student-centered, and aligned with student development best practices.
• Serve as a member of the Dean of Students leadership team and contribute to division-wide strategic initiatives.
• Maintain a visible campus presence by engaging with students, student leaders, organizations, and campus events, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Represent UC Santa Cruz on campus, UC systemwide, and national committees related to student engagement, leadership development, and student success.
• Support campus response efforts related to student demonstrations, campus climate, and emerging student issues.
• Oversee departmental budgets, resource allocation, staffing, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop policies, procedures, and operational systems that support effective, sustainable program delivery.
• Partner with University Advancement and campus partners to strengthen family engagement and explore innovative opportunities that support student success initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master's degree or doctorate in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience within higher education student affairs.
• Experience leading multiple functional areas, supervising professional staff, and building high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success with strategic planning, organizational leadership, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Experience overseeing budgets, allocating resources, and managing complex operations.
• Leadership experience in one or more of the following: Student engagement, Student organizations, Leadership development, Orientation and transition programs, First-year experience initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships with students, student leaders, faculty, and campus partners.
• Strong political acumen and sound judgment navigating complex, highly visible campus issues.
• Experience advising senior leaders and collaborating across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to fostering belonging and supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Excellent communication, presentation, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of student development theory, co-curricular learning, leadership education, and emerging trends in higher education student affairs.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $110,000- 135,000 annually.

Schedule

N/A

Benefits

UC Santa Cruz offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families, including health coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. Learn more about UC benefits here: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.