California State University
Executive Director, Belonging and Engagement Strategies
California State University, San Jose, California, United States, 95199
Job Summary
The Executive Director (ED) of Belonging and Engagement Strategies leads cluster-wide initiatives focused on student engagement, student success, and belonging. Reporting to the AVP for Student Equity and Belonging, the ED provides strategy and support for the Student Equity and Belonging team, develops and implements high-impact programs and collaborations, and oversees a portfolio of belonging and engagement programs. Units include Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Guardian Scholars, TRIO Programs (SSS/ASPIRE and McNair), and Global Programs and Services (International Student Scholar Services and Study Abroad). The ED drives strategic priorities, resource analysis, and outreach, fosters campus collaborations, and supervises Senior Director(s) and Directors to deliver data-driven, high-impact services aligned with student success and belonging. The ED champions cross-campus partnerships, coordinates initiatives, and ensures alignment with institutional goals while developing and guiding a team toward effective, holistic student experiences.
Core Responsibilities
Data-driven strategy and innovation to respond to higher education trends and promote student-ready, transformative practices. Lead operations across multiple funding streams and manage programmatic activities within the portfolio. Foster cluster, cross-divisional, institutional, and external partnerships to engage SJSU’s student equity and belonging offices, Student Affairs collaborators, and community partners. Develop people and teams across multiple programs and units through coaching and leadership. Apply belonging, leadership, and engagement strategies (co-curricular and integrated) to support student success from onboarding through graduation and beyond. Oversee budget (nearly $5 million) and resource allocation, supervise staff, secure external funding (grants, sponsorships), and ensure fiscal stewardship to maximize student retention and success outcomes. Key Responsibilities
Lead strategy and vision for program management, HR, resource allocation, assessment, policy development, and processes for belonging and global programs (EOP, Guardian Scholars, TRIO, and Global Programs and Services). Supervise and coach managers and financial analysts; manage performance, professional development, payroll, and related personnel decisions. Develop annual operational plans, refine area goals, KPIs, and activities aligned with cluster and divisional strategy. Provide executive oversight for operations, including leadership and budget management of a multi-faceted unit. Use data insights to inform policy, resource allocation, and strategic planning to advance equity, inclusion, and student success. Lead integrative and co-curricular opportunities in collaboration with campus partners and divisional leadership. Lead continuous improvement efforts to expand the reach and impact of student equity and belonging initiatives. Build and maintain partnerships with faculty, staff, and external organizations to create a seamless student experience. Develop partnerships that foster inclusive, high-impact educational experiences, global engagement, and intercultural competencies. Ensure transparent communication and equitable resource distribution across programs, prioritizing high-impact, sustainable initiatives that advance engagement and belonging. Collaborate with resource and operations leads to produce and adhere to a yearly budget plan. Manage multiple budget types (general funds, student fees, revenue, grants). Oversee development of financial reports, grant documentation, and assessment summaries to demonstrate stewardship and impact. Build financial and operational capacity of Directors/Senior Directors through guidance on fiscal systems, budgeting, and procurement to strengthen accountability and data-informed decision-making. Provide strategic direction for developing and implementing a comprehensive data and assessment strategy; partner with Institutional Research, Data Analytics, and campus stakeholders to develop dashboards tracking program performance and equity impact. Oversee ongoing program development using assessment data to stay current and responsive to student needs and trends. Promote data literacy among staff with training and tools for evidence-based practices. Lead department assessment and reporting to evaluate impact of services and programs. Foster an inclusive, high-performing, and innovative culture; oversee all aspects of people and team development, including recruitment, training, supervision, mentoring, and performance evaluation. Lead, coach, and supervise a team of professional staff to maintain a collaborative and innovative work environment. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Commitment to an inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents. Professional and respectful communication with constituents. Qualitative and quantitative research skills to generate insights on needs, performance, belonging, engagement, and student success. Ability to analyze information and develop action plans for belonging, engagement, and student success. Application of belonging, development, and retention theories to services. Cultural humility and education theory to promote inclusion in programs. Ability to develop and implement complex operational plans and manage multiple budget types. Ability to generate funding from diverse sources and develop grants/MOUs. Ability to engage strategic partners inside and outside the university. Excellent written, multimedia, and public speaking communication for diverse audiences. Ability to engage senior leadership and articulate the value of belonging, engagement, and global services. Ability to build strong working relationships and influence staff, peers, faculty, and external stakeholders. Experience managing budgets in a complex fiscal environment and vendor relationships. Knowledge of FERPA and student data management best practices. Ability to implement operational plans with staff in a fast-paced environment; multi-task and prioritize. Proficiency with Word, Excel, Google, Chrome, and related tools. Ability to work independently with high attention to detail and meet deadlines; maintain confidentiality. Ability to work evenings and weekends. Professional and respectful communication with constituents. Required Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field, or equivalent experience. Five years of progressively responsible leadership in higher education administration or related field. Experience supervising professional staff and building teams. Experience delivering presentations. Experience working with historically underrepresented student populations and diverse backgrounds. Experience with data collection and assessment reporting. Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate degree in Higher Education, Educational Administration, or related field. Experience in the California State University system or another large public higher education system. Direct experience with major systems implementation or multi-phase optimization projects. 6-8 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience in higher education. Experience developing and implementing a student success and retention framework. Experience budgeting and forecasting. Experience working with at-promise student populations and maximizing access to higher education and student success. Experience building strong internal university partnerships. Experience with college student development theory and applying frameworks to student programs. Experience implementing data-driven approaches to capture program impact. Compensation
Classification: Administrator III Anticipated Hiring Range: $12,852/month - $14,746/month CSU Salary Range: $6,891/month - $22,119/month The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. SJSU offers a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of base salary. For more information, see the Employee Benefits Summary (text unavailable). Application Procedure
Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents: Resume Letter of Interest All applicants must apply within the specified period: January 22, 2026 through February 8, 2026. The position is open until filled; applications received after screening has begun may be considered at the university’s discretion. Contact Information
University Personnel jobs@sjsu.edu 408-924-2252 Equal Employment Statement
San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This policy applies to students, faculty, staff, and university programs and activities. Reasonable accommodation is provided for applicants with disabilities. All employees are mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083. Incumbent must promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX incident to the Title IX Office and report discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
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The Executive Director (ED) of Belonging and Engagement Strategies leads cluster-wide initiatives focused on student engagement, student success, and belonging. Reporting to the AVP for Student Equity and Belonging, the ED provides strategy and support for the Student Equity and Belonging team, develops and implements high-impact programs and collaborations, and oversees a portfolio of belonging and engagement programs. Units include Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Guardian Scholars, TRIO Programs (SSS/ASPIRE and McNair), and Global Programs and Services (International Student Scholar Services and Study Abroad). The ED drives strategic priorities, resource analysis, and outreach, fosters campus collaborations, and supervises Senior Director(s) and Directors to deliver data-driven, high-impact services aligned with student success and belonging. The ED champions cross-campus partnerships, coordinates initiatives, and ensures alignment with institutional goals while developing and guiding a team toward effective, holistic student experiences.
