Career Center

Executive Director

University-Student Union at California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Los Angeles is a comprehensive urban institution serving a diverse learning community of over 24,000 students, committed to excellence in education, community engagement, cultural awareness, and social responsibility. As a premier institution within the 23-campus California State University system, Cal State Los Angeles fosters an outstanding teaching and learning experience in a rich multicultural/multiethnic environment. The University-Student Union plays an integral role in enhancing this experience through a myriad of extra-curricular and co-curricular programming and activities. The University-Student Union has a student fee-based annual operating budget of $7.7M, 33 full-time employees, 100+ graduate/undergraduate student employees, and 100,000 square feet of facilities and operations.

The Position

Reporting to a student-majority Board of Directors with a fiduciary responsibility to the University Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with a dotted line reporting relationship to the Vice President for Student Life, the Executive Director of the University-Student Union is responsible for the overall administration and leadership of a dynamic student-chartered enterprise serving the university community and focused on promoting student success and enhancing student leadership. Responsibilities include formulating the vision and strategic direction for student life and the University-Student Union (U-SU) in accord with the University's Strategic Plan; personnel management and training; and cultivating programs, activities, and services that promote the U-SU core values: Inclusiveness, Growth, Empowerment, Innovation, Service-Oriented Leadership and Teamwork. This position directs all U-SU operations and facilities and oversees a variety of student programs and activities including the Center for Student Involvement, the Cross-Cultural Centers, the Recreation Fitness Center, Graphics (creative media and publications), and provides support for the annual student leader elections. The executive director strives continuously to support and encourage student involvement, community engagement, student leadership, and development and must strategically leverage the revenue potential of business services, meeting and conferencing facilities, contracted food service, and other revenue-generating enterprises to grow and develop these important co-curricular activities. In addition, this position works closely with the U-SU Board of Directors, University leadership, and other appropriate campus and community stakeholders on matters of policy, programming, assessment, student activities, and public relations.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a master's degree and significant progressively responsible professional experience within a large, multifaceted student organization. Candidates should have experience working with a large, diverse student, faculty, and staff population; an understanding of best practices and current trends as related to student concerns and higher education administration; experience working with a student-majority governing board, advisory councils, or alumni groups; and the ability to integrate the co-curricular student experience in a complex organization. The incumbent will also possess strong organizational skills, including the ability to plan strategically; experience with budget planning, fiscal oversight, and resource allocation; an understanding of student development and engagement; excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills; knowledge of contract food services; experience with facility management; experience in student programming; experience in personnel management including supervision of staff and employee development; a commitment to diversity and social justice with the ability to create a department which is inclusive and accessible; demonstrated passion for enhancing the student experience; the ability to write proposals, reports, and make presentations; and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. The incumbent must have a demonstrated ability and/or interest in working in a multicultural/multiethnic environment. A background check (including a criminal record check) must be completed satisfactorily for an employment offer to remain valid. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current employees who apply for the position required. The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment. 

About University-Student Union at California State University, Los Angeles

About the University-Student Union at Cal State LA The University-Student Union (U-SU) first opened its doors in 1976 and celebrated the grand opening of the current 91,000-square-foot+ facility in 2009. Today’s Cal State Los Angeles University-Student Union serves over 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Thirty-three full-time staff and 100+ undergraduate/undergraduate student employees work together to ensure that U-SU offers outstanding programs and services for student scholars and the campus community. The Cal State LA University-Student Union is a non-profit auxiliary operating in close partnership with the University. Funding for the U-SU is generated primarily from student fees, which provide value through leadership and community-building opportunities, cultural programs, and space to study and relax. The U-SU is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of elected students, faculty, and staff. With a focus on encouraging social, cultural, recreational, and educational programming for the University and the broader community, the U-SU hosts more than 3,000 programs and events each year. These range from programs sponsored by the U-SU to programs hosted by student... clubs and organizations, University departments, and community groups. The U-SU supports the Center for Student Involvement, the Cross Cultural Centers (Asian Pacific Islander, Chicanix Latinx, Gender and Sexuality, and Pan African Student Resource Centers), the Recreation Fitness Center, Game Room, Graffix, Conference Services, Operations, and Administration services. Also housed in the facility are the Associated Students Incorporated, Alumni Center, Computer center, banking, and food services.

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