Graduate Student Affairs Officer

Graduate Student Affairs Officer(5157) Job 86743 - College of Computing, Data Science, and Society

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 College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) is a dynamic, innovative new college at UC Berkeley that represents a once-in-a-generation transformation. The College brings together faculty, researchers, staff, and students from computing, statistics, the humanities, and social and natural sciences, mirroring the cross-cutting nature of data science and redefining the research university for the digital age.

Core to the College is a commitment to examining how the digital revolution affects equity and opportunity-and building the capacity to respond to these challenges. CDSS was created to meet the opportunities and demands of a world where data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence inform practice and policy in virtually every arena.

The College connects the Data Science Undergraduate Studies program, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Department of Statistics, the Berkeley Institute for Data Science, Computational Precision Health, and the Center for Computational Biology.

The College is responsible for growing Berkeley's broad-based programs in data science, computing, statistics, and other interdisciplinary programs, including classes and programs serving thousands of undergraduate students a year.

This role will serve as a critical position in supporting professional programs at the college, including serving as the Graduate Student Affairs Officer (GSAO) for the Master's of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (MAIML) program. In this capacity, the position will advise current graduate students on academic progress, degree requirements, and university policies.

They will serve as a liaison with the Graduate Division and other campus units. The position will also support the college in building out a broader portfolio of professional educational opportunities, including exchange programs and executive education programs.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 22, 2026 - Open until filled

Responsibilities

• 30% Academic Advising: Identifies and refers for resolution intricate student issues/grievances such as alleged discrimination, complex grade dispute issues, and students' personal crises; recommends petition exceptions that affect the requirements of multiple departments; facilitates new course approval through interaction with the Coordination of College Policy, Academic Senate, or similar organization. Identifies students with progression problems and recommends interventions. Applying advanced student services concepts, provides complex student services to the organization's management, faculty, and students. Advises students on highly complex visa and immigration policies and procedures. Interprets UC and government regulatory requirements that affect immigrant and non-immigrant students. Develops programs and workshops to meet the specific needs of international students and scholars.
• 20% Program Management: Manages the implementation of new professional programs, including general project management and new program launches. Advises college management on enhancing the organization's strategic plan for career counseling and placement services. Utilizing an in-depth knowledge of the field, counsels students on post-degree employment opportunities and practices. Identifies and cultivates potential employers.
• 15% Recruitment and Admissions: Advises the college on outreach strategies, and helps identify targeted institutions to meet the organization's goals; coordinates, reviews, and advises faculty on transferability and applicability of non-UC courses. Advises prospective applicants on necessary academic preparation; appropriateness of program as it pertains to the prospective applicant's goals; utilizes in-depth knowledge of the organization's admissions criteria, helps rank applicants for admissions; evaluates domestic and international transcripts for degree eligibility; initiates and arranges student recruitment visits.
• 15% Academic Policy and Financial Aid Oversight: Within an academic college, provides and makes recommendations for the improvement of College Policies. Advises faculty and college management on the formulation of policy on areas needing clarification and identifying solutions; analyzes the consequences of the organization's academic policies; recommends new or changed policies; and recommends solutions to the organization's problems without precedent. Recommends resolution of extremely sensitive, specialized, and/or complex financial aid issues. Oversees the administration, evaluation, and awarding of student fellowships, grants, scholarships, and other awards; advises students on financial aid options.
• 10% Student Services Programs: Plans and implements complex, high-visibility student events, such as orientation and professional development events.
• 5% Participates in professional development activities to enhance their own skills and the graduate portfolio of the college.
• 5% Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of student advising and counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of University-specific computer application programs and knowledge of University and departmental principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and evaluating risks as to likelihood and consequences.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Multicultural competencies: the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Advanced knowledge of complex visa and immigration policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements for international students and scholars.
• Ability in problem identification and reasoning; ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, persuasion, leadership.
• 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.
• Knowledge of admissions, recruitment, and financial aid processes and strategies.
• Skills in event planning include the organizing of major events like orientation.
• Knowledge of career services and employer relations processes and strategies.
• Knowledge of developing new educational programs.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.