Associate Director, Specialized Support Initiatives [CAMPUS ONLY Recruitment]

This is a campus-only recruitment. Only current employees or former employees with current Preferential Rehire rights will be considered. Current UCSC employees must apply through the internal candidate gateway.

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 Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 800 professional staff and 2100 student staff spanning five major units. Deeply devoted to offering students a transformational educational experience, the division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership of student success programs, activities, and initiatives. DSAS also does its work through a range of resource centers dedicated to providing direct student support. Work is grounded in educational equity, institutional responsibility, and an unfettered commitment to supporting the whole student. DSAS aspires to ensure every student feels welcome, supported, and a sense of belonging during their time on campus.

The Student Success and Equity area includes all of the units and over 125 state, federal, student service fees, and gift fund sources, with an annual operating budget of nearly $18 million. The Retention and Validation (R&V) units within Student Success and Equity are composed of Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), Services for Transfer Reentry and Resilient Scholars (STARRS), and African, Black, and Caribbean Student Success (ABC SS). R&V staff provide holistic and humanizing support by acknowledging the lived experiences of students, considering the social, political, economic, environmental, and historical contexts impacting a student's experience.

• Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP): Provides academic and personal support programs to first-generation college students, low-income students with diverse social and personal identities, and from historically marginalized backgrounds.
• Services for Transfer and Resilient Students (STARRS): Advances social mobility for transfer, re-entry, and independent students by providing transformative higher education experiences. Guides students who disproportionately enter higher education through community colleges, including those with experiences such as transferring, returning to school at an older age, military service, being parents, foster care, homelessness, incarceration, or family trauma.
• Office for African, Black, Caribbean (ABC) Student Success: Advocates for the holistic success of ABC students through assessment and cross-campus collaboration, addressing equity gaps, climate issues, enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.

About the Role

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Retention and Validation, the Associate Director of Specialized Support Initiatives provides strategic leadership and oversight for a portfolio of programs designed to support students with varied pathways and lived experiences. The Associate Director oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs including Undocumented Student Services, Military-Connected Student Services, Re-entry Student Programs, and the Resilient Scholars Program. The role supervises professional staff members, ensuring coordinated, high-quality services that support student success, well-being, and degree completion.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership (30%):
  • Provides strategic leadership for student support programs serving undergraduate and graduate populations with distinct lived experiences and pathways.
  • Oversees vision, development, and implementation of programs including Undocumented Student Services, Military-Connected Student Services, Re-entry Student Programs, and the Resilient Scholars Program, which supports students who are:
    • Formerly incarcerated, on probation or parole, arrested or convicted but not incarcerated, or impacted by a family member or loved one’s incarceration (Underground Scholars Program).
    • Experienced housing instability or lacked safe, stable, and permanent housing before or during college.
    • With current or former experiences in the foster care or child welfare system, including foster/group homes, transitional housing, legal guardianship, kinship care, or designated as Ward of the Court or Probation Youth (Hope Scholars Program).
  • Develops and implements a comprehensive strategy supporting student access, persistence, well-being, and degree completion.
  • Utilizes data-informed and research-based practices to design responsive programming for academic, personal, and professional development.
  • Maintains advanced knowledge of policies, trends, and emerging issues impacting these student populations.
  • Represents the department in campus-wide initiatives and planning efforts related to student success and support services.
  • Serves as a key liaison to systemwide and external partners, including UC-wide convenings, professional networks, and community-based collaborations.
  • Cultivates and maintains relationships with organizations, agencies, and partners providing critical resources and services to students.
  • Ensures a strength-based approach in assessing student success aligned with department, division, and campus priorities.
  • Builds collaborative relationships to provide integrated programs and services.
  • Supports campus campaigns to secure external funding as needed.
  • Develops and maintains relationships with external organizations critical to program success.
  • Represents the organization to UC, the local community, and other relevant audiences.
  • Serves as a liaison with UC Immigrant Legal Services and UCOP, responding to all UCOP requests and ensuring timely report submissions.
  • Collaborates in other program management areas as needed and participates in departmental leadership, planning, and administrative activities.
• Program Oversight (30%):
  • Provides oversight for program implementation, service delivery, and student engagement across all functional areas.
  • Ensures programs deliver coordinated services including advising, student support, emergency funding, legal and external service referrals, and community-building opportunities.
  • Guides Program Coordinators as subject matter experts responsible for program development, student engagement, and campus education.
  • Oversees case management services supporting students with financial, academic, and personal challenges.
  • Ensures development of systems and processes for student intake, case tracking, and service coordination.
  • Provides guidance on complex and sensitive student situations, coordinating with campus and external partners.
  • Collaborates with campus partners including Financial Aid, Basic Needs, Counseling Services, Admissions, and academic departments.
  • Monitors program effectiveness, identifies service gaps, and implements improvements.
  • Stays abreast of campus and local resources and referrals in residency, financial aid, scholarships, immigrant rights, legal services, crisis intervention, and social services.

Benefits

Full benefits package included.

Pay

Budgeted salary: $105,000 annually. Salary is commensurate with skills, qualifications, and experience.

Schedule

• Full-time, fixed position.
• 100% time, 40 hours per week.
• Monday through Friday, day shift.
• Work location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus.
• Career appointment, non-represented.