JOB POSTINGTHIS JOB IS OPEN TO CURRENT SYSTEM-WIDE UC Campuses ONLY Not open to non-UC applicants. Only current UC employees or former employees with current Preferential Rehire rights will be considered for this position. Former employees with current Preferential Rehire rights will need to identify themselves as such in their application to be considered for this position.
Current UCSC employees must apply to the job posting in the Internal Candidate Gateway. If you accessed this recruitment through the Internal UCSC gateway, you can apply via the "Apply" button at the bottom of this job posting. If you accessed this recruitment through the external gateway, you should access the internal job posting by going to the jobs.ucsc.edu weblink and clicking the "Internal UCSC Applicants" button.
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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 .
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11-30-2026 DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW Staff Human Resources (SHR) is dedicated to building a strong and healthy university by propelling the university mission, engaging and developing people, empowering our campus partners, building trust and teamwork, and providing excellent Human Resources services. Staff Human Resources (SHR) provides strategic leadership, guidance, and operational support to the campus community across several key human resources functions, including Benefits, Business Administration, Employee & Labor Relations, HR Business Systems, Learning & Development, Compensation & Classification and Talent Acquisition. The Talent Acquisition team demonstrates integrity and professionalism, working strategically as a partner with our customers by providing recruiting expertise and promoting dialogue at every opportunity to achieve the most appropriate and effective hiring solutions.
More information can be found at: https://shr.ucsc.edu/
JOB SUMMARY Under the direction of the Chief Human Resource Officer/Associate Vice Chancellor of Staff Human Resources, the Talent Acquisition Assistant Director provides direction for the university's talent acquisition and recruitment functions and partners with the CHRO/AVC to guide talent acquisition strategies.
The incumbent directly supervises the Talent Acquisition team and, in consultation with the CHRO/AVC, develops and implements strategic recruiting initiatives, advises campus leadership on recruitment strategies and best practices, and evaluates the effectiveness of recruitment efforts through analysis of hiring outcomes, return on investment, and retention data. The position leads organization-wide projects and initiatives.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION Budgeted Salary: $110,000 - $125,000/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 Scotts Valley Campus
Union Representation: Non-Represented
Job Code Classification: EMPLOYMENT SUPV 2 (006258)
Travel: Never or Rarely
JOB DUTIES 30% - Departmental Oversight - Provides direct supervision to the Talent Acquisition team.
- In conjunction with the leadership team, develops and implements internal unit procedures, exercising independent judgment to ensure unit objectives align with departmental and organizational goals.
- Establishes clear unit priorities, communicates expectations, and ensures accountability across assigned functions.
- Independently plans, assigns, directs and prioritizes staff activities, tasks and projects effectively. Monitors progress to ensure deadlines and customer service expectations are met. Revises work assignments as needed to ensure an even distribution of work.
- Reviews staff work for accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and adherence to standards.
- Provides guidance and subject-matter expertise to staff performing specialized tasks.
- Independently conducts performance evaluations and establishes measurable goals. Meets with staff on a regular basis. Provides coaching and feedback to team members.
- Identifies training needs and provides formal or on-the-job training to ensure subject matter knowledge in appropriate areas.
- Participates in the development and maintenance of department training and reference materials.
- Coordinates professional development opportunities with leadership.
- 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 making effective hiring recommendations, including selecting finalists and making the final hiring decision for unit staff. Leads change management efforts to improve efficiency, quality, and responsiveness. Identifies and resolves operational issues or barriers to service delivery. Monitors workflows and unit processes for quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Fosters an environment that promotes a culture of professionalism, inclusion, and respect within the team. Encourages teamwork and a culture of learning among staff.
- Communicates regularly with leadership on unit activities and on pertinent operational or human resources issues.
25% - Strategic Planning - In consultation with the CHRO/AVC, provides strategic recruiting and hiring expertise to the organization and advises all levels of the campus community.
- In consultation with the CHRO/AVC, analyzes and tracks overall effectiveness of recruiting strategies, return on investment and retention data.
- In consultation with the CHRO/AVC, leads the Talent Acquisition team to execute projects and initiatives with organization-wide scope and impact.
- Utilizes data and metrics to enhance organization wide quality, service, compliance, and efficiency.
25% - Consultation and Collaboration - Provides training to campus stakeholders.
- Collaborates with staff human resource units on matters relating to recruitment, retention, employee and labor relations issues, professional development, and benefits.
- Sources, recruits, screens, interviews and recommends the most qualified candidates at the management, professional, and technical levels where recruiting efforts are significant and unique in nature.
- Conducts complex and varied analysis of issues or concepts and develops resulting recommendations on unique employment issues and long-term workforce sourcing.
20% - Recruitment Support - RECRUITMENT
- Maintains current knowledge of local job market changes and recruitment trends.
- In consultation with EEO/AA, consults with and educates management on affirmative action matters, underutilization, and related policies and procedures.
- Provides expert guidance and consultation to hiring managers and/or search committees on understanding and applying UCSC fair hiring standards and campus best practices for the following: applicant screening and assessment; development of effective interview and reference check questions; resolution of conflicts; identifying, researching and assessing special compliance requirements and recommending revisions as necessary for preparation to extend conditional and/or formal job offers.
- Addresses conflicts/issues commonly faced by: search committee relations; applicant and interviewee communications; appropriate documentation of screening, interview, and selection results for recruitment file.
- Identifies problems, conducts complex and varied analysis of issues or concepts, develops resulting recommendations, works with hiring units to develop ideas and strategies to address short- and long-term employment issues.
- JOB OFFERS
- Ensures selected candidates are contacted to present and explain terms of employment and conditions of offer (salary, merit & benefits eligibility, probationary period, sick/vacation leave accruals, IRCA requirements, special compliance requirements, etc.).
- Ensures compliance with Staff Employee Misconduct (EMD), Personnel File Review and UC Allegations of Misconduct Review (PFAM).
- Finalizes job offer details and communicates the outcome to hiring units.
- JOB POSTINGS
- Ensures job posting details are accurate and compliant with applicable Federal and State laws, university policy, and collective bargaining agreements.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience and/or training
- Experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services that support recruitment and employment.
- Advanced knowledge of recruitment practices and human resources management theory, principles, and practices.
- Demonstrated knowledge of employment law and practices.
- Demonstrated knowledge of University policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated knowledge of standard computing tools (i.e. Word, Excel, Google Suites).
- Demonstrated supervisory skills to coach and mentor staff.
- Strong collaboration and facilitation skills required to work with other areas of human resources and the campus, as it relates to the employment function.
- Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem solving skills.
- Effective organizational and time management skills.
- Effective verbal communication skills to effectively advise a diverse population.
- Effective written communication skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated understanding of the unit goals and this position's role to support those goals.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Bilingual English/Spanish
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT - Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
- The selected candidate has the option to work a hybrid work schedule. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
- This position requires the ability to report to campus to work in-person as operationally required, with reasonable notice as determined by your manager; travel expenses not covered.
- Must reside within the State of California.
- Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
- Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
- Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
- Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.