Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and encouraging innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN actively seeks candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to over 36,000 students annually and counts over 425,000 alumni who fuel the region's economy. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and more than 12,000 jobs each year. CSUN is a designated Minority Serving and Hispanic Serving Institution (MSI/HSI) and a California Black Serving Institution (BSI), nationally and statewide recognized for advancing opportunity and promoting the success of Hispanic, Black, African American, and other historically underserved students.

About the Role

The Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs (AVP FA) serves as the University's academic personnel officer for faculty (Unit 3) and academic student employees (Unit 11). Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the AVP FA provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all faculty lifecycle matters, including recruitment, appointment, evaluation, retention, tenure, promotion, compensation, leaves, retirement, and faculty professional success. The AVP FA ensures compliance with collective bargaining agreements, CSU policies, and applicable state and federal regulations while advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all academic personnel processes.

As a member of the Academic Affairs leadership team, the AVP FA advises the Provost, deans, and department chairs on complex faculty personnel and labor relations matters. The AVP FA interprets and implements collective bargaining agreements, oversees grievance and disciplinary processes, conducts or supervises investigations as appropriate, and represents the University in labor management and arbitration proceedings. The position works closely with Human Resources, Equity and Compliance, and shared governance bodies to ensure fair, consistent, and legally sound personnel practices. This role requires sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and the ability to balance institutional priorities with faculty interests in a dynamic higher education environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all faculty lifecycle matters, including recruitment, appointment, evaluation, retention, tenure, promotion, compensation, leaves, retirement, and faculty professional success.
• Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements, CSU policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all academic personnel processes.
• Advise the Provost, deans, and department chairs on complex faculty personnel and labor relations matters.
• Interpret and implement collective bargaining agreements.
• Oversee grievance and disciplinary processes, conduct or supervise investigations as appropriate.
• Represent the University in labor management and arbitration proceedings.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Equity and Compliance, and shared governance bodies to ensure fair, consistent, and legally sound personnel practices.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Credentials and experience for appointment at the rank of Professor.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in university teaching and scholarly or creative achievement.
• Minimum of three (3) years of administrative experience as department chair, director, associate dean, dean, or equivalent leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply, and communicate complex policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including collaborating with campus partners, building trust, and facilitating shared governance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience overseeing faculty personnel processes, including recruitment, evaluation, retention, tenure, and promotion.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and implementing collective bargaining agreements in a unionized higher education environment.
• Demonstrated experience administering or advising on grievance, disciplinary, or conflict resolution processes.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with human resources, equity/compliance offices, or legal counsel on personnel matters.
• Demonstrated experience supporting equity-focused initiatives in faculty hiring, evaluation, and retention.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring faculty and supporting department chair leadership development.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and managing administrative budgets while upholding staff welfare through dignity- and respect-centered supervision.
• Demonstrated experience representing an institution in systemwide committees or external relations.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or modernization of administrative systems.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range is $190,000 to $210,000 per year, dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Benefits

The University offers excellent fringe benefits.

Effective date of appointment: January 2, 2027.