Assistant Director of Strategic Programming

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

• How to Apply
• Troubleshooting
• Tips for Applicants
• FAQ's

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 11-16-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

UC Santa Cruz has an extraordinary history of excellence in the humanities and a promising future. In the Humanities Division, we are dedicated to producing interdisciplinary research, student learning, and public programming in ways that break new ground, address urgent questions, and speak to a diverse array of communities and concerns. Our division's nine departments and programs, with outstanding scholars and teachers who care deeply about our students, foster courses of study dedicated to global cultures, histories, languages, and literatures.

Our goals include:

Fostering research excellence
Creating career-ready humanities majors and providing meaningful humanities training for all UCSC students
Bringing the humanities to a broad range of public audiences

More information can be found at: https://humanities.ucsc.edu/employing-humanities/

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Director of Strategic Programs is a member of the Humanities Student Achievement Team and will manage programming and initiatives that support undergraduate student retention and career outcomes, while working collaboratively to execute the broader team and divisional goals. The Assistant Director will leverage their creativity and project management skills to successfully design and implement a retention strategy for the Humanities Division and its undergraduate majors and minors. The Assistant Director should have a theoretical understanding of historical trends and contemporary issues in humanities-aligned professional pathways, undergraduate career readiness programming, experiential learning, and current issues in higher education and student success.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Student Engagement and in close collaboration with the Assistant Director of Experiential Learning, this individual is responsible for the development and administration of division-wide programming for undergraduate students. The incumbent will be uniquely positioned to enhance the undergraduate experience for our majors/minors beyond the classroom and make an impact on the lives of students after graduation. As a member of the Humanities Student Achievement team, the incumbent will also collaborate to enact a vision, strategic direction, and accountability for related programming in support of campus initiatives (e.g. sense of belonging, student time to degree, development of professional and personal competencies, students' academic success within the university, closing equity gaps for historically marginalized students, and students' readiness for post-university trajectories).

The Assistant Director of Strategic Programs is responsible for advancing Divisional goals of Humanities undergraduate major and minor retention through programming, initiatives, and research and analysis of student engagement patterns and career outcomes. The incumbent will foster a Divisional ecosystem of career education and meaningful alumni connections. This professional serves as a direct liaison to students, administrators, campus partners like UCSC IRAPS and Career Success, faculty, and staff and collaboratively cultivates relationships with companies, organizations, alumni, and those related to diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Assistant Director of Strategic Programs creates educational materials, connections, and programming to help students from Humanities majors articulate the value of their degree, discover and prepare for career pathways, and build a community that propels their post-graduation aspirations.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $80,000 - $110,000/Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment with end date

Job End Date: 6/30/2028 with possibility of extension

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus / Hybrid

Union Representation: SV - Student Services & Advising Professionals

Job Code Classification: STDT ACAD SPEC 3 SV (005145)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

35% - Program Development and Administration

• Develop programming to support Humanities major and minor retention
• Develop and deliver the HumLaunch shadowing and mentorship program targeting early-career Humanities students and other programs and initiatives within the Employing Humanities initiative
• Support the Assistant Director of Experiential Learning in delivering experiential learning programs by providing career education content, advising on high-level program planning, and helping to facilitate cohort meetings.
• In collaboration with the Humanities Student Achievement team, academic advisors, and faculty, establish meaningful connections between students, industry, and alumni by implementing educational opportunities, networking events, industry panels, and other programming initiatives.
• Design and create e-learning content (tutorials, asynchronous Canvas modules, worksheets/guides, blended learning toolkits, audio and video content, website/blog text, case studies, etc.) that showcase the value of humanistic training in professional and community settings.
• Collect and analyze participation and engagement data of programs to assure quality and improve student engagement; prepare quarterly and annual reports as requested by Divisional Leadership.

30% - Campus, Community, and Industry Relationship Development and Management

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with alumni, employers, key organizations, and other external entities, in collaboration with colleagues internally and across UCSC.
• Initiate, promote, and steward these relationships to expand divisional programs, engagement opportunities, professional networks, mentoring, and recruitment of students.
• Collaborate with university partners including Institutional Research, Analytics, and Planning Support (IRAPS) to identify and collect relevant data for Divisional strategic planning.
• Cultivate and steward collaborative relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff as a consultant to the Division of Humanities, and other identified university partners such as UCSC Career Success.
• Facilitate strategic planning within and across the Division of Humanities to identify opportunities for programming and resources that support student retention.
• In collaboration with the Humanities Student Achievement team, develop and implement an annual strategic plan to support industry engagement, increasing alumni and employer participation within programs and recruiting efforts.

15% - Curricular Support

• Partner with Humanities faculty to support the development of curriculum that promotes the value of humanities training in career contexts.
• Partner with Humanities faculty and departments to support the development and offering of curriculum that promotes the career success of students through specialized, major-specific career pathways.
• Support the development of curricular experiential learning efforts in the division.

15% - Student Engagement and Career Outcomes

• Connect students to resources, industry, alumni, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Develop and execute targeted outreach plans to encourage student use of Career Success coaching and other resources.
• Provide career exploration support to help students identify relevant Employing Humanities opportunities
• Collect and analyze outcomes data to improve student retention and student engagement preparing quarterly and annual reports as requested
• Conduct survey analysis of Employing Humanities participants and Humanities undergraduates and report outcomes data to the Divisional leadership team.

5% - Continuous Benchmarking and University Representation

• Ensure continuous enhancements through local, regional, and national benchmarking.
• Update position-related skills by participating in appropriate professional development offerings throughout the year.
• Represent the Humanities Division and the Employing Humanities Initiative through active involvement and leadership in regional and national associations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Advanced knowledge in theoretical concepts of adult learning and career development. Knowledge on methodologies to enhance undergraduate career readiness and student success.
• Knowledge of a broad academic discipline or learning needs of a broad student category.
• Knowledge of various software applications to include career engagement and student information systems, word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets and databases.
• Multicultural competencies, knowledge and experience working and interacting effectively with diverse groups of staff, faculty, and student populations.
• Solid interpersonal skills for effective collaboration and problem solving with all levels of academia and staff.
• Problem solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to implement best practices in academic development and support, as well as cultivation and maintenance of faculty partnerships.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply policies and regulations in specific situations to analyze and solve organizational and operating problems related to student success.
• Ability to perform moderately complex tasks involving independent judgment, and ability to plan, coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement administrative or group decisions or recommendations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications for students, staff, and external agencies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience coordinating and facilitating career readiness and student success programming.
• Knowledge of research and theoretical models that influence the application and delivery of career advising and academic services (e.g., discipline specific, student-population specific).

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

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

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

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.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.