EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

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UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

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DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Since 2003, the University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS) has given students the extraordinary opportunity to live, learn, and intern in the state's capital. As UCCS settles into its new building mere steps from the Capitol, the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is excited to see UCCS fill that space, literally and figuratively.

To that end, we seek applications for the position of Executive Director of UCCS Academic Programs (with a planned start date on or before September 1, 2025). Reporting to the University of California Provost and Executive Vice President and the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of UC Davis, the new Executive Director of Academic Programs' overriding charge is to make UCCS a platform that draws UC students' and scholars' talent, energy, and expertise from campuses to the capital.

While the possibilities are limitless, and the path ahead will draw heavily on the new Executive Director's vision, success in this role means building new programs and partnerships, not to mention drawing broader UC student participation. We are looking for substantial enrollment growth, a natural reflection of the innovative imagination of the new director and the effort to build more intentional linkages with all of the campuses.

The Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley is poised to inaugurate a Master's Degree in Public Affairs in the Fall of 2025 at UCCS; the Executive Director will work with relevant administrators to support this exciting development, the first of what we hope will be a number of graduate programs in residence.

While it is anticipated that the selected candidate will be a current Senate faculty member at one of the ten University of California campuses, highly qualified individuals from outside the UC system are also encouraged to apply and will be fully considered.

Opportunity

We seek applications for the position of Executive Director of UCCS Academic Programs, to begin no later than September 2025. Reporting to the University of California Provost and Executive Vice President and the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of UC Davis, the Executive Director of Academic Programs will provide leadership for all components of academic programs available to UC undergraduate students and will lead an expanded program of internships designed to provide students with opportunities to contribute to problem solving in state agencies, legislative offices, non-profit organizations, and private sector firms, while completing challenging courses aligned to this objective.

The most important responsibility of the Executive Director will be to grow the undergraduate enrollment of this program, both during the academic year and summer. Working with the deans of schools and departments of public policy and related programs on the nine undergraduate campuses, the Executive Director will design and lead strategies that can result in a significant increase in undergraduate participation. These include outreach to, and consistent communication with, academic partners, as well as engagement with the Academic Senate to facilitate course credit for general education and major credit.

The Executive Director will also work collaboratively with the deans and directors of UC professional school programs to grow future graduate educational opportunities at UCCS. The Goldman School of Public Policy is poised to inaugurate a Master's Degree in Public Affairs in the Fall of 2025 at UCCS. We look forward to other possibilities like this which the Executive Director will be expected to encourage.

The appointment is for a four-year renewable term.

Essential qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications, experience, and professional characteristics:

• A UC Academic Senate member in good standing with tenure or security of employment OR a full professor, or academic credentials and scholarly distinction that would qualify the candidate to be appointable as a full professor who is a member of the UC Academic Senate.
• Research and teaching experience in public policy and/or related fields such as economics, political science, sociology, and/or public health.
• Interest in public scholarship and/or the application of basic and applied research to problems of significance to the state of California, the nation, and the international community.
• Strong scholarly and curriculum development credentials.
• Experience with UC shared governance.
• Commitment to strengthening ties between the UCCS program and the campuses, as well as commitment to increasing recruitment of students in all disciplines, particularly in science, arts, and humanities.
• Evidence of strong management and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence. Experience integrating such commitments into the workplace and classroom.
• Passion for the academic mission of UCCS and experiential learning for a broad spectrum of majors.
• Residence in the Sacramento/Davis area, and willingness to travel throughout the state on behalf of UCCS.
• Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
• At least five years of demonstrated leadership of administrative experience.

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with UC policies and practices with respect to academic courses and program development, faculty hiring, and assessment.
• Experience building and sustaining collaborative teams and/or networks.
• Experience in partnerships and networks involving more than one UC campus.
• Experience successfully working with and/or supervising staff in pursuit of common goals.
• Ability to build strong relationships with and between faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to "think big," run with nascent ideas where appropriate, and build coalitions across institutional boundaries within the university and between UC and external groups.
• Good business acumen and a taste for innovation that is fiscally sound.
• Ability to recognize and solve problems of varied kinds quickly and effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Office of the President, UC Davis, and advisory and governing boards that oversee academic programs, financial matters, and governance.
• Leadership skills and administrative experience, including program management, designing and/or managing curricular programs, overseeing a program budget, and dealing with student welfare issues.

This position is expected to be the primary focus of the Executive Director's work.

Leading UCCS will constitute the Executive Director's primary work during his/her time as Director, though we recognize UC faculty will have other commitments as well. Thus, the exact time commitment is negotiable (between 50-100% time) and can vary across the years.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Undergraduate teaching responsibilities within UCCS curriculum are expected to be an integral part of the role. In order to integrate this mission with the Executive Director's research, the time commitment may be adjusted between 50-100% time and can vary across the years.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is determined by the underlying academic appointment. A reasonable estimated annualized full-time salary range for this position is $175,000-$293,000 based on experience and accomplishments. Faculty administrators with less than a full-time appointment are normally compensated with stipends and/or additional summer compensation, consistent with policy.

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: Benefits of Belonging

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

How to Apply

To apply, please login to the UCOP job page at: Jobs at UCOP

Applicants are asked to submit a letter of application expressing their interest in the position, a CV, a list of three individuals who can speak to their qualifications. It is particularly helpful to the selection committee if candidates can comment on their commitments to their experience with removing barriers to success for UC's pluralistic community. Questions about the position should be directed to Ehsan Choudhry (Ehsan.Choudhry@ucop.edu). For full consideration, application materials should be submitted no later than April 25, 2025.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Background check process at UCOP

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal 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.
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EEO STATEMENT

The University of California, Office of the President, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. EEO/AA Employer UC Nondiscrimination Policy

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