Assistant Director of Student Services (5156)

About Berkeley

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.

Departmental Overview

The Blum Center for Developing Economies is a multidisciplinary research and education unit reporting to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. The Center leverages the talent, enthusiasm, and energy of the University of California, Berkeley community to address problems in low-resource areas. Our interdisciplinary problem-solving approach draws on students and faculty dedicated to facing this challenge through innovative initiatives, education, and research.

The Blum Center houses an undergraduate minor in Global Poverty & Practice (GPP); a PhD Designated Emphasis in Development Engineering; the Big Ideas Contest, the University of California's premier social entrepreneurship catalyst; and a Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng), UC Berkeley's first professional degree committed to solving complex global challenges across the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.

Supporting roughly 60 graduate and 100 undergraduate students each year, this position manages a comprehensive range of student services duties. This role is vital in providing a highly supportive, personalized experience for students from their initial recruitment all the way through to graduation.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 19, 2026 - Open until filled

Responsibilities

30% Program Management: Applying professional student services concepts, provides the full range of student services to the student population served by the organization. Supports program management for the Development Engineering Designated Emphasis, MDevEng program, and GPP Minor, including day-to-day activities and events throughout the duration of the year. Plans, implements, and manages student events, such as new student orientations and workshops. Coordinates with staff and faculty, communicates with Building Services as necessary, invites attendees, and arranges catering. Requires occasional evenings and weekends. In collaboration with the DevEng Program Director, coordinates the MDevEng student capstone project administration, including facilitating communication and alignment of capstone expectations, assisting in addressing student and faculty questions, and organizing the end-of-semester capstone oral exam and presentation event. Provide strategic support and thought leadership to improve infrastructure, systems, and processes for all programs.

30% Academic Advising: Advises DevEng and GPP Minor students on program requirements, course selection, and academic progress. Guides GPP Minor students on the identification of suitable volunteer and internship experiences. Ensure students are on track with their academic plans, identify students with progression problems, and recommend interventions. Coordinates with the DevEng faculty advising committee to set up faculty advising times. Shares relevant resources, events, and opportunities with students

20% Outreach, Recruitment, and Admissions: Coordinate with the Blum Center communications team to support outreach to increase visibility of the GPP Minor and DevEng across campus and beyond. Identify compelling student stories for the Blum Center communications team to share with a broad audience. In collaboration with the Program Director and Outreach Manager, participate in external outreach for the MDevEng program, including travel to 1-2 recruiting events per year, and support coordination of yield strategies for admitted students. Advises prospective DevEng applicants on necessary academic preparation and alignment with program goals.

10% Supervise 1-2 student assistants and co-supervise 6-8 student Peer Advisors.

5% Support Director of Student Programs and DevEng Program Director with managing and maintaining student and alumni records on the campus's Student Information System (SIS) and internal Salesforce database.

5% Support occasional other initiatives at the Blum Center.

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience working with University-specific computer application programs such as Campus Solutions and/or other course management systems (e.g., Canvas, Google Suite, etc.). Knowledge of University and departmental principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and evaluating risks as to likelihood and consequences.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills with faculty, staff, students, and colleagues.
• Multicultural competencies: ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability in problem identification and reasoning; ability to develop original ideas to solve problems.
• Skills in judgment and decision-making, problem-solving, and identifying measures of the system performance and the actions to improve performance.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage and address student concerns with empathy and professionalism.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of complex U.S. visa and immigration procedures, compliance issues, and employment eligibility/authorization for international students and scholars.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop).
• Master's degree in related areas and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience using Salesforce and email marketing systems (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp).