Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Continuing and Professional Education

Within UC Davis, the Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) is a $75M self-supporting academic division reporting to the Provost. The CPE team includes approximately 200 academic and professional staff who collectively register 80,000 enrollments from all 50 states and more than 60 countries each year. As the lifelong learning arm of the campus, CPE maintains one of the university's most extensive educational portfolios, offering academic and non-credit professional certificates, open-enrollment programs, online and hybrid programs, on-campus programs for international students, contract programs for government and corporate clients, conferences, and workforce-aligned boot camps. CPE plays a critical role in advancing the university's outreach mission in service of non-traditional adult learners and serves as an innovation hub to pioneer academic and delivery models that may be scaled across the campus.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs provides senior academic leadership and administrative oversight for academic program development, campus partnerships, advancement of online and hybrid education, enrollment alignment, and comprehensive student services within CPE. This is a highly visible leadership role with divisional and campus-wide impact.

The Associate Dean engages academic colleges and departments in the development, expansion, and delivery of CPE programs. In collaboration with faculty, department chairs, deans, Graduate Studies, and Academic Senate leadership, the Associate Dean advances innovative academic offerings that align disciplinary expertise with workforce and community needs while preserving academic integrity and quality standards. The Associate Dean leads the academic program development lifecycle and oversees student affairs operations to ensure a cohesive, high-quality, and learner-centered experience. The position supervises senior managers and professional staff across multiple functional areas and contributes substantively to divisional planning and policy.

Primary accountabilities include advancement of a high-quality, workforce-aligned academic portfolio; growth in enrollment and student success outcomes; strengthening of campus academic partnerships; expansion of online education; active participation in academic governance; and ensuring academic quality, compliance, and sustainability. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs is a core member of the Senior Leadership Team and is expected to contribute actively to division-wide leadership, strategy, and decision-making. Success in this role requires strong partnership with the Dean and peers, a willingness to engage beyond functional boundaries, and a commitment to shared ownership of outcomes that advance the mission, culture, and long-term success of Continuing and Professional Education.

CONTINUING EDUCATOR GENERAL FUNCTIONS:

Academic Planning & Curriculum Development / Assessing Audience Needs (35%)

* Lead the development of individual courses and comprehensive academic programs designed for adult learners.

* Innovate new program models that integrate subject matter expertise with online, hybrid, and scalable delivery approaches.

* Direct the academic program development lifecycle, including market research, needs assessment, concept design, curricular alignment, partnership cultivation, and academic approvals.

* Engage academic colleges and departments to co-develop programs that align campus disciplinary strengths with workforce and community needs.

* Negotiate and formalize academic partnership agreements that preserve academic integrity and promote mutual goals.

* Advance online and hybrid education initiatives in collaboration with campus academic units.

* Apply evaluative techniques, learning analytics, and assessment strategies to maintain standards of excellence associated with the University of California.

* Expand educational access for diverse and underserved learner populations.

* Assess continuing education demand using market research, enrollment data, predictive modeling, and labor market analytics.

* Develop and implement a long-range academic portfolio strategy aligned with institutional priorities.

* Cultivate networks in industry, community, government, and academic groups to inform program direction and growth.

Program Administration / Management / Marketing (35%)

* Build and sustain effective working relationships with faculty, deans, department chairs, Academic Senate committees, industry partners, external stakeholders, instructors, and adult learners.

* Exercise entrepreneurial and negotiation skills to achieve program growth and financial sustainability.

* Oversee integrated enrollment management strategies that support academic portfolio objectives.

* Align marketing efforts to ensure accurate representation and effective promotion of academic offerings.

* Lead student affairs functions, including advising, registrar operations, certification processes, financial aid compliance, veterans services, and career services.

* Develop and manage comprehensive program and departmental budgets to ensure full cost recovery and financial health.

* Analyze financial performance data and implement corrective strategies to address budget variances.

* Ensure compliance with federal, state, and University policies and procedures, including FERPA, ADA, accreditation standards, Title IV, state authorization, and data security.

* Maintain adherence to program planning and implementation timelines.

* Communicate effectively in writing and orally to promote University programs and represent CPE within academic governance settings.

* Engage actively in divisional forums, committees, councils, and projects, contributing substantively to shared goals.

* Chair or facilitate cross-functional and divisional initiatives as appropriate.

Human Resource Management and Development (20%)

* Supervise senior managers and professional staff across academic and student affairs functions.

* Communicate goals, expectations, and performance standards clearly and consistently.

* Address personnel matters constructively and manage performance issues in a timely and professional manner.

* Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion goals within divisional practices.

* Foster professional development and career growth opportunities for staff.

* Build high-performing teams aligned with UC Davis Principles of Community.

Professional Competence and Growth (5%)

* Maintain and expand expertise in continuing and professional education and online learning.

* Participate actively in professional associations and leadership forums.

* Engage in scholarly or professional activities that enhance effectiveness and broaden administrative and academic leadership capacity.

* Pursue ongoing professional development to strengthen divisional impact.

Public Service / Leadership (5%)

* Represent the Division on Academic Senate committees and campus governance bodies as assigned.

* Contribute substantively to campus committees and collaborative initiatives.

* Provide leadership as chair or facilitator of campus projects when appropriate.

* Maintain external professional visibility through advisory roles, presentations, consultant work, or service to professional organizations.

* Develop and sustain positive working relationships with industry, community, and government groups.

APPOINTMENT:

This is a full-time academic term appointment with an end date, eligible for reappointment. The University will not offer sponsorship for this position. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States.

BENEFITS:

UC Davis provides 14 paid holidays, 24 days accrued vacation and 12 days accrued sick leave. Position eligible for full UC Davis benefits/retirement package.

Division: https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/

Terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., MBA or equivalent) in education, higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related discipline.

Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in higher education administration, with expertise in marketing, enrollment management, learner support services and program development.

Minimum 10 years of Demonstrated supervisory and organizational leadership experience, including managing managers and professional staff, setting strategic direction, and fostering high-performing teams.

Demonstrated experience working with faculty and academic governance structures, including collaboration with deans, department chairs, and Academic Senate or equivalent bodies on curriculum development and program approval processes.

Proven ability to lead academic program development and portfolio management, including needs assessment, curriculum design, and implementation of in-person, online, and hybrid programs.

Experience overseeing student services functions such as advising, enrollment services, registrar operations, financial aid compliance, or student success initiatives.

Experience with budget development and financial management, including monitoring revenue and expenses, interpreting financial reports, and ensuring program sustainability or cost recovery.

Knowledge of and experience with higher education compliance requirements, including FERPA, ADA, accreditation standards, Title IV, and other applicable federal and state regulations.

Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively represent programs and initiatives to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and academic governance bodies.

Experience in a University of California system or comparable R1 institution.

Experience leading online and hybrid education strategy at scale.

Familiarity with continuing education revenue models and entrepreneurial program development.

Experience with market research, workforce alignment, and non-traditional learner populations.

Thorough understanding of the needs of post-traditional learners, and evidence of innovative and effective practices in adult and online education

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.
• 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

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

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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 for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

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