Associate Director, Undergraduate Advising (0313U) #85767

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The College of Letters & Science is the largest of the university's 15 colleges and schools and the most prestigious teaching and research unit in the UC system. L&S encompasses more than half of the campus' faculty, three-quarters of its undergraduate students, and half of its Ph.D. candidates. Organized into five divisions: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and the Undergraduate Division, L&S offers students a choice of more than 70 departmental majors, joint majors, and simultaneous degree programs.

The L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising (OUA) provides academic advising to newly admitted, currently enrolled, and readmitted undergraduate students (approximately 23,000). Additionally, OUA provides guidance on academic programs, policies, and procedures in the College of Letters & Science. OUA enforces and adjudicates the College's academic regulations to ensure the integrity of the degree and the ongoing quality of the institution. Decisions made by OUA impact all academic units within the College of Letters & Science and set precedent for other Colleges on campus.

OUA works collaboratively with academic and administrative departments across campus. To enhance the student experience, OUA uses an Advising Neighborhood model by division and academic discipline, which results in College Advisers and Undergraduate Major Advisers working closely and collaboratively.

Learn more about the OUA mission and values here: https://lsadvising.berkeley.edu/mission-and-value-statements

Learn more about the Undergraduate Studies Division strategic plan here: https://ls.berkeley.edu/UG-Div-Strategic-Plan

The First Review Date for this job is May 14, 2026

Planning & Development:

• Develops, interprets, provides direction, sets goals, supervises, and manages advising programs and strategies to promote student academic success, aligned with the Undergraduate Studies Division strategic plan and the OUA mission and values.
• Assesses overall operational management and student needs. Evaluates, analyzes, monitors, and helps to collaboratively modify advising services, including advising frameworks, practices, modalities, procedures, and forms/petitions to improve the delivery of services.
• Formulates policy recommendations and monitors policy interpretation and application. Supports the Director, Assistant Dean of Advising, and Deans in strategic and succession planning, and in establishing operational goals.
• Oversees administration of program funding, daily workflow, and work procedures. Reviews and reports to senior management about effectiveness in functional area(s).
• Outlines future-facing plans for functional area(s). Contributes constructive, innovative, and data- and research-driven ideas to the development and implementation of advising strategies.
• Identifies critical issues in advising operations and program delivery, and proposes solutions.
• Ensures the effective use of campus student information systems and departmental databases; recommends system improvements as needed. Reviews, develops, and edits material for OUA websites.

Supervision, Management & Leadership:

• Supervises advisors (7-10 FTE) who are providing the full range of academic advising. May supervise Student Advisor Supervisor(s).
• Helps develop and update staff job descriptions. Supports and provides collaborative leadership for recruitment and hiring. Promotes career development; identifies and provides professional development opportunities to support employee goals.
• Works effectively with people from diverse cultures on issues such as performance management, organizational change, workplace climate, and related topics. Monitors employee performance; holds regularly scheduled 1:1 and team check-ins with direct reports. Highlights employee strengths. Addresses performance issues. Explains and applies campus personnel policies. Responsible for the resolution of personnel issues, including corrective action, if necessary.
• Maintains personnel records. Approves staffing leaves in accordance with expected operational needs. Organizes the overall work of functional area(s); identifies and evaluates priorities; delegates or reallocates responsibilities and tasks.
• Keeps the advising team informed of changes, policies, and procedures both in the department and across campus. Provides guidance, mentoring, and coaching to professional staff.
• Promotes a professional, cooperative, and team approach within the unit and the office as a whole. Solicits and considers constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders. Builds consensus among the advising team and senior management. Fosters a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Program/Project Management:

• In consultation with senior management, recommends which resources will be committed to advising and programmatic goals and objectives, and how they will be allocated.
• Manages at least one functional area within OUA, such as academic progress, new student orientation, staff training, peer advising, advising neighborhoods, satellite advising, and communications.

Advising & Dean's Representative:

• Serves as a high-level advising resource for deans, staff, faculty, and other campus administrators in relation to sensitive student situations that entail highly complex problems and demand substantial organizational acumen. Advises students directly on a limited basis. Uses in-depth knowledge and expertise in student affairs and academic advising to devise solutions that meet individual needs and follow University policies and regulations.
• Answers inquiries about academic programs and College requirements for students, parents, faculty, and staff, and provides referrals to other campus offices as appropriate.
• Assesses, devises, and implements solutions to administrative challenges that affect staff or students. Interprets and ensures equitable enforcement of policies and procedures. Adjudicates exceptional appeals as authorized by the Dean. Promotes student success while enforcing policies that protect the integrity of the degree.

Campus Outreach:

• Serves on committees representing OUA as assigned. Acts as liaison among students, campus departments, and administration in both daily operations and highly sensitive advising situations.
• Creates and maintains a network among student service offices. Represents OUA to the campus community and relevant external constituencies. Serves as a resource for the College departments, admissions, Office of the Registrar, and other administrative and student services units.
• Plans and conducts training sessions with undergraduate major advisers, peer advisers, staff, and administrators.

Professional Development:

• Stays abreast of best practices and innovations in academic advising and people management. Attends seminars, conferences, cross-campus development opportunities, office-wide training sessions, and participates in professional organizations.
• In collaboration with the supervisor, develops stretch and professional development goals that align with the Undergraduate Division and L&S OUA strategic plans, which center on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging & justice.

Other:

• Other job duties as assigned and relevant to the position.

• Advanced knowledge of academic advising (including degree planning) and counseling techniques to support advisers and be able to directly advise students on a limited basis.
• Knowledge of student development theory and current trends in academic advising at the university level.
• Thorough knowledge of, or can quickly learn, campus and College procedures, processes, and policies.
• Knowledge of, or can quickly learn, common University-specific computer application programs such as student information systems, and web-based advising tools and programs.
• Ability to coach staff to address areas of growth and set clear and attainable goals.
• Ability to inspire and motivate professional staff, and foster a healthy workplace culture.
• Proven skills in providing specific and actionable feedback to professional staff.
• Proven skills in soliciting and considering constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including effective and succinct writing, clear and effective facilitation, and de-escalation.
• Ability to apply project management principles.
• Ability to lead change and innovation.
• Ability to identify problems and develop reasonable solutions.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions and priorities.
• Knowledge of, or can quickly learn, University and departmental principles and procedures involved in risk assessment.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Knowledge of assessment, data gathering, and analysis approaches.
• Background in strategic planning and implementation.
• Previous supervision experience of career staff, preferably in a university setting.
• Experience in cultivating leadership and professional development for staff in support of workplace belonging, and promoting a growth mindset.
• Master's Degree in Counseling, Education, High Education Administration, or related field and/or experience/training.

This is a full-time, career position that is eligible for full UC 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 $115,000.00 - $129,000.00. This is an exempt, monthly paid position.

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.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

This job is part of the Employee Referral Program. If a UC Berkeley employee is referring you, please ensure you select the Referral Source of "UCB Employee". Then enter the Employee's Name and Berkeley E-mail address in the Specific Referral Source field. Please enter only one name and email.

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.

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

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.