Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership and Involvement - UC Santa Cruz

Assistant Dean of Students, Leadership & Involvement

Another Source's client, University of California, Santa Cruz, is recruiting an Assistant Dean of Students, Leadership & Involvement to join their Student Affairs & Success team in Santa Cruz, California. This is a hybrid leadership opportunity with relocation assistance available.

If you're a student affairs leader who thrives on building community, developing leaders, and creating transformative student experiences, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact at one of California's most distinctive public universities. As the inaugural leader of UC Santa Cruz's newly established Center for Leadership & Involvement, you'll help foster connection, belonging, and Banana Slug pride through experiences that engage students from their first day on campus through graduation.

UC Santa Cruz is a globally recognized public research university known for its innovative spirit, interdisciplinary approach to learning, and commitment to student success. Nestled among California's redwood forests overlooking Monterey Bay, UC Santa Cruz serves a diverse student community in an environment that values creativity, social responsibility, and academic excellence.

The Division of Student Affairs & Success (DSAS) includes nearly 800 professional staff and more than 2,100 student employees dedicated to supporting the whole student. Grounded in educational equity and a deep commitment to belonging, the division partners across campus to create an environment where every student feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed.

As part of this commitment, UC Santa Cruz recently established the Center for Leadership & Involvement, bringing together key student engagement programs to create a more connected and intentional student experience.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the student experience at UC Santa Cruz. As the inaugural Assistant Dean of Students, Leadership & Involvement, you will establish the vision and strategic direction for the newly created Center for Leadership & Involvement - a campus-wide hub designed to help every Banana Slug build meaningful connections, develop as a leader, and find a sense of belonging from orientation through graduation.

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students, you'll provide executive leadership for two cornerstone departments: SOMeCA (Student Organization Advising & Resources, Media, Cultural Arts & Diversity) and the Office of Transitions & Involvement. Together, these teams create many of the defining experiences that shape student life at UC Santa Cruz.

Your portfolio spans student leadership development, more than student organizations and campus involvement opportunities, orientation and transition programs, family engagement, student media, cultural arts programming, and campus traditions. You'll bring these functions together under a unified vision, ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to connect with one another, engage with campus life, develop leadership skills, and cultivate lifelong Banana Slug pride.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Housing, Undergraduate Education, and Academic Affairs, you'll help create an integrated student engagement ecosystem that strengthens belonging, supports retention, and enhances the overall student experience. You'll also serve as a visible campus leader, engaging directly with students and representing the university in conversations surrounding student engagement, campus climate, leadership development, and student success.

How You Will Spend Your Time

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Provide strategic leadership for the Center for Leadership & Involvement, establishing a long-term vision that advances student engagement, belonging, leadership development, and co-curricular learning.
• Develop organizational goals, assessment strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives that align with university priorities.
• Advise senior university leadership on student engagement, leadership development, orientation, transition programs, family engagement, and the broader student experience.
• Lead organizational planning, change management, assessment, and innovation across the Center.

Department Leadership & Student Engagement

• Provide executive leadership for the Office of Transitions & Involvement and SOMeCA (Student Organization Advising & Resources, Media, Cultural Arts & Diversity).
• Directly supervise department directors while supporting the growth and success of their teams.
• Create a cohesive student engagement ecosystem that strengthens connection, belonging, and leadership throughout the student experience.
• Provide strategic oversight for:
• New student orientation and transition programs
• Leadership development initiatives
• Student organizations and Greek life
• Student media
• Cultural arts and diversity programming
• Family engagement initiatives
• Ensure programs are inclusive, student-centered, and aligned with student development best practices.

Campus Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the Dean of Students leadership team and contribute to division-wide strategic initiatives.
• Build collaborative partnerships across Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Housing, Resource Centers, and campus leadership.
• Maintain a visible campus presence by engaging with students, student leaders, organizations, and campus events, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Represent UC Santa Cruz on campus, UC systemwide, and national committees related to student engagement, leadership development, and student success.
• Serve as a leader on the Student Engagement Team, supporting campus response efforts related to student demonstrations, campus climate, and emerging student issues.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee departmental budgets, resource allocation, staffing, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship, policy compliance, and risk management.
• Develop policies, procedures, and operational systems that support effective, sustainable program delivery.
• Partner with University Advancement and campus partners to strengthen family engagement and explore innovative opportunities that support student success initiatives.

Experience You Will Bring

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master's degree or doctorate in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience within higher education student affairs.
• Experience leading multiple functional areas, supervising professional staff, and building high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success with strategic planning, organizational leadership, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Experience overseeing budgets, allocating resources, and managing complex operations.
• Leadership experience in one or more of the following:
• Student engagement
• Student organizations
• Leadership development
• Orientation and transition programs
• First-year experience initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships with students, student leaders, faculty, and campus partners.
• Strong political acumen and sound judgment navigating complex, highly visible campus issues.
• Experience advising senior leaders and collaborating across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to fostering belonging and supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Excellent communication, presentation, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of student development theory, co-curricular learning, leadership education, and emerging trends in higher education student affairs.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $110,000- 135,000 annually.

UC Santa Cruz offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families, including health coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti Discrimination Policy.