Assistant Director, Program Operations - 133249

Seventh College is one of UC San Diego's eight undergraduate colleges. The College's theme, "A Changing Planet", encompasses a broad range of pressing global issues such as the climate crisis, mass migration, and rapid cultural and technological change. The goal of Seventh College is to help students acquire the skills needed to confront these challenges. Building upon their expertise in their major field of study, students are encouraged to approach large-scale, global problems from an interdisciplinary perspective and are given numerous opportunities to gain critical academic and job market skills through project-based learning and research. The staff provide programs and services that support this academic mission by enhancing the educational, personal, cultural, and social development of students.

The Seventh College Synthesis Program is Seventh College's core academic program. It is required for all Seventh College students and enrolls roughly 3,500 per year. From both a pedagogical and administrative standpoint, the Synthesis Program functions as two interconnected programs in one. The first program is a two-course writing-intensive sequence that asks students to deconstruct the tools of academic and public discourse in order to form strategies for addressing the planet's intersecting local and global ecological, socioeconomic, and political changes. The second program is a collection of 40-45 unique upper-division project-based courses, each with its own instructor and theme, offered under the umbrella of Synthesis 100 in collaboration with a broad range of campus and community partners. Students in the varied offerings of Synthesis 100 work in interdisciplinary teams to carry out a diverse array of self-directed projects each aimed at addressing a different challenge posed by our changing planet. Collectively the Synthesis Program courses satisfy the University of California writing requirements for undergraduates and ensure that Seventh College students learn the skills needed to be engaged citizens on a changing planet.

Under the direction of the Director of the Seventh College Synthesis Program, the Assistant Director serves as the administrative nexus for the Synthesis Program's comprehensive project-based learning program, which aims to give students from a broad range of majors with varying levels of academic preparation the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to envision, design, and implement concrete solutions to our planet's most pressing challenges. Working independently, the Assistant Director uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of analytical practices, policies and procedures to research, analyze and develop solutions to a wide range of issues related to the development and implementation of approximately 400 interdisciplinary student-team projects a year that are carried out in collaboration with a wide range of campus and community partners.

During the Academic year and Summer months, this position may provide work direction to the Synthesis Program Coordinator. In addition, this position supervises student interns in the Synthesis Program.

• Please submit a cover letter along with a resume for a complete application.

• Experience with project management processes and fundamentals in a College/University setting.

• Knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Demonstrates the ability to provide comprehensive recommendations and solutions that address project needs with tact, diplomacy, flexibility, and cultural humility.

• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.

• Analytical / problem-solving skills. Exceptional organizational skills and proven ability to recognize potential problems, independently resolve problems, communicate higher level problems to supervisor/PIs, evaluate and suggest solutions and recommendations, and develop and initiate plans to complete goals and assignments efficiently and effectively.

• Strong skills in analyzing, researching and synthesizing large amounts of data for preparing sound and relevant proposals / analyses.

• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.

• Strong policy analysis techniques.

• Demonstrated initiative, creativity, and ability to work effectively, both independently and in a team environment, to follow through with superior attention to detail, and to complete tasks in a timely manner by a specified deadline.

• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines

• A commitment to equity and to ensuring the success of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

• Multicultural competencies, knowledge and experience working and interacting effectively with diverse groups of staff, faculty, and student populations. Experience working with diverse populations. Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create an environment that supports and embraces diversity.

• Background Check required.

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