Senior Director, Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Position Title:

Position Type:

Hiring Range:

$115200 - $129600 / annual; Compensation will be based on education experience skills relevant to the role and internal equity

Pay Frequency:

A. POSITION PURPOSE

Join Santa Clara University and help the next generation of entrepreneurs acquire the life skills of an entrepreneur and start their own ventures! Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a resource hub and academic development program that promotes and encourages the Entrepreneurial Mindset across campus through academics competitions and on-campus programs and events.

The Senior Director will play a critical leadership role in advancing the mission of Ciocca Center by managing a growing portfolio of innovation and entrepreneurship programs supervising other program directors and supporting institutional partnerships that bring these offerings to scale. This is a hands-on role that blends strategic leadership with program execution and team management. The role reports to the Executive Director and collaborates across SCUs schools and administrative units.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide Strategic and Hands-On Leadership for Programs and Initiatives

• Supervise and Develop High-Performing Teams

• Foster Campus and Community Engagement

• Integrate Programs into University Operations and Infrastructure

• Advance Strategic Planning and External Relations

C. SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide Strategic and Hands-On Leadership for Programs and Initiatives

• Oversee the design delivery and assessment of Ciocca Center programs that promote the Entrepreneurial Mindset across disciplines.

• Lead the scale-up of successful pilot initiatives into sustainable university-wide offerings.

• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop co-curricular and curricular experiences aligned with SCUs mission.

• Monitor trends in innovation and entrepreneurship to evolve programs accordingly.

• Maintain a visible presence at events and actively engage in the execution of key programs.

Supervise and Develop High-Performing Teams

• Provide guidance and directly supervise program directors and professional staff including hiring onboarding evaluation and coaching.

• Foster a team culture grounded in collaboration creativity accountability and mission alignment.

• Manage student intern hiring training and development ensuring meaningful learning opportunities.

• Create structures for cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing.

• Model inclusive leadership and provide opportunities for professional growth.

Foster Campus and Community Engagement

• Build relationships with student organizations academic departments and other centers to broaden awareness and participation.

• Lead outreach efforts to engage students from underrepresented backgrounds and across all disciplines.

• Develop and implement marketing strategies that speak to a wide range of audiences (students parents alumni faculty donors).

• Represent the Center in public forums at campus events and with industry stakeholders.

• Cultivate alumni and community networks that enhance mentorship and programming.

Integrate Programs into University Operations and Infrastructure

• Collaborate with academic units deans offices student life and other university partners to align programs with SCU systems and calendars.

• Participate in administrative planning processes to ensure Center offerings complement and reinforce broader institutional goals.

• Develop and manage the Ciocca Centers annual operating budget in collaboration with the Executive Director.

• Establish program policies workflows and documentation that support long-term continuity and integration.

• Coordinate with finance operations and HR to ensure smooth execution and compliance.

• Contribute to data collection and reporting for internal assessment and accreditation needs.

Advance Strategic Planning and External Relations

• Partner with the Executive Director in developing and refining strategic plans for Ciocca Center.

• Support donor cultivation and stewardship including drafting materials and participating in development meetings.

• Maintain relationships with industry partners and sponsors to enhance experiential learning opportunities.

• Oversee storytelling and reporting for internal and external audiences highlighting student impact and program growth.

• Identify grant and funding opportunities aligned with Center goals and assist in proposal development.

D. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION

This position provides direct supervision for multiple full-time staff including program directors and professional personnel. It also oversees a team of student interns and part-time employees. The Senior Director is responsible for performance management professional development and operational alignment of these roles. The position collaborates closely with the Executive Director to align staffing structures with strategic priorities and ensure effective team functioning.

E. GENERAL GUIDELINES

Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and effectiveness of programs.
Identifies and resolves challenges proactively; develops solutions that improve processes and enhance program delivery.
Maintains open lines of communication with internal and external stakeholders; gathers feedback to inform continuous improvement.
Employs tools and systems to support team productivity planning and goal achievement.
Tracks and reports progress toward goals and outcomes to Ciocca Center leadership and relevant university offices.
Ensures operational accuracy compliance and timeliness across all areas of responsibility.
Prepares periodic reports assessments and strategic summaries as requested.

F. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skills abilities education and experience required or preferred.

This position requires the ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and foster inclusive environments.

Knowledge

Deep understanding of program management experiential education and innovation in higher education.
Familiarity with strategic planning university administration and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Working knowledge of budgeting assessment and academic integration in university settings.

Skills

Leadership and team development
Strategic thinking and decision-making
Event planning and project execution
Marketing and communications including social media strategy
Fundraising and external relations
Operational management
Budget planning financial analysis and resource allocation

Abilities

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across disciplines and departments
Strong interpersonal written and oral communication skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities with efficiency and composure
Proactive problem-solving and adaptability in a dynamic environment

Education and/or Experience

Bachelors degree required; Masters degree or MBA strongly preferred
810 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education nonprofit or corporate settings
Demonstrated experience in team leadership program development and cross-sector collaboration

G. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended the California Fair Employment & Housing Act and all other applicable laws SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill experience education or other requirements of the position and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
May be required to attend conferences and training sessions within the Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers vendors or partners.

H. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typical office and computer lab environment.
Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
Offices with equipment noise.
Offices with frequent interruptions.
This is an in-person role requiring an on-campus presence.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California Nevada Oregon Washington Arizona and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ethnicity national origin citizenship ancestry religion age sex sexual orientation gender gender expression gender identity marital status parental status veteran or military status physical or mental disability medical conditions pregnancy or related conditions reproductive health decision making or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara Universitys equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report please visit the Campus Safety Serviceswebsite. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at . The report includes the type of crime venue and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team ator by phone at . Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status please contact .