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Director of Academic Initiatives
Position overview
Position title: Director of Academic InitiativesSalary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $103,422 - $183,790. The budgeted salary that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $103,422 - $183,790.
Application Window
Open date: March 5, 2025
Next review date: Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Summary of Position’s Responsibilities
Reporting to the Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts (hereinafter Dean), the Director of Academic Initiatives (hereinafter Director) assists in the innovative leadership of HFA and for the UCSB community. The director oversees academic and strategic planning, and program development within HFA, to help UC Santa Barbara meet the needs of its students and fulfill its mission as a public university. Importantly, the director works closely with the dean to bring a number of initiatives and projects in alignment with the dean’s goals, and to interface with campus constituents and stakeholders. The director works with the dean to pursue outside opportunities that enhance the teaching, research, and standing of HFA and the university writ large.
Detailed Responsibilities of the Position
Public Humanities
A major focus of this position is the public arts and humanities. HFA seeks a candidate who can represent the dean both internally and externally and advocate for the public arts and humanities. The dean’s engagement on a national stage, and the director’s involvement, will be guided by the pillars of HFA, with a commitment to public arts and humanities, racial justice and equity, digital arts and humanities, student scholarship, and wider community engagement.
Global Humanities
The director will help the dean develop international education and global perspectives through language programs, the Education Abroad Program, and international agreements and exchanges, articulating special opportunities and programs with departmental programs.
Cross-Divisional Minors
HFA goals include launching at least three interdisciplinary minors, among them, the Environmental Humanities Minor (EH Minor), which will include a gateway course and a capstone course; Health Humanities, and Legal Humanities. The director is expected to work with the Office of Undergraduate Education to oversee the minors and to manage the EH minor, networking with the UC community and also the larger EH community (in particular to help build the EH minor).
Strategic and Curricular Planning
HFA has strategic pillars around which it will develop its annual FTE plans and with which it will continue to build the strategic vision of the college. The director will work with the dean to continue to hone the pillars and strategic planning for HFA and also to support HFA’s curricular planning, given the dropping enrollments of liberal arts on a national stage. The growth of HFA’s team, including Dean’s Faculty Fellows, will be a key piece of the director’s position, to facilitate the integration of the HFA Associate Deans, faculty, Dean’s Faculty Fellows, and the larger community as one cohesive unit with a common goal. The director will work with the dean, associate deans and HFA staff to oversee the division’s involvement with Academic Program Review, helping to bring together the goals of FTE planning, APR’s outcomes, and the division’s own vision for its future.
Pedagogy and Online Opportunities
HFA has an opportunity to recruit faculty and build its online presence with both UC Online and UCSB online education. With the approval of the dean, the director may chose to teach one to two courses annually under the separate Educator Without Salary appointment title. Working with Summer Sessions and PACE, HFA needs a strategic leader to help create a plan for a variety of courses of interest.
Research and Grant Opportunities
The dean and the director will work with faculty both in HFA and HFA-adjacent departments and divisions to help develop grants and research opportunities for the University and for HFA, specifically.
The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.
Qualifications
● Ph.D.
● A minimum of ten years of experience in an academic setting in a senior-level position of administration and collaboration
● 10 years of teaching and research experience at the university level
● Grant writing experience
● Superior verbal and written communication skills
● Attention to detail and excellent capacity to keep track of multiple projects with competing deadlines
● Exceptional organizational and planning skills
● Demonstrated ability to form successful relations with national stakeholders and leaders, faculty, staff, and campus departments/units
● Ability to work independently and oversee collaborations when needed
● Ability to thrive under fast-paced and changing working conditions
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service.
(Optional)
- 3 required (contact information only)
The Chair of the Search Committee will contact the references of top candidate.
Help contact: tiffany_sabado@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
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 or discrimination, dishonesty or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
The University of California 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. For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.