Director, PaCE Innovation and Partnerships

Director, PaCE Innovation & Partnerships

Job no: 557443
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Chancellor's Office
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time

Chancellor's Office Statement

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Director, PaCE Innovation & Partnerships. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

Salary

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $135,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Work Arrangements

Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the main headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Premium Benefits

Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Generous vacation plan

15 paid holidays a year

Tuition waiver education program (also applies to eligible family members)

Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

More details here: Comprehensive Benefits Package

Classification

Administrator III

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Director, PaCE Innovation & Partnerships to provide systemwide leadership and oversight of self-support operations, initiatives, and solutions that advance the CSU goals for student access, success, and a student-centered approach to enrollment management. The role focuses on strengthening collaboration across CSU and PaCE campuses to improve policies, processes, and practices that enable innovative, flexible, and scalable programs and student services.

In addition, the position is designed to build and sustain workforce-aligned partnerships with employers and system stakeholders that enhance career pathways, applied learning opportunities, and workforce readiness for self-support students. The role also supports effective governance and data-informed decision making by leading PaCE Professional development initiatives, overseeing integrated data and analytics efforts, and providing strategic advisory support to the Commission on PaCE and other key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC), Professional and Continuing Education, the Director, PaCE Innovation & Partnerships will perform duties as outlined below:

Management/Leadership:

• Manage self-support operations, projects and systemwide solutions focused on cultivating programs, services, partnerships and activities in support of systemwide professional and continuing education and the students they serve.
• Provide leadership for growth which supports and empowers the development and effective implementation of new academic initiatives and their implementation.
• Attend meetings on behalf of the AVC, prepare reports and presentations for systemwide dissemination. Initiate and attend meetings, serving as the first point of contact for employers seeking system level educational solutions, identifying potential campus partners in collaboration with the AVC.
• Oversee systemwide initiatives, programs and projects ensuring objectives and scope of work are met within budget, including but not limited to vendor selection and collaboration.
• Keep the AVC abreast of mitigating factors affecting initiatives, programs and or projects important to professional and continuing education.
• In collaboration with the AVC, engage in effective written and verbal communication with campus leaders and staff.
• Engage campus leaders and staff systemwide, nationally, and globally.

Internal/External Relations:

• Maintain and develop employer-systemwide relationships, partnerships and initiatives including but not limited to establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employers that benefit CSU students through internships, externships and employment.
• Lead in developing workforce development partnerships with local, regional, and statewide agencies.
• Create, develop, and execute initiatives that result in the expansion of workforce development related programming supported by PaCE divisions at each CSU university.
• Seek avenues to build relationships with industry partners resulting in expanding educational programming partnerships with PaCE statewide.

Planning and Collaboration:

• Integrate resources and develop innovative practices to facilitate the development, review, and implementation of strategic plans within PaCE that are in alignment with the mission and strategic plan of the CSU.
• Serve as a strategic partner for planning, developing, and execution of Commission on Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) objectives, goals, and key results in collaboration with the Commission chairs and AVC.
• Advise the Commission on Professional and Continuing Education Chair, Vice-chair, and AVC on meeting content, practices, cost recovery, strategic budget planning, and strategic planning.
• Oversee and lead operations, programs, initiatives and activities in support of CPaCE.

Training and Development/Supervision

• Serve as the lead for PaCE learning and development initiatives. Oversee the strategic and