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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)
UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link .
The IRD for this job is: 06/17/2026
ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ
UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
Slug Support is a non-clinical case management program within the Dean of Students Office providing a holistic and student centered approach to services. The office assists students experiencing challenges that impact their well-being, basic needs, and ability to progress at UCSC. The program provides individualized support through care coordination, resource navigation, and advocacy, connecting students to campus and community resources. The program helps students stabilize, problem-solve, and remain engaged in their academic journey.
The Dean of Students Office, which is part of the Student Development & Engagement unit in the Division of Student Affairs & Success, supports student success and well-being, fosters a safe and inclusive campus community, and helps students engage fully in their education.
The Division of Student Affairs & Success is a united division comprising nearly 800 staff across 35 departments and 5 major units, providing campus-wide leadership for student success programs and initiatives. The division's work is rooted in educational equity, institutional responsibility, and an unfettered commitment to supporting the whole student. DSAS works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and campus leadership to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and a strong sense of belonging.
More information can be found at: https://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu/slug-support/
JOB SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Associate Dean of Students (ADOS), Student Support Programs, the Director of Slug Support oversees the daily operation of the Slug Support case management program. The incumbent oversees the intake and referral process using professional expertise in counseling, student advocacy, and crisis management to evaluate and triage appropriately including referring cases to Slug Support case managers, collaborating with campus partners, and communicating about timely student situations to the ADOS as needed. The Director supervises a team of case managers, providing leadership in performance management, priority setting, and day-to-day operations. They foster a supportive team environment through ongoing mentorship, coaching, and professional development to ensure high-quality, student-centered services.
In addition, the Director oversees Slug Support training and outreach for campus staff and the broader university community. This includes providing consultation for students who may benefit from additional support, as well as delivering presentations and sharing information about Slug Support during Orientation and other key campus events.
The Director works directly with students referred by various campus partners to help resolve complex situations and advocate on their behalf, fielding calls, emails and referrals regarding coordinating responses and services for individual students. The Director stays up to date on national best practices and participates on various student support committees. The Director also supports the activities, programs, and services associated with the functions of the Dean of Students office.
The Slug Support Director, operating under the direction of the ADOS, serves as the primary lead in coordinating and integrating the campus response to students experiencing varying levels of need and/or distress. In complex or high-level situations, the ADOS and Director work collaboratively, with primary responsibility for the response determined based on the needs of the case. The ADOS may assume primary oversight in certain instances, while the Director maintains autonomy to lead and coordinate response in others, ensuring aligned and effective support.
The incumbent is readily accessible to students, staff, faculty, parents, and family members (when applicable) who are concerned about a distressed student, and works closely with key offices to identify and intervene as early as possible with students who may be experiencing basic need insecurities, distress, or other challenges where they would benefit from advocacy and support services.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Budgeted Salary: $90,000 - $99,000 / Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.
Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits
Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment
Job End Date: None
Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus
Union Representation: Non-Represented
Job Code Classification: 004568 (STDT LIFE DEVT SUPV 2) - Grade 21
Travel: Never or Rarely
JOB DUTIES
25% - Direct Student Advocacy and Coordination of Responses to Students in Distress

• Provides direct student support by meeting with students to assess and provide assistance regarding distressing and sensitive situations they may be navigating.
• Manages 'students of concern' cases that require gathering information, developing recommendations for response, taking the initiative to mobilize appropriate responses and services, providing information to the student and student's family (as appropriate), and conveying information to other units including Counseling and Psychological Services, Academic Advisors,
• International Student & Scholar Services, Faculty, Residential Services, Resource Centers, Campus Police, and other campus entities, ensuring that appropriate resources are available and post-intervention strategies are mobilized on behalf of the student and the campus community.
• Provides administrative interface, coordinating with various campus partners to ensure coherent integration of campus and community resources for individual students who face challenges with academic, health, conduct, substance abuse, financial, and social issues.
• Consults about students, provide resources, and connects students to offices across campus such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Academic Advising, and Residential Life, among others, develops action plans, and follows up with students, staff, and faculty as appropriate.
• Serves as an active member of the UC Systemwide Case Management Team and UC Case Manager Directors Team.
• Responds to inquiries about distressed students from faculty, staff, students, and parents/family members.
• Activates the Slug Support team for high-level and high-risk incidents.

