Director of Student Services (0322U) - #84383

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Departmental Overview

The Departments of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB), Integrative Biology (IB) and Neuroscience (NEU) are among the largest academic departments at UC Berkeley. By several measures (including number of faculty and students, budget, and assigned square feet), these departments are larger than many UCB colleges and schools. The three departments represent over 186 faculty FTE (including Adjuncts, Professors of the Graduate School, active emeriti and 21 HHMI professors); 140 Researchers and Specialists; 185 post-doctoral researchers; 350 graduate students; 2,100 undergraduate students; 60 department staff members; and total state and extramural payroll of approximately 1,450 (including Graduate Student Instructors, Graduate Student Researchers and research staff). Financial resources include approximately $90M in annual extramural funding (which accounts for over half of the total sponsored research awards in the College of Letters & Science) and over $91M other fund sources. Department personnel are currently housed in eight buildings located in three widely separated parts of the campus.

Position Summary

The Director of Student Services independently manages comprehensive student services for the Integrative Biology, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Neuroscience departments, balancing strategic planning with operational oversight for approximately 350 graduate students and 2,100 undergraduate majors. The position directs academic advising, curriculum planning, and revenue programs while administering $17M in budgets and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university regulations. The Director oversees a student services team of 16.0 FTE, resolves escalated student cases requiring expert judgment, provides strategic guidance to department chairs on complex curriculum and budget decisions, and serves as primary advocate for student success.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 03/03/2026.

Responsibilities

Manage Student Services Programs

• Directs the full scope of undergraduate and graduate student services, academic program support, curriculum planning, course scheduling, and concurrent enrollment.
• Supervises 7.0 FTE direct reports (total 16.0 FTE in student services) while fostering collaborative, team-oriented work environments.
• Makes decisions on performance, salary, hiring, and other human resources matters for managed staff.
• Ensures staff have necessary skills and resources, and provides mentorship through training, evaluation, and professional development opportunities.
• Effectively balances dual roles of student advocate and department representative, promoting student success while enforcing policies that protect the integrity of the Integrative Biology (IB), Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB), and Neuroscience (NEU) degrees.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of student services functions; develops strategic plans for program growth, resource allocation, and goal-setting; and implements changes to improve service delivery to organizational management, faculty, and students.
• Provides direction to professional student services advisors on complex issues.
• Represents the student services units to the campus community and relevant external constituencies.
• Identifies critical issues and recommends innovative solutions to the Director of Administration & Operations.
• Maintains strict confidentiality in accordance with FERPA regulations and professional ethics standards.

Graduate Student Services

• Provides oversight of academic support services for the IB, MCB, NEU Ph.D. and Master of Biotechnology programs (~350 graduate students in total) that encompasses advising, admissions, recruitment, orientation, GSI assignments, graduate student funding, and administration and renewals for 4 NIH federal training grants (~$3.65M annual).
• Provides direct supervision to Graduate Program Managers (4.0 FTE) supporting Ph.D. and Master's programs with student issues requiring comprehensive knowledge of academic advising, and a Graduate Finance Specialist (1.0 FTE) who coordinates funding packages for each graduate student using federal, university, and extramural funds.

Undergraduate Student Services

• Supervises and provides direction to the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Advising. The Assistant Director is responsible for developing, interpreting, and administering undergraduate student academic programs for the IB, MCB, and NEU Departments (~2,100 declared majors in total); overseeing organization of advising functions; and supervising and providing direction to the student academic advisors (6.0 FTE) on complex and/or precedent-setting issues.

Graduate Program Administration & Compliance

• Anticipates policy impacts and provides strategic guidance to staff and department leadership.
• Serves as primary liaison with department faculty including Department Chairs, Head Graduate Advisors, Admissions Chairs, and Training Grant Program Directors.
• Orients new faculty on graduate committees and advises on policies and procedures.
• Handles escalated and highly sensitive student cases requiring expert judgment and conflict resolution, collaborating closely with Head Graduate Advisors and Graduate Program Managers to navigate academic, personal, and policy-related issues.
• Analyzes student academic needs, enrollment trends, program participation, and degree progress. Reviews and recommends policy changes, implements approved changes, and communicates updates to faculty, students, staff, and campus units.
• Provides policy guidance to Graduate Program Managers who serve on Graduate Affairs Committees responsible for oversight and development of graduate programs and services.
• Oversees graduate student academic progress, compliance with faculty committee procedures (qualifying examinations, thesis committee meetings), and verification of degree completion eligibility.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, university regulations, and collective bargaining agreements governing graduate student funding and appointments (GSIs and GSRs). Monitors union policy adherence and addresses grievances in partnership with departmental leadership and Employee & Labor Relations.

