Associate Director, Promise Scholars

Job Description

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Promise Scholars, the Associate Director of Promise Scholars assists in overseeing the day-to-day operations and activities of Promise Scholars activities. The Associate Director assists the Executive Director in leading, developing, coordinating, implementing, and assessing all unit activities, counseling services, and retention programs in accordance with the CSU and Cal Poly policies to ensure academic and student success for program participants.

This includes oversight of the counseling activities and staff within Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), TRIO Achievers, and Promise Scholars counselors. The incumbent acts as a campus leader to promote a sense of belonging and inclusion, develop guidelines for programs and services, represent programs and the campus to the public, and maintain working relationships with a wide range of constituencies, including, but not limited to, students, faculty, and staff. The Associate Director cultivates strategic campus partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders, including but not limited to instructional faculty, Academic Affairs advising, and academic support units, SEMSA departments, and University Development and Alumni Engagement.

Department Summary

The Promise Scholars program provides holistic student support and facilitates connections to campus resources to improve retention and academic success among first-generation, limited-income, and/or historically underserved college students. This position specializes in serving students by collaborating with Academic Affairs and departments across the campus to implement activities that build transformative student experiences. In partnership with Academic Affairs, Promise Scholars resides in the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (SEMSA).

Key Qualifications

• Strong supervisory and leadership skills, including the ability to apply modern management and administrative techniques to coordinate staff, direct their work toward program goals, and evaluate and adjust programs as needed to meet those goals.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills to assess situations, define problems, interpret and apply policies, and develop and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with multicultural, limited-income, and first-generation students, and students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate formative assessment plans for program effectiveness.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, professional working relationships with a diverse range of constituencies, including CSU and campus administrators, auxiliaries, faculty, staff, students, and the public.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or higher-level degree and five years of progressively responsible student services professional experience with two years of supervisory experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $84,000 - $98,000 Per Year. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Please watch the video linked here to learn more about the CSU system.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Advertised: Aug 12 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: