Director of Academic Affairs (4576U) - Jacobs Institute
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 Berkeley Master of Design (Berkeley MDes) is a professional graduate degree offered in partnership between the College of Engineering and the College of Environmental Design, with a curriculum focused on designing emerging technologies and the social and cultural contexts in which these technologies are shaped.
Berkeley MDes is a studio-based program in which students are immersed in community, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Over three semesters and one summer, students complete a total of eight required core courses and four electives. In the final semester, students develop and present a thesis project that represents the culmination of their intellectual journey in the program.
MDes is housed in Jacobs Hall, a 24,000 square foot building equipped with design studios and equipment rooms featuring the latest in digital fabrication technologies. Second and third semester MDes students have dedicated studio desks and full 24/7 access to the MDes Studio.
Jacobs Hall is managed by the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation (Jacobs Institute) which operates a makerspace open to all UC Berkeley students, conducts undergraduate courses in design innovation, and supports learning and making at the intersection of design and technology through grants, public programming, and community building. The Jacobs Institute and MDes collaborate across their operations in order to leverage common knowledge and practices.
This position involves a wide range of student services duties and responsibilities for an academic department / school / college or organization. Provides assistance to the dean / chair, faculty, and students in academic advising, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, visa / immigration matters, the evaluation and awarding of fellowships and block grant funds, student orientation and events, career counseling, and related programs.
Serves as a strategic programmatic leader for the MDes program, managing the entire student lifecycle from recruitment and admissions to graduation. The position is responsible for driving program growth through data-informed recruitment strategies, benchmarking against national competitors, and implementing complex academic and financial policies. Additionally, the position provides high-level consultative guidance to faculty and leadership and leads the design of professional development initiatives and high-visibility academic milestone events.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: July 1, 2026 - Open until filled
Responsibilities
- Admissions: Serve as the administrative lead on the MDes Program's annual admissions process...
- Recruitment and Admissions: Advise leadership and external affairs colleagues on outreach strategies...
- Program Management: Provide and make recommendations on MDes policies...
- Academic Advising & Development: Apply advanced academic advising concepts...
- Financial Aid: Recommend resolution of extremely sensitive, specialized, and/or complex financial aid issues...
- Career Counseling: Advise MDes leadership regarding enhancement of the MDes Program's strategic plan for career counseling and placement services...
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
- Advanced knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
- Interpersonal skills: advanced skills in navigating decision-making and stakeholder viewpoints.
- Multicultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.
- Enthusiasm for working with students to create a high-quality education and experience in the MDes program...
- Ability in problem identification and reasoning...
- Skills in monitoring / assessing people, processes or services, to make improvements.
- In-depth knowledge of the field's post-degree employment opportunities and practices.
- Skills in project management, social perceptiveness to be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Preferred Qualifications
- A degree in a design discipline.
- Knowledge of how design is taught at the graduate level including studio-based learning.
- Knowledge of University-specific policies, procedures, and computer applications required to perform responsibilities.
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