Executive Director, Belonging and Engagement Strategies

Job Summary

The Executive Director (ED) of Belonging and Engagement Strategies leads cluster-wide initiatives focused on student engagement, student success, and belonging. Reporting to the AVP for Student Equity and Belonging, the ED provides strategy and support for the Student Equity and Belonging team, develops and implements high-impact programs and collaborations, and oversees a portfolio of belonging and engagement programs. Units include Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Guardian Scholars, TRIO Programs (SSS/ASPIRE and McNair), and Global Programs and Services (International Student Scholar Services and Study Abroad).

The ED drives strategic priorities, resource analysis, and outreach, fosters campus collaborations, and supervises Senior Director(s) and Directors to deliver data-driven, high-impact services aligned with student success and belonging. The ED champions cross-campus partnerships, coordinates initiatives, and ensures alignment with institutional goals while developing and guiding a team toward effective, holistic student experiences.

• Data-driven strategy and innovation to respond to higher education trends and promote student-ready, transformative practices.
• Lead operations across multiple funding streams and manage programmatic activities within the portfolio.
• Foster cluster, cross-divisional, institutional, and external partnerships to engage SJSU’s student equity and belonging offices, Student Affairs collaborators, and community partners.
• Develop people and teams across multiple programs and units through coaching and leadership.
• Apply belonging, leadership, and engagement strategies (co-curricular and integrated) to support student success from onboarding through graduation and beyond.
• Oversee budget (nearly $5 million) and resource allocation, supervise staff, secure external funding (grants, sponsor ships), and ensure fiscal stewardship to maximize student retention and success outcomes.

• Lead strategy and vision for program management, HR, resource allocation, assessment, policy development, and processes for belonging and global programs (EOP, Guardian Scholars, TRIO, and Global Programs and Services).
• Supervise and coach managers and financial analysts; manage performance, professional development, payroll, and related personnel decisions.
• Develop annual operational plans, refine area goals, KPIs, and activities aligned with cluster and divisional strategy.
• Provide executive oversight for operations, including leadership and budget management of a multi-faceted unit.
• Use data insights to inform policy, resource allocation, and strategic planning to advance equity, inclusion, and student success.
• Lead integrative and co-curricular opportunities in collaboration with campus partners and divisional leadership.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to expand the reach and impact of student equity and belonging initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with faculty, staff, and external organizations to create a seamless student experience.
• Develop partnerships that foster inclusive, high-impact educational experiences, global engagement, and intercultural competencies.
• Ensure transparent communication and equitable resource distribution across programs, prioritizing high-impact, sustainable initiatives that advance engagement and belonging.
• Collaborate with resource and operations leads to produce and adhere to a yearly budget plan.
• Manage multiple budget types (general funds, student fees, revenue, grants).
• Oversee development of financial reports, grant documentation, and assessment summaries to demonstrate stewardship and impact.
• Build financial and operational capacity of Directors/Senior Directors through guidance on fiscal systems, budgeting, and procurement to strengthen accountability and data-informed decision-making.
• Provide strategic direction for developing and implementing a comprehensive data and assessment strategy; partner with Institutional Research, Data Analytics, and campus stakeholders to develop dashboards tracking program performance and equity impact.
• Oversee ongoing program development using assessment data to stay…