Student Engagement & Expression Specialist

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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: 12/01/2025

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

The Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) is a division united in service of students. The division's North Star values include student-centered decision-making, innovation, and equity and inclusion. DSAS consists of nearly 800 team members across five major units, four led by Associate Vice Chancellors and one led by the Athletic Director. The division also does its work through a range of resource centers dedicated to providing direct student support.

The division's work is grounded in educational equity, institutional responsibility, and an unfettered commitment to supporting the whole student. The division aspires to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and a sense of belonging during their time on campus. The division's efforts are informed by robust and dynamic relationships with campus leadership, faculty, students, and staff from across the campus, reflecting the broad campus commitment to ensuring student success. Beyond UC Santa Cruz, the team is involved in numerous professional organizations and highly engaged in the local community.

The Student Development and Engagement (SDE) unit is one of six major units within the Division of Student Affairs and Success. SDE provides a range of programs, services, resources and experiences for all students with a focus on community engagement, leadership, basic needs and sense of belonging. Equity and social justice are at the core of the unit's approach to working with students and cultivating a vibrant, healthy and welcoming campus community. The Dean of Students Office is one of the areas that make up SDE. The Dean of Students Office's mission is to support student success and well-being, foster a safe and inclusive campus community, and help students engage fully in their education.

More information can be found at: https://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

The Student Engagement & Expression Specialist is a key leader within the Dean of Students Office and a core member of the Student Engagement Team. Serving as a subject-matter expert on student protest, demonstrations, and free expression, the Specialist advances campus compliance by translating federal/state law and UC policy into clear, student-centered guidance. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students for Leadership & Engagement, the Specialist plays a lead role related to education, outreach, policy interpretation, training, and support and response for student demonstrations and other expressive activity-working to ensure student rights are protected while safety, accessibility, and operational continuity are maintained.

This position requires a collaborative, equity-minded, and politically astute professional who is deeply committed to student learning and engagement. The ideal candidate will have the ability to lead in high-pressure, highly visible contexts. They will have a genuine interest in working with and building meaningful relationships with students, student leaders and student organizations, adept at partnering across diverse campus communities, and capable of navigating complex institutional dynamics with thoughtfulness and confidence.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $100,000 - $106,000 / 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: Contract appointment

Job End Date: 22 months from date of hire, with the possibility of extension

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 006232 (ETHICS AND CMPLNC PROFL 3) - Grade 23

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Compliance Oversight and Support - Response to Protests/Demonstrations

• Ensures the university meets its compliance obligations while also serving as a supportive resource to students exercising their rights to free expression.
• Leads and coordinates institutional responses through the Student Engagement Team. Provides on-the-ground support before, during, and after demonstrations and other events related to free speech, applying de-escalation strategies, centering student wellbeing, and safeguarding rights while upholding relevant laws and policies and the University's Principles of Community.
• Serves as a campus resource and subject matter expert on issues related to student protests, demonstrations, free speech, and other forms of student expression, helping students navigate compliance with relevant federal, state, UC and campus policies governing free speech in a way that provides clarity and care.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, UC, and campus policies governing freedom of expression, time, place, and manner guidelines, working to ensure responses protect safety and operations while also affirming student rights, honoring activism as a vital part of university life, and the ability for individuals to exercise their free speech at UCSC.
• Facilitates post-incident debriefs and establishes protocols and processes to develop reporting mechanisms, focuses on learning and improvement, recommends updates to campus protocols that reduce institutional risk while strengthening the university's ability to respect and support student activism in constructive ways.

35% - Event Planning and Risk Management

• Supports student organizations, departments, and external partners by advising on federal, state, UC and campus laws and policies, and Principles of Community, serving as a resource to help students host impactful and policy-aligned events.
• Advises campus leaders on responses to student activism and high-profile events with political, safety, or reputational implications, ensuring alignment with UC and campus policies, continuity of university operations, and compliance with legal obligations-while simultaneously honoring student voices, protecting First Amendment rights, and supporting safe, inclusive participation.
• Conducts reviews and assessments of event-related practices, identifies gaps, and collaborates with stakeholders to strengthen systems so student expression can flourish within safe parameters.
• Provides strategic consultation for cross-divisional initiatives and serves as a policy and protocol lead for major events, ensuring that student engagement is protected, supported, and integrated into institutional planning.

20% - Compliance Education, Training and Communication

• Designs, delivers, and evaluates workshops on freedom of expression, First Amendment obligations, institutional policies, and safe protest management that are designed to support campus community members to understand the university's obligations to comply with federal,state, UC and campus laws and policies.
• Develops policy resources and educational materials for students, faculty, and staff, ensuring accessibility and clarity about UCSC's obligation to be in compliance with those policies.
• Monitors and analyzes national and statewide trends, legal developments, and best practices related to campus expression, incorporating findings into outreach, education and policy recommendations.

5% - Institutional Leadership, Mentoring and Policy Development

• Provides functional guidance regarding policies and practices related to free expression and demonstrations to student affairs professionals and other staff.
• Participates on institutional committees and workgroups addressing issues related to student activism, freedom of expression, and engagement.
• Collaborates on protocols/operations development, proposing revisions to campus practices to reflect evolving legislation, compliance needs, and best practices.
• Serves as a policy compliance liaison across campus units, and the UC system, ensuring alignment of engagement strategies with institutional ethical and compliance standards.
• May support efforts at non-student demonstrations and events in partnership with Risk and Safety Services and other campus departments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience/ training.
• Significant related professional experience in student affairs, event planning, student engagement, or protest response, preferably in a higher education or similarly complex institutional setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in event planning and implementation in higher education or similarly complex institutional settings.
• Knowledge of the First Amendment, student activism, and institutional policies and practices that govern freedom of expression, protest, and campus engagement.
• Ability to provide expert advice and guidance on compliance issues to senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated success planning and executing complex events that require advanced risk management, stakeholder engagement, and political acumen.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in high-stakes, dynamic situations.
• Ability to develop proposals for policy revisions and compliance program improvements to reflect evolving legislation, university philosophy, and best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse groups, build consensus, and navigate sensitive or high-pressure compliance situations.
• Skilled in developing and delivering compliance training and educational programs that foster understanding and accountability across the campus community.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or coordinating institutional response to campus protest or other time-sensitive student-led activity, with attention to safety, student rights, and operational impact.
• Demonstrated commitment to access, engagement, and social justice for all.
• Advanced ability to interpret, apply, and communicate policies and regulations clearly to diverse audiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in student affairs, higher education, conflict resolution, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience leading or supporting large-scale, high-profile campus events with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with mentoring early-career professionals.
• Experience negotiating and administering contracts for event services and vendors.
• Experience developing and managing event budgets.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. 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.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

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

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.