Director University Honors Program (ACAD PRG MGT SUPV 2)

Provides strategic leadership, operational management, and vision for UC Davis's campus-wide honors program serving high-achieving and high-potential undergraduate students. Advances an academically rigorous and intellectually engaging four-year honors experience that integrates interdisciplinary coursework, faculty mentorship, undergraduate research, community engagement, leadership development, and Signature Work capstone experiences. Ensures program excellence through effective administration, assessment, collaboration, and stewardship of program resources while fostering a student-centered culture that promotes academic achievement, civic engagement, personal growth, and equitable student success.

Responsibilities

• 60% Program Management & Supervision: Oversee daily operations, strategic planning, program development, implementation, and assessment of the University Honors Program.
• 25% Internal Relationship Building: Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with faculty, academic leadership, students, alumni, and campus stakeholders to advance programmatic goals and initiatives.
• 10% Financial & Office Management: Manage program administration, budget, resource allocation, and operational planning within the higher education environment.
• 5% Grant Management & Supervision, Development and Philanthropy: Secure, manage, or support grant-funded, donor-funded, or philanthropic initiatives, including proposal development and stewardship activities.

Requirements

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience leading academic, educational, or student success programs.
• Progressive leadership experience directing complex academic, educational, honors, undergraduate, or experiential learning programs, including strategic planning, program development, implementation, and assessment.
• Experience supervising professional and/or student staff, including recruitment, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Experience developing and utilizing assessment measures, student success metrics, and program evaluation data to inform decision-making, strategic planning, and continuous program improvement.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships and working effectively with faculty, academic leadership, students, alumni, and campus stakeholders.
• Knowledge of program administration, budget management, resource allocation, and operational planning within a higher education or similarly complex organizational environment.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and represent programs at multiple organizational levels.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or administering an honors program, undergraduate research program, scholars program, experiential learning initiative, or other high-achieving student program within a research university environment.
• Knowledge of policies, practices, and governance structures related to undergraduate education within a large public research university.
• Experience securing, managing, or supporting grant-funded, donor-funded, or philanthropic initiatives, including proposal development and stewardship activities.
• Demonstrated experience developing programs and practices that foster student engagement, academic excellence, belonging, and success among students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

About the Organization

Undergraduate Education provides campus-wide leadership for the delivery of undergraduate education and the enhancement of educational effectiveness and academic success. The department acts as a liaison on academic issues pertinent to undergraduate education with colleges and other campus entities, including the Academic Senate, as well as external units such as the UC Office of the President, other universities, and accreditation agencies. This position is part of 10 diverse operational/academic units within Undergraduate Education responsible for sustaining and improving the quality of undergraduate education.

Pay

$105,300 - $208,500 annually

Schedule

• Full-time (100%)
• Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Hybrid (mix of on-site and remote work)
• Occasional evenings and weekends as needed

Benefits

• High-quality, low-cost medical plans for you and your family
• UC-paid dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Retirement plans, including pension and other retirement savings plans
• Supplemental insurance: additional life, short/long-term disability, pet insurance, legal coverage, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity
• Pregnancy and parental leave, family & medical leave, adoption assistance, and pay for family care and bonding
• Lactation support program and family care discounts and resources
• Employee well-being resources and programming
• On-site Employee Assistance Program with free mental health services
• Generous paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
• Continuing education allowance and staff education reimbursement program
• Access to free professional development courses and learning opportunities
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualified employer and student loan debt counseling program

Physical Demands

• Standing: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Walking: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Sitting: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Lifting/Carrying 0-25 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Pushing/Pulling 0-25 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Bending/Stooping: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Squatting/Kneeling: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Twisting: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Reaching overhead: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours

Environmental Demands

• Manage and complete projects in an open workspace environment with multiple deadlines, frequent interruptions, background distractions, traffic, and noise from competing activities.
• Vacations restricted during peak periods.
• Work flexible schedule and occasional evenings and weekends as needed on short notice to meet operational needs.

Mental Demands

• Sustained attention and concentration: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Complex problem solving/reasoning: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Ability to organize & prioritize: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Communication skills: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Numerical skills: Occasional, up to 3 hours
• Constant interaction: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Customer/Patient Contact: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours
• Multiple concurrent tasks: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours