San José State University · 1 day ago
Program Director, Black Leadership and Opportunity Center
San Jose, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$6,320/mo - $9,014/mo
4+ years expSan José State University is seeking a Program Director for the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center (BLOC) to manage its administrative operations and develop programs that support Black students' success. The role focuses on fostering a sense of belonging, empowering student leaders, and preparing students for life after graduation, while also cultivating partnerships with campus and community organizations.
Education
No H1B
Responsibilities
Develop and implement a recruitment strategy and training curriculum for student assistants that cultivates their leadership skills while preparing them to effectively support and operationalize the center’s programs and services
Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the BLOC that is in alignment with the University and Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plans
Create culturally affirming spaces, programs, and services that foster social, cultural, and academic engagement for students, faculty, and staff, while strengthening Black students’ sense of belonging and connection to both the BLOC and the broader SJSU community
Develop, manage, and assess high-impact programs that strengthen Black student success, including but not limited to, peer mentoring programs, leadership development, and student research opportunities in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), while also designing and launching new initiatives that foster belonging, persistence, retention, and graduation, student leadership skills, and career readiness
Lead the design and execution of targeted retention initiatives—including phone outreach campaigns, early alert interventions, and specialized support strategies—in partnership with college advising success centers, Financial Aid, Admissions, and other campus stakeholders to proactively identify and remove barriers to persistence, retention, and graduation for Black students
Develop an inclusive, consistent, and student-centered approach to assessment by creating a logic model for the BLOC and a comprehensive evaluation plan to measure the effectiveness and impact of its programs and services. Utilize the Division of Student Affairs Learning and Engagement Question Bank and other CSU/SJSU assessment tools to ensure alignment with divisional practices and continuous improvement
Partner with other departments within the Student Equity and Belonging cluster to align initiatives, avoid duplication of efforts, and expand the reach and impact of programs that support Black student success
Identify and cultivate partnerships with campus departments, faculty/staff affinity groups, and local community organizations to expand networks of support and advocacy for Black student success
Provide consultation, advocacy, and direct support to students, making referrals to appropriate campus and community resources as needed
Collaborate with Institutional Research, college success centers, and student support programs to develop interventions, provide retention services, and create pathways that foster persistence through graduation
Address complex and sensitive issues involving students, faculty, staff, and family members with professionalism, discretion, and care, ensuring compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) while engaging parents and families in ways that support student success and respect student privacy
Oversee and manage the center’s operational budget, including forecasting and projecting annual expenses, in collaboration with the Senior Director and AVP for Student Equity and Belonging
Provide sound fiscal stewardship by developing and monitoring the annual budget, identifying short- and long-term priorities, and preparing mid-year projections and reports
Oversee the daily operations of the BLOC, including managing email communication, scheduling meetings and events, coordinating use of the center space, and maintaining an organized and welcoming environment. Ensure that safety protocols, risk management practices, and compliance requirements are followed by all who use the center
Provide supervision and leadership for professional staff. Responsibilities include hiring, onboarding, training, mentorship, and professional development, as well as conducting performance evaluations and setting goals in alignment with university policies and divisional priorities
Develop, interpret, and implement internal policies, procedures, and workflows that ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance with university, CSU, and federal regulations (e.g., Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Regularly review and update practices to align with evolving institutional priorities and standards
Qualification
Required
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field plus upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related
Four years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience which includes experience in advising students individually and in groups, and in analysis and resolution of complex student services problems. A master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work or a job‑related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling, guidance or a job‑related field may be substituted for two years of the required professional experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional, personal or career counseling
Preferred
A Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Cultural Studies, Social Work, or a job-related field is preferred
Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and assessing retention initiatives that advance student success for historically underserved student populations
Experience coordinating, planning, and facilitating programs and services that support students across multiple intersecting identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc.)
Two (2) to three (3) years of direct experience working with Black students in higher education
Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing student staff and graduate assistants
Experience supervising or collaborating with faculty fellows and other academic partners
Experience in budget management, including forecasting, resource allocation, and reporting
Demonstrated experience with program evaluation and measuring program impact
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary
Company
San José State University
With the Spartan Edge, you gain more than a degree – you gain career momentum.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Christopher Bankston
Adjunct Faculty | Lecturer
Recent News
2026-01-16
East Bay Times
2025-12-10
2025-11-01
Company data provided by crunchbase