Senior Director of Student Services (0322U), School of Public Health - #86631

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups. Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

Position Summary

In this role, you will play a central role in advancing the academic success and well-being of our diverse student community, which includes over 850 graduate and 300 undergraduate students, while creating and scaling opportunities for overall growth. You will need a strong understanding of the regulations, policies, and procedures that guide both graduate and undergraduate student services.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Students, you will lead the Public Health Undergraduate Program, oversee the graduate funding team, and manage day-to-day student services operations. You will serve as a key liaison with campus partners, including the Berkeley Graduate Division, the College of Letters and Sciences, the Disabled Students Program, the Center for Student Conduct, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, University Health Services, the Berkeley International Office, and Employee and Labor Relations. Your success will rely on your ability to recruit, develop, and supervise high-performing staff while working in close partnership with the Assistant Dean, students, faculty, and divisional leadership to advance a shared strategic vision. As a senior leader, you will provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and subject-matter expertise, playing a critical role in shaping programs that prepare students to succeed academically and professionally.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 17, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

People Management

• Provides leadership and oversight for staff in student funding, financial aid, and undergraduate student advising and program management.
• Responsible for hiring, training, performance evaluations, salary decisions, and resource allocation.
• Mentors and develops staff, fosters high performance, and uses strong team-building skills to maintain morale, collaboration, and alignment with organizational goals.

Student Services Leadership

• Leads student crisis response efforts, including managing emergency funding requests.
• Oversees the planning and execution of New Student Orientation.
• Supports new divisional Program Managers in getting acclimated with UC Berkeley Public Health academic policies and procedures.
• Co-leads bi-weekly Student Services Administration meetings to drive collaboration, alignment, and operational effectiveness.

Bargaining Unit Contract Compliance

• Serves as the primary liaison and strategic advisor for graduate student employee labor relations, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and university policies.
• Oversees student labor processes and cases, represents and makes decisions on behalf of the department in grievance matters, and provides guidance that balances institutional and employee needs.
• Represents the school on bargaining advisory teams, offering analysis and recommendations to support fair, consistent, and legally compliant labor practices.

Student Funding

• Develops, manages, and oversees the financial aid and fellowship strategy and implementation for Berkeley Public Health.
• Makes decisions regarding fellowship and other annual allocations across the academic divisions.
• Serves as a liaison with the central Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

Functional Management

• Provides analyses and understanding for complex budget, funding, financial, or academic data, systems, and resource projects, working directly with internal and external constituents, and providing guidance directly to the Dean and other members of senior leadership.
• Makes high level contacts of a sensitive nature, requiring discretion and diplomacy in order to negotiate with or persuade leadership to adopt the proposed solution or program/process recommendations.
• Leads and directs a wide variety of projects and follows through with all levels of staff and faculty inside and outside the school.

Policy and Process Development

• Develops and advocates solutions to organizational issues related to student services, including developing, implementing, and administering new systems, policies, processes, or programs.
• Researches, summarizes, and helps to ensure implementation of best practices in the student services and advising field.

Disabled Students' Program

• Guides and directs the planning and implementation of support services for our disabled student population, in coordination with the central Disabled Students' Program (DSP).

Student Recruitment

• Leads strategic recruitment initiatives to attract and enroll a highly qualified applicant pool by partnering with the in-residence admissions team in developing targeted outreach plans, cultivating relationships with prospective students and key partners, and representing the institution at recruitment events, presentations, and community engagement events.

Professional Development:

• Participates in workshops, trainings, and other professional development activities; may participate in committees, projects, and other service activities.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience providing student services support within higher education institution(s).
• Knowledge of student development theories, counseling techniques, and best practices in graduate and/or undergraduate student services.
• Understanding of legal and ethical issues related to student services, including student privacy and compliance.
• Knowledge of issues affecting students with disabilities.
• Understanding of graduate student funding sources, both internal and external to a department.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.
• Demonstrated skills in problem identification and resolution, sound judgment and decision-making, critical thinking/analysis, risk management, negotiation, creative problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to provide guidance and coaching of process and policies to individual employees and school leadership.
• Experience utilizing quantitative and qualitative data to identify areas in need of improvement.
• Experience with monitoring/assessing processes and carrying out process improvement efforts.
• Advanced knowledge of and ability to use data analysis and reporting tools for tracking student outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, specifically as it relates to communicating to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong data presentation skills.
• Outstanding attention to detail.
• Strong customer service orientation, including excellent interpersonal skills to be able to work effectively and to influence across the organization at all levels and with diverse populations, including faculty, academics, and staff.
• Demonstrated experience building collaborations.
• Proven political acumen in complex, multilayered organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively.
• Actively incorporates inclusive practices into all facets of work and leadership.
• Financial acumen.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, objectivity, sensitivity, discretion, professionalism, and exercise good judgment and tact.
• Self-starter; able to work independently, multitask effectively, and foster teamwork.
• Comfortable, flexible, and adaptable in a fast-moving, high-pressure, constantly shifting environment, with frequent interruptions and multiple priorities.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Google Collaboration Suite.
• Working knowledge of a student information management system and/or other related business software programs and systems, and/or the ability to learn.
• Knowledge of databases, with experience in data tracking and data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain cohesive, high-performing teams through excellent management of direct reports, and to achieve goals through subordinate staff.
• Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements covering graduate student employees within the UC system (e.g., Academic Student Employees, Graduate Student Researchers), and/or the ability to learn.
• Advanced understanding of the unique needs and challenges of students in a public health education environment.
• Advanced knowledge of UC Berkeley and/or UC Berkeley Public Health student services policies and procedures, and/or the ability to learn.
• Advanced project management skills.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training (Required).
• Master's degree in counseling, higher education, or related field, or 7+ years of experience (Preferred).
• Master's or doctoral degree in public health or related field (Preferred).

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website. Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $105,000.00-$117,000.00. The full pay scale for this job classification is $91,500.00-$168,900.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for full UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is eligible for up to 2 days/week remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 status under state or federal law.