University of California, Santa Cruz · 5 months ago
Assistant Director for the Colleges
Santa Cruz County, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$83K/yr - $83K/yrThe University of California, Santa Cruz is a unique public university known for its innovative approach to education. The Assistant Director for Colleges is a leadership role focused on community development, student support, and crisis management within the College Student Life department, requiring the individual to live on campus and engage directly with students.
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Responsibilities
Foster an inclusive and supportive residential community within two assigned colleges, ensuring that all students feel welcome, valued, and supported. Serve as a resource and advocate for students, addressing their concerns, supporting their mental health and well-being, and connecting them to appropriate campus resources
Develop and implement strategies to engage students in meaningful ways, promoting leadership, personal growth, and academic success
Supervise Coordinators for Residential Education (CREs) and student staff (Resident Assistants), guiding them in their efforts to create positive communities and provide peer leadership
Support CREs in their efforts to cultivate meaningful relationships with residents, serving as a mentor and advisor to help students navigate college life
Ensure that CREs and student staff are actively promoting community engagement and fostering environments of inclusion, respect, and personal development
In consultation with campus resources, including the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Education (OSCCE), manages the implementation of student accountability and behavior, which includes serving as a conduct officer
Ability to drive personal and/or campus owned vehicles to locations on and off campus in order to provide on-call response for a variety of situations
Trains, supervises, and evaluates full-time Coordinators for Residential Education (CREs) and Office Coordinator (OC), providing access to and resources for developing professional skills, leadership abilities, and personal growth
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with CREs, Office Coordinator, and student staff to provide guidance, assess their progress, and address any challenges or concerns
Lead weekly staff meetings with the CREs and ensure they have the resources, support, and training necessary to succeed in their roles
Create a supportive work environment where staff feel empowered to lead and contribute to the development of a cohesive and collaborative community
Hold staff accountable for their actions and ensure they adhere to CSL’s community standards and policies
Provide timely performance feedback, conduct evaluations, and ensure staff are held to high expectations for community leadership, professionalism, and ethical behavior
Lead and support crisis response efforts within the assigned residential colleges, ensuring that appropriate interventions are implemented in response to student emergencies, including mental health crises, conflicts, and medical emergencies
Provide on-call support for emergencies and respond to urgent student concerns during evenings, weekends, and holidays, coordinating with campus safety, counseling services, and other relevant departments
Participate in on-call roles and responsibilities, responding to residential emergencies and student concerns as needed
Provide leadership in crisis response and follow-up, ensuring students receive appropriate support and resources
Work closely with the Associate Director for Colleges in developing and refining crisis management protocols, ensuring that staff are trained to de-escalate situations, handle sensitive issues, and provide appropriate referrals
Mentor CREs and student staff on effective crisis intervention techniques and ensure they understand the procedures for managing challenging situations
Provide operational oversight for the assigned colleges, ensuring smooth operations for the residential programs
Support coordination of the move-in and move-out processes for students within your area, collaborating with other campus departments to ensure these large-scale events run smoothly and efficiently
Oversee office operations within the residential colleges, including maintaining the efficiency of administrative processes, managing student records, and ensuring that communication systems are effective and responsive
Support operational needs, including interfacing with facilities and housing staff, to ensure a seamless living environment for students
Assist in the development of operational policies and procedures for residential life that improve efficiency and enhance the student experience
Ensure office staff provide excellent customer service to students, parents, and other campus departments, addressing inquiries and ensuring effective communication as well as support physical safety and security including key and door systems
Participates on department and/or campus-wide committees and activities as assigned including planning committees, special projects, higher level conduct hearing boards, Title IX appeal hearings, etc
Assist in the planning and delivery of staff training, including orientation for new CREs and ongoing professional development for all student staff. Foster a culture of continuous learning by identifying and addressing training needs and providing development opportunities for student staff and CREs
Support the Associate Director for Colleges and other CSL leadership in the development of training programs that promote personal and professional growth in students and staff
Mentor CREs and staff in their leadership development, supporting their individual goals and career aspirations
Collaborate with the Associate Director, other CSL staff, faculty, and campus partners to develop and implement initiatives that promote academic success, student engagement, and overall student well-being within the residential colleges
Maintain open and effective communication with all staff, students, and campus departments to ensure seamless coordination of services and initiatives
Act as a liaison between residents, student staff, faculty, and university departments, advocating for student needs and ensuring their voices are heard
Participate in regular meetings with the Associate Director for Colleges to provide updates, share concerns, and contribute to the strategic development of residential programs
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
Master's degree in higher education administration, student affairs, or in a related field and / or equivalent experience / training
Significant experience in student affairs, residential life, or a related field, with a strong background in student support, community development, and crisis response
Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including the ability to mentor and develop professional residential staff and student staff
Experience in crisis management and conflict resolution, with the ability to effectively handle sensitive student issues with empathy and professionalism
Strong understanding of community standards, student conduct processes, and policies related to residential life
Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and their application within student affairs and residential life
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and manage multiple priorities effectively
Preferred
Experience working in a leadership capacity within the University of California system or a similarly complex higher education institution
Crisis intervention training (such as Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention) or related certifications
Experience with the college model and Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)
Familiarity with student conduct systems and residential life software
Benefits
On-campus apartment accommodation provided, in accordance with Apartment Use Agreement.
Basic meal plan provided to support interaction, involvement, and community building with students, staff, and faculty in dining hall setting, during the academic year.
Full benefits
Company
University of California, Santa Cruz
UCSC opened in 1965 with 650 students. Forty-five years later, the campus is home to nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 1,500 graduate
Founded in 1965
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of California, Santa Cruz has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (34)
2024 (48)
2023 (52)
2022 (41)
2021 (46)
2020 (29)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$19.6MKey Investors
U.S. Department of AgricultureNational Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)James S. McDonnell Foundation
2023-06-21Grant· $10M
2023-01-10Grant· $0.15M
2022-02-24Grant· $0.25M
Leadership Team
Benedict Paten
Professor
Marco Rolandi
Jack Baskin Endowed Chair in Engineering
Recent News
News-Medical.Net
2025-11-24
2025-11-08
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