20% - Intake and Crisis Support

• Oversees the timely inquiry, analysis, and assessment of the nature and severity of crisis cases.
• Monitors risk of all referrals and alerts the Associate Dean of Students (ADOS) of the most concerning student cases.
• Assigns cases as appropriate to the Slug Support team and consults other campus partners when appropriate.
• Oversees, develops, and implements departmental processes and procedures for supporting students through the Slug Support program.

20% - Program Support and Development

• Leads program planning and supports efforts to develop and sustain partnerships across campus.
• Assists with budget management and fundraising efforts.
• Supports ADOS with strategic development initiatives.
• Coordinates and supports large-scale events to positively impact student retention and success.
• Provides support on complex and high-visibility student cases.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the ADOS.

15% - Direct Supervision

• Provides direct supervision to a team of case managers.
• Independently plans, assigns, directs and prioritizes staff activities, tasks and projects to ensure adherence to established procedures and an appropriate distribution of labor based on individual skill sets and departmental goals. Develops and maintains systems to track performance metrics, workload, and service levels, utilizing independent judgment to adjust workflows and schedules as necessary.
• Reviews staff work for technical accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and adherence to standards.
• Identifies training needs and coordinates professional development opportunities. Trains staff in proper methods, procedures, and standards of performance.
• Independently conducts performance evaluations and establishes measurable goals. Provides coaching and feedback to team members.
• Exercises independent judgment to initiate and effectively recommend disciplinary actions in compliance with university policies, collective bargaining agreements and campus procedures.
• Makes effective recommendations for salary actions.
• Exercises independent judgment in the full lifecycle of recruitment, including selecting finalists and making the final hiring decision for unit staff.

10% - Program Coordination and Assessment Support

• Leads regular data collection and feedback survey administration, driving continuous program assessment and improvement to ensure effective support of student retention and success.
• Collaborates on Student Support Programs projects in partnership with the Director of Basic Needs.

10% - Professional Development, Outreach, and Education

• Keeps abreast of current literature and developments in the field of Student Affairs, Case Management and Mental Health, Basic Needs in Higher Education, and related professional organizations.
• Attends pertinent conferences and conventions and presents information when requested for shared development.
• Serves on department and campus committees, programs, and projects as assigned.
• Participates in research relevant to student development, student mental health, and student affairs.
• Works collaboratively with campus departments on the provision of campus-wide training and programs, as well as education materials regarding responding to students in distress or who are experiencing basic need insecurities.
• Develops and delivers specialized curriculum and training programs as requested by campus departments regarding responding to students in distress, and educational workshops about Slug Support and Basic Needs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis management, crisis intervention, and case management with college students and/or emerging adults.
• Demonstrated leadership in cultivating and sustaining effective working relationships across students, staff, and faculty to support holistic student success.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver training curricula, prevention and psychoeducational programming, outreach initiatives, and presentations for diverse audiences including students, faculty, staff, families, deans, and department chairs.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience working with students from a broad variety of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences including racial, gender, and religious identities.
• Excellent interpersonal, cultural competence, and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively, productively, and sensitively with students, faculty, staff, and parents per the standards and practices related to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) and the relevant policies and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary organizational setting including on-campus residential facilities, faculty, campus administration, campus health providers, off-campus health care providers, law enforcement, and the courts.
• Demonstrated ability to review, understand, and effectively apply complex policies and laws.
• Proven ability to initiate and coordinate campus and community services for students. Including connecting students to comprehensive programs on campus to help them succeed, to advocate on their behalf in extenuating circumstances, and to assist them in understanding and accessing resources available to them.
• Demonstrated experience coaching and supervising professional staff in a case management setting, including providing clear performance management, setting priorities, and supporting day-to-day operations.