Executive Director of Cal-Bridge

Executive Director of Cal-Bridge

The University of California, Irvine is seeking a dynamic executive director for its Cal-Bridge Program. Now in its second decade, Cal-Bridge is a partnership of all three segments of the California higher education system: 10 University of California (UC), 23 California State Universities (CSU), and 116 California Community College (CCC) campuses. The Cal-Bridge program consists of four distinct but interconnected programs: the undergraduate program, summer research program, doctoral program, and postdoctoral program.

The School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine is the administrative home of the Cal-Bridge program. The executive director (ED) is responsible for raising funds for the program through advocacy with the state government, national and private foundation grants, and from corporations and private individuals. Cal-Bridge is primarily supported by funding from the California state legislature, and the ED is fiscally responsible for the program.

The ED manages and oversees the full range of activities and responsibilities, including daily operations and fulfillment of programmatic goals for Cal-Bridge, including supervision of staff, financial oversight, communications, outreach, and recruitment.

Required:

• PhD in a relevant STEM or STEM-adjacent field
• Academic background and recognized expertise in one or more relevant discipline(s) of STEM research.
• Demonstrated results in broadening participation in STEM pathways in higher education
• Demonstrated expertise to build, develop, and implement innovative programs within a leading academic institution while adhering to administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices.
• Expert oral and written communication skills
• Experience working with dynamic and diverse groups of faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising through grants and/or government appropriations
• Experience using expert level negotiation skills to work collaboratively with internal and external diverse constituencies.

Preferred:

• Academic experience working and partnering with departments and schools in a broad range of disciplines.
• Program or executive business management experience in academic and / or government agencies.
• Significant track record in research, especially as related to broadening participation in STEM pathways.
• Experience building and coordinating educational STEM pathway programs.
• Faculty work demonstrating commitment to student, postdoc, and/or faculty development and to faculty and student diversity.
• Experience as an academic leader, e.g., a director, chair, associate dean, dean, or similar position.

For full consideration, apply by June 30, 2026.