Core Responsibilities
Data-driven strategy and innovation to respond to higher education trends and promote student-ready, transformative practices. Lead operations across multiple funding streams and manage programmatic activities within the portfolio. Foster cluster, cross-divisional, institutional, and external partnerships to engage SJSU’s student equity and belonging offices, Student Affairs collaborators, and community partners. Develop people and teams across multiple programs and units through coaching and leadership. Apply belonging, leadership, and engagement strategies (co-curricular and integrated) to support student success from onboarding through graduation and beyond. Oversee budget (nearly $5 million) and resource allocation, supervise staff, secure external funding (grants, sponsorships), and ensure fiscal stewardship to maximize student retention and success outcomes. Key Responsibilities
Lead strategy and vision for program management, HR, resource allocation, assessment, policy development, and processes for belonging and global programs (EOP, Guardian Scholars, TRIO, and Global Programs and Services). Supervise and coach managers and financial analysts; manage performance, professional development, payroll, and related personnel decisions. Develop annual operational plans, refine area goals, KPIs, and activities aligned with cluster and divisional strategy. Provide executive oversight for operations, including leadership and budget management of a multi-faceted unit. Use data insights to inform policy, resource allocation, and strategic planning to advance equity, inclusion, and student success. Lead integrative and co-curricular opportunities in collaboration with campus partners and divisional leadership. Lead continuous improvement efforts to expand the reach and impact of student equity and belonging initiatives. Build and maintain partnerships with faculty, staff, and external organizations to create a seamless student experience. Develop partnerships that foster inclusive, high-impact educational experiences, global engagement, and intercultural competencies. Ensure transparent communication and equitable resource distribution across programs, prioritizing high-impact, sustainable initiatives that advance engagement and belonging. Collaborate with resource and operations leads to produce and adhere to a yearly budget plan. Manage multiple budget types (general funds, student fees, revenue, grants). Oversee development of financial reports, grant documentation, and assessment summaries to demonstrate stewardship and impact. Build financial and operational capacity of Directors/Senior Directors through guidance on fiscal systems, budgeting, and procurement to strengthen accountability and data-informed decision-making. Provide strategic direction for developing and implementing a comprehensive data and assessment strategy; partner with Institutional Research, Data Analytics, and campus stakeholders to develop dashboards tracking program performance and equity impact. Oversee ongoing program development using assessment data to stay current and responsive to student needs and trends. Promote data literacy among staff with training and tools for evidence-based practices. Lead department assessment and reporting to evaluate impact of services and programs. Foster an inclusive, high-performing, and innovative culture; oversee all aspects of people and team development, including recruitment, training, supervision, mentoring, and performance evaluation. Lead, coach, and supervise a team of professional staff to maintain a collaborative and innovative work environment. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Commitment to an inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents. Professional and respectful communication with constituents. Qualitative and quantitative research skills to generate insights on needs, performance, belonging, engagement, and student success. Ability to analyze information and develop action plans for belonging, engagement, and student success. Application of belonging, development, and retention theories to services. Cultural humility and education theory to promote inclusion in programs. Ability to develop and implement complex operational plans and manage multiple budget types. Ability to generate funding from diverse sources and develop grants/MOUs. Ability to engage strategic partners inside and outside the university. Excellent written, multimedia, and public speaking communication for diverse audiences. Ability to engage senior leadership and articulate the value of belonging, engagement, and global services. Ability to build strong working relationships and influence staff, peers, faculty, and external stakeholders. Experience managing budgets in a complex fiscal environment and vendor relationships. Knowledge of FERPA and student data management best practices. Ability to implement operational plans with staff in a fast-paced environment; multi-task and prioritize. Proficiency with Word, Excel, Google, Chrome, and related tools. Ability to work independently with high attention to detail and meet deadlines; maintain confidentiality. Ability to work evenings and weekends. Professional and respectful communication with constituents. Required Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field, or equivalent experience. Five years of progressively responsible leadership in higher education administration or related field. Experience supervising professional staff and building teams. Experience delivering presentations. Experience working with historically underrepresented student populations and diverse backgrounds. Experience with data collection and assessment reporting. Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate degree in Higher Education, Educational Administration, or related field. Experience in the California State University system or another large public higher education system. Direct experience with major systems implementation or multi-phase optimization projects. 6-8 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience in higher education. Experience developing and implementing a student success and retention framework. Experience budgeting and forecasting. Experience working with at-promise student populations and maximizing access to higher education and student success. Experience building strong internal university partnerships. Experience with college student development theory and applying frameworks to student programs. Experience implementing data-driven approaches to capture program impact. Compensation
Classification: Administrator III Anticipated Hiring Range: $12,852/month - $14,746/month CSU Salary Range: $6,891/month - $22,119/month The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. SJSU offers a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of base salary. For more information, see the Employee Benefits Summary (text unavailable). Application Procedure
Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents: Resume Letter of Interest All applicants must apply within the specified period: January 22, 2026 through February 8, 2026. The position is open until filled; applications received after screening has begun may be considered at the university’s discretion. Contact Information
University Personnel jobs@sjsu.edu 408-924-2252 Equal Employment Statement
San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This policy applies to students, faculty, staff, and university programs and activities. Reasonable accommodation is provided for applicants with disabilities. All employees are mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083. Incumbent must promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX incident to the Title IX Office and report discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
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