Financial Administration & Oversight

• Plans, develops, and manages student services program budgets, funding requests, and expenditure reporting.
• Administers an annual budget of approximately $17M across multiple program budgets, including 4 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Grants, University fellowships and block grants, endowments, private/corporate donations, departmental funds, and extramural fellowships.

• Works directly with the Graduate Finance Analyst to administer NIH Training Grants and with Program Directors to support compliance with annual reporting, determine use of

  Training Related Expenses, and resolve issues pertaining to grant administration.

• Determines resource allocation to achieve program goals and objectives.
• Ensures funds are awarded and disbursed in compliance with federal, state, university, union, agency, and corporation policies and regulations, and that resources maximize benefit to students and program objectives.
• Evaluates and advises on impacts to graduate funding when new policies are being proposed or implemented.

Curriculum Planning

• Supervises the Assistant Director of Curriculum Management, who directs and manages the full range of course planning and support services for the 3 departments.
• Provides strategic oversight of undergraduate and graduate curriculum planning, budgeting, and evaluation for the IB, MCB, and NEU departments.
• Guides process improvements to address the needs of a large and growing curriculum and oversees key functional areas including curriculum planning and evaluation, enrollment and scheduling management, student employee hiring, and revenue program planning for summer session and concurrent enrollment.

TAS Budget Administration

• Coordinates academic planning data for the IB, MCB, and NEU Temporary Academic Support (TAS) budgets (totaling $10.6M) through collaboration with Curriculum Planners, Academic Personnel, Finance, and Curriculum Committee Chairs.
• Analyzes trends in enrollment growth, prospective and declared majors to provide consultative guidance to IB, MCB, and NEU Department Chairs on complex curriculum planning decisions.
• Serves as primary advisor to department leadership on budget implications for TAS decisions and recommends strategic solutions to address budgetary constraints.

Revenue Program Planning (Summer Sessions & Concurrent Enrollment)

• Provides strategic oversight of revenue-generating academic programs, including Summer Sessions and Concurrent Enrollment for international students.
• Directs Summer Sessions curriculum planning, ensuring appropriate course offerings, scheduling, and hiring of graduate student instructors and readers. Coordinates with Academic Personnel on lecturer hiring needs.
• Performs cost profitability analyses to maximize revenue generation while balancing GSI and Reader allocations with budget availability.
• Guides Concurrent Enrollment program strategy, policy development, and expansion. Provides dotted-line supervision to the Program Coordinator who oversees day-to-day operations including student advising, university partnerships, and student recruitment.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of advising and counseling techniques, with experience or ability to serve as student-centered advisor.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and motivate staff while fostering collaborative, positive work environments and cultivating success in changeable conditions.
• Supervisory experience in hiring, performance management, compensation decisions, professional development, and progressive discipline.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, political acumen, tact, and discretion in applying policies and handling urgent or confidential situations with integrity and sensitivity.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills with social perceptiveness to understand others' reactions and motivations.
• Flexibility and initiative in monitoring, assessing, and implementing service improvements.
• Experience with budget planning and administration across multiple funding sources.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills for working effectively with variety constituencies including students, faculty, and staff from various cultures and backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking effectiveness.
• Ability to develop innovative ideas and persuade others.
• Proficiency with (or demonstrated ability to learn) University computer application programs, student information and financial systems.
• Knowledge of and/or can quickly learn University principles and procedures for risk assessment and evaluation.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

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 salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $100,000.00 - $145,000.00.

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

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 20% hybrid work. 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

SB 791 and AB 810 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

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.