Program Director, Black Leadership and Opportunity Center

Job Summary

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of the Identity-Based Retention Centers the Program Director (PD) manages all administrative operations of the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center (BLOC) and is responsible for developing coordinating planning implementing and assessing events programs and services that advance the success of Black students across the student journeyfrom admissions to graduation and beyond. A core focus of this position is fostering a strong sense of belonging empowering student leaders and preparing students for life after graduation. The PD champions a student-centered approach ensuring the BLOC is a welcoming and affirming space that supports students holistic well-being cultural identities academic success persistence and timely graduation. While the BLOCs mission is to promote Black student success all programs and activities are open and available to all students regardless of race ethnicity or national origin. A critical responsibility of this role is advancing the vision and continuous improvement of existing programs while also developing new initiatives that strengthen student leadership skills promote academic excellence and prepare students for career and post-graduate success. The Program Director will cultivate strong partnerships with campus collaborators including but not limited to working with Admissions to enhance Black student recruitment with Institutional Research to track and analyze retention trends and design strategies that foster persistence through graduation and with affinity groups such as faculty and staff associations and alumni networks to connect students with mentors and advocates committed to their advancement. The PD will also engage local community organizations to expand networks of support and opportunity for students. The PD will advance innovative strategies aligned with the divisional institutional and CSU systems goals and strategies to advance student success. To sustain these efforts the PD will identify alternative sources of funding including crowdfunding campaigns and grant opportunities to support the centers initiatives and programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a recruitment strategy and training curriculum for student assistants that cultivates their leadership skills while preparing them to effectively support and operationalize the centers programs and services.
• Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the BLOC that is in alignment with the University and Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plans.
• Create culturally affirming spaces programs and services that foster social cultural and academic engagement for students faculty and staff while strengthening Black students sense of belonging and connection to both the BLOC and the broader SJSU community.
• Develop manage and assess high-impact programs that strengthen Black student success including but not limited to peer mentoring programs leadership development and student research opportunities in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) while also designing and launching new initiatives that foster belonging persistence retention and graduation student leadership skills and career readiness.
• Lead the design and execution of targeted retention initiativesincluding phone outreach campaigns early alert interventions and specialized support strategiesin partnership with college advising success centers Financial Aid Admissions and other campus stakeholders to proactively identify and remove barriers to persistence retention and graduation for Black students.
• Develop an inclusive consistent and student-centered approach to assessment by creating a logic model for the BLOC and a comprehensive evaluation plan to measure the effectiveness and impact of its programs and services. Utilize the Division of Student Affairs Learning and Engagement Question Bank and other CSU/SJSU assessment tools to ensure alignment with divisional practices and continuous improvement.
• Partner with other departments within the Student Equity and Belonging cluster to align initiatives avoid duplication of efforts and expand the reach and impact of programs that support Black student success.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with campus departments faculty/staff affinity groups and local community organizations to expand networks of support and advocacy for Black student success.
• Provide consultation advocacy and direct support to students making referrals to appropriate campus and community resources as needed.
• Collaborate with Institutional Research college success centers and student support programs to develop interventions provide retention services and create pathways that foster persistence through graduation.
• Address complex and sensitive issues involving students faculty staff and family members with professionalism discretion and care ensuring compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) while engaging parents and families in ways that support student success and respect student privacy.
• Oversee and manage the centers operational budget including forecasting and projecting annual expenses in collaboration with the Senior Director and AVP for Student Equity and Belonging.
• Provide sound fiscal stewardship by developing and monitoring the annual budget identifying short- and long-term priorities and preparing mid-year projections and reports.
• Oversee the daily operations of the BLOC including managing email communication scheduling meetings and events coordinating use of the center space and maintaining an organized and welcoming environment. Ensure that safety protocols risk management practices and compliance requirements are followed by all who use the center.
• Provide supervision and leadership for professional staff. Responsibilities include hiring onboarding training mentorship and professional development as well as conducting performance evaluations and setting goals in alignment with university policies and divisional priorities.
• Develop interpret and implement internal policies procedures and workflows that ensure consistency efficiency and compliance with university CSU and federal regulations (e.g. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Regularly review and update practices to align with evolving institutional priorities and standards.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with diverse constituents.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information and communications with students families employees and external partners.
• Knowledge of student development multicultural and identity development frameworks and best practices for serving historically underserved and underrepresented student communities.
• Demonstrated ability to design implement and assess programs and initiatives that promote retention persistence and graduation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to collect analyze and evaluate data and prepare cohesive reports that inform decision-making.
• Knowledge of assessment techniques program evaluation and the ability to apply findings to improve services and outcomes.
• Experience with budget preparation monitoring forecasting and resource allocation.
• Ability to interpret and apply university CSU state and federal policies and procedures in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of and ability to use technology and software applications including word processing spreadsheets databases presentation tools and communication platforms. Experience with PeopleSoft and other student information systems preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan coordinate and execute multiple work priorities events and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to partner effectively with students staff faculty alumni and community members.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment discretion and decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lead and facilitate group meetings trainings and workshops.
• Ability to recommend initiatives and implement changes to improve the quality of programs and services.
• Willingness and ability to travel to conferences retreats and other off-site events as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise mentor and support the professional development of full-time staff graduate assistants and student employees.
• Knowledge of effective leadership practices including staff training coaching goal-setting and performance evaluation.
• Ability to address and resolve personnel-related conflicts including those involving supervisors colleagues and other campus leaders with professionalism discretion and sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field plus upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related.
• Four years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience which includes experience in advising students individually and in groups and in analysis and resolution of complex student services problems. A masters degree in Counseling Clinical Psychology Social Work or a jobrelated field may be substituted for one year of professional experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling guidance or a jobrelated field may be substituted for two years of the required professional experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional personal or career counseling.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Masters degree in Higher Education Student Affairs Educational Leadership Counseling Cultural Studies Social Work or a job-related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing implementing and assessing retention initiatives that advance student success for historically underserved student populations.
• Experience coordinating planning and facilitating programs and services that support students across multiple intersecting identities (e.g. race ethnicity gender sexuality class disability etc.).
• Two (2) to three (3) years of direct experience working with Black students in higher education.
• Experience supervising mentoring and developing student staff and graduate assistants.
• Experience supervising or collaborating with faculty fellows and other academic partners.
• Experience in budget management including forecasting resource allocation and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience with program evaluation and measuring program impact.

Compensation

Classification: Student Services Professional IV
Anticipated Hiring Range: $6320/month
CSU Salary Range: $6320/month - $9014/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: October 24 2025 through November 16 2025. This position is open until filled; however applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age medical condition and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found athttps:// questions may be sent to.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check employment and education verification. Depending on the position a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the universitys third party vendor Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

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All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Officeor report any discrimination harassment and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements emergency preparedness and evacuation information crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at or by email at.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at or by email at.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age ancestry caste color disability ethnicity gender gender expression gender identity genetic information marital status medical condition military status nationality race religion religious creed sex sexual orientation sex stereotype and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students faculty and staff as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and certain other federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.