Director, Toro Guardian Scholars

About the role

The Director of the Toro Guardian Scholars (TGS) Program reports to the AVP of Belonging and Engagement and provides strategic leadership to ensure current and former foster youth, McKinney-Vento students, and unaccompanied minors receive comprehensive support throughout their time at CSUDH. The role involves direct case management, counseling, crisis support, advocacy, life skills workshops, and community-building events for undergraduate and graduate students. The Director collaborates with campus departments such as University Housing, Financial Aid, Student Financial Services, Basic Needs Office, Student Affairs Assessment Office, Toro Auxiliary Partners, and University Advancement, as well as community-based organizations and public agencies to secure funding, housing resources, and advocate for student success and post-graduation preparation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for Toro Guardian Scholars program, including programming, recruitment and outreach, student engagement and retention, and campus community engagement.
• Monitor and evaluate program and student learning outcomes, including retention and graduation rates.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational strategies to enhance services and program outcomes.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and paraprofessionals in alignment with university policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• Manage departmental budgets, marketing, communications, and ensure effective operations.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Clinical Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field.
• Five to eight (5–8) years of professional related work experience, including at least two (2) years in higher education or student affairs.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge and experience with historically underserved student communities, including current and former foster youth and unhoused students.
• Familiarity with local and national organizations supporting foster youth and unhoused students.
• Demonstrated experience working with transition age youth, including foster youth, those under legal guardianship, wards of the court, and/or unaccompanied homeless youth.
• Experience working with students who have experienced foster care, out-of-home placement, and/or homelessness, and who are first-generation college students.
• Ability to cultivate belonging, advise students, and connect them with relevant resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.
• Proficiency in preparing documents such as operations manuals, procedures, program schedules, proposals, and monitoring budgets.
• Ability to conceptualize and implement program functions and procedures to improve efficiency.
• Ability to apply judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality in complex tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in diverse settings, including presentations to individuals, small and large groups.
• Ability to advise potential students, parents, and staff from high schools and community colleges individually and in group settings.
• High-level analytical skills to take effective action while independently carrying out responsibilities.
• Excellent customer service and public relations skills.
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple work priorities, organize projects, and follow safety and confidentiality protocols.
• Ability to flex schedule to work evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to inclusivity and ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals.

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status or continued employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance and State Law.

The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.