Director, African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC)

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 11-18-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 800 professional staff and 2100 student staff spanning five major units. Deeply devoted to offering students a transformational educational experience, our division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership of student success programs, activities, and initiatives.

Student Success and Equity provides services to the campus community with over 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students and has over 75 career employees and 475 student staff employees operating across eight facilities/locations. The Student Success and Equity area includes a wide array of multi-disciplinary academic and non-academic units including: Disability Resource Center (DRC), Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), Learning Support Services, Services for Transfer, Re-entry and Resilient Scholars (STARRS), Renaissance Scholars Program, Veteran Resource Center, African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC), American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC), Chicano/Latino Resource Center (El Centro), Women's Center (WC), the Lionel Cantu Queer Center (LGBTQ+), Undocumented Student Services (USS), the UCSC Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives (HSI) grant and campus committees/programs, and the Administrative and Business team for the unit.

The Student Success and Equity area includes all of the units and over 125 state, federal, student service fees and gift fund sources and an annual operating budget of nearly $20 million dollars.

UCSC Resource Centers offer counter-spaces for students who are queer, trans, non-binary, women, and people of color, and engages the broader campus about issues and challenges facing our communities. The Resource Centers impact institutional policies and campus climate, and RCs offer programs and services to foster student's personal and professional growth, through community-based leadership development. The Resource Centers' vision is for students to feel fully affirmed in their diverse and intersecting identities, empowered in their academic success, and graduate with a sense of belonging. Resource Centers include the following units: African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC), American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC), El Centro: Chicanx Latinx Resource Center (CLRC), Lionel Cantu Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex Resource Center (Cantu Queer Resource Center), and the Women's Center.

The mission of the African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC) is to provide support for students in the African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) communities at UCSC. AARCC aims to foster an environment and community that supports all folks from the African Diaspora and encourages the pursuit of a deeper understanding of identity and culture as it relates to one's educational journey. The AARCC offers a wide range of programs, support services, and resources centered on the Black Diasporic experience. The center also serves as an advocate for ABC students on an array of campus matters. AARCC encourages and facilitates student involvement and success in campus life, student organizations, academic excellence, and community engagement. The AARCC endeavors to empower ABC students and community members to explore, honor, and respect their intersecting identities throughout their educational journey. AARCC aims to be a hub for Black community on campus, while addressing systemic issues that impact the ABC community.

More information can be found at: https://aarcc.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Executive Director for the Resource Centers, the Director is responsible for formulating policies and procedures, and developing long-term and short-term organizational goals for the African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC). The Director also manages the operating and programming budget, develops external fundraising and oversees AARCC facilities.

The Director is responsible for training and leading professional staff, a graduate student, and teams of undergraduate students, in order to develop programs and activities. The Director works cooperatively with other Division of Student Affairs and Success units, and collaborates with academic departments, advisory groups and community partners. The Director represents AARCC in campus-wide committees, off-campus community, and has a direct impact on the structural diversity and campus climate of the University. The Director carries out the mission through the administration of programs, projects, initiatives, celebrations, and ceremonies that not only assist in the retention of students, but also helps educate the larger campus community about ABC-identified students.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $85,000 - $95,000 / Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: SV - STDT SVS & ADV PROF (SSAP)

Job Code Classification: 005153 (STDT LIFE DEV SPEC 4 SV)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Organizational Leadership

• Provides strategic and organizational leadership for all aspects of African American Resource and Cultural Center's programs and services: determining vision, goals, policies, processes, and procedures.
• Provides strategic leadership to the AARCC team in the design, development, implementation, assessment, coordination, and continuous improvement of programs and services for undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni and community members.
• Leads staff and students in planning and developing diverse and intersectional programs for outreach and orientation, academic support, leadership development, educational, and community building, such as Black Academy, Black Minds Matter, Black Love Gala, Student Leadership institute, and Black Grad.
• Provides guidance to staff and students in managing electronic newsletters and online presence, to share campus and community resources.
• Develops and leads staff in developing curricula and training for guidance courses.

20% - Fiscal and Facilities Oversight

• Manages operating and programming budget, and monitors fiscal performance of AARCC to ensure programs and services are managed in a fiscally responsible manner in compliance with all University, State and Federal policies and regulations.
• Plans, develops, and implements strategies for generating resources and/or revenue for the Center, within public and private sectors. This includes foundation support for educational programs that integrate University and community groups, as well as local revenue-generating events, facility rentals of space.
• Works with the Division of Student Affairs and Success on the facility management of AARCC facility, including facility rentals, insurance, risk management, renovations and improvements to ensure provision of a safe and secure environment.

20% - Campus and Campus Climate Impact

• Establishes and recommends changes to policies, practices, and procedures that affect the program / function.
• Advocates for diversity-related issues on campus and in the community, and provides resources to the campus and community on African/Black/Caribbean issues and needs.
  Provides campuswide leadership on topics related to African/Black/Caribbean issues.
• As appointed by the Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success and/or Executive Director of Resource Centers, serves on numerous campuswide and divisional committees and task forces.
• Provides consultation assistance, current research data, and resources for students, faculty, and staff regarding African/Black/Caribbean university students.
• Participates in national, state, and system-wide professional organizations as appropriate and develops relationships with off-campus organizations.
• Collaborates with various institutional divisions, Resource Centers, Undergraduate Education, Graduate Division, the Colleges, Alumni Engagement, and other campus units to establish partnerships that are beneficial to students and other constituents.
• Engages and builds relationships with faculty and academic departments, and becomes involved with the professional training of staff and faculty, in order to enhance AARCC programs and services to students.
• Works in collaboration with other Resource Center Directors, Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Center, Educational Opportunity Programs and other campus units in providing specialized training related to mental health, wellness and wellbeing.

10% - Staff Lead

• Provides direction to assigned staff, prioritizing and assigning daily work activities.
• Coordinates and monitors work progress to ensure timelines, quality and service standards are met.
• Serves as the first point of contact for day-to-day operational issues within the team.
• Communicates workflow changes, project updates, and procedural requirements to the staff.
• Supports onboarding and training of new staff.
• Provides input to the Executive Director on staff performance, training needs, and workload distribution.

5% - Advising and Crisis Intervention

• Provides advising and crisis intervention, working with undergraduate and graduate students on a host of issues related to personal, academic and career concerns. Makes referrals to on and off campus resources when appropriate.
• Serves as a resource person to provide advice, counseling and referrals to students regarding specific types of student grievances, including discrimination and harassment, based on African/Black/Caribbean identities, LGBTQQIA and gender based identities, or other intersecting diversity related identities.
• Provides training and consultation for campus partners to promote competent, culturally-sensitive care for students.

5% - Transportation

• On occasion, may drive students and staff to off-campus events, trainings, and meetings.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• Advanced knowledge of issues affecting the retention, academic success, and overall student experience of undergraduate and graduate African/Black/Caribbean students in higher education.
• Advanced knowledge of social justice, equity, and inclusion principles, including the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, and disability, as they relate to supporting diverse student populations.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally responsive programs and services that address the needs of African/Black/Caribbean students.
• Advanced skills in student advising, counseling, and mentoring, including the ability to respond appropriately to sensitive, confidential, and crisis situations in accordance with university policies and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to exercise tact and diplomacy, build consensus, and collaborate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, including public speaking, group facilitation, and communicating effectively with diverse audiences.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, program evaluations, proposals, and other professional publications.
• Advanced knowledge of administrative and organizational management principles, including policy development, strategic planning, and project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets and allocating resources to support organizational priorities and program objectives.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to provide direction, mentorship, and motivation to staff and student employees.
• Advanced knowledge of grant writing, fundraising strategies, and resource development techniques to support student programs and services.
• Proficiency with standard office productivity software and technology used for program administration, communication, data management, and reporting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

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

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

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 categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.