Departmental Overview

Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, Lifelong Learning & University Extension (SSALLEX) is the extended education division of the University of California, Berkeley, and an essential part of the University's mission to extend UC Berkeley's research and scholarship to a global community.

SSALLEX is a vibrant and dynamic organization that enables more than 60,000 visiting, UC, and potential Cal students, parents, faculty, academic units, international business partners, and central campus service providers to engage in campus activities. The department provides more than 2,000 summer courses, fall freshmen programs, study abroad experiences, global internships, and year-round programs or courses, lectures, special events, and interest circles for older adults.

Position Summary

The Program Director is responsible for implementing and managing the Science, Mathematics, and Biotechnology programs. This position supervises a team of Program Coordinators, Program Specialists, and Student Advisors to ensure academic quality and student success. In collaboration with Lead Instructors and Recruitment specialists, the Program Director manages instructor recruitment, onboarding, and relations.

This position manages program and course planning and scheduling, assessment processes, student conduct procedures, academic advising, budgeting, analysis, reporting, and inter and intra-department communications. The Program Director also collaborates with Admissions Services, Student Services, and Career Services to provide excellent student support.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is July 27, 2026. For full consideration, please apply by the first review date.

Responsibilities

• Establishes evaluation criteria for measuring desired results and impact.
• Manages academic quality assurance and improvement processes as defined by academic leadership, including implementing standards for course preparation, assessment, and evaluation. Under the direction of the Department Director, manages regular meetings with advisory committees and program instructors to discuss ongoing quality improvement.
• Manages resolution process for academic issues with instructors, students, and partners. Manages student conduct processes in collaboration with colleagues from academic and administrative departments. Provides regular reports on results to the Department Director.
• Uses considerable discretion to determine methods and procedures for current and new course offerings and topics.
• Under the guidance of the Assistant Dean for Public Programs, collaborates closely with program directors and program managers in the department to ensure standardization of quality and administration processes across programs
• Plans and develops programs and curriculum, and adjusts existing courses and curriculum in an accredited and/or certified public education environment.
  Works with the Department Director, Assistant Dean, and Instructors to plan and develop programs and curriculum, and updates or adjusts existing courses and curriculum as needed.
• Collaborates with Marketing to communicate programmatic changes.
• Recruits, selects, orients, evaluates, and supervises qualified accredited and/or certificate instructors.
• Recruits, and onboards qualified instructors. Under the guidance of the Department Director, evaluates and supervises instructors, and works closely with the Assistant Dean and Academic Advisory Boards to ensure excellence in all areas of instruction across programs
• Collaborate with Admissions Services, Student Services, Marketing, and Career Services to provide excellent student support through advising and optimization of student communication and information sharing.
• Develops, prepares, and reconciles budget for program(s).
• Provides regular reports and projections to senior leadership in the department
• Evaluates and adjusts course curriculum through student evaluations and levels of interest shown.
• In collaboration with the Department Director, evaluates and adjusts the course curriculum based on student course and outcome evaluations and levels of interest shown. Conducts and/or attends regular student and instructor meetings, and information sessions, and solicits feedback to resolve problems and improve curricula and delivery of courses.
• Manage the program team of Program Specialists and Academic Advisors to provide timely resolution of student and instructor inquiries, concerns, and grievances. Works with the Department Director for continuous quality process improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Skill in using business software systems in the completion of work assignments (i.e., Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of the organization's policies and procedures and/or the ability to learn; advanced knowledge of the functional area, and understands how work impacts other areas of public educational programs.
• Advanced knowledge of accredited and/or certificate program instruction and delivery methodologies, the organization, market, and business strategies.
• Experience managing academic programs.
• Experience assessing the quality of academic programs and managing process improvement efforts.
• Experience managing a portfolio of academic or professional training courses.
• Experience in planning and managing events.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communications skills sufficient to represent the university in meetings with leaders and senior-level representatives of other organizations.
• Experience in asynchronous course development, re-development, and maintenance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher or continuing education.
• Five or more years of experience (or comparable skills/knowledge) working in higher education administration or academic program management, progressively taking on greater responsibilities.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training
• Continuing education in a related field
• Master's or Doctoral degree in a science-related field and/or equivalent experience (preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $86,000-$95,000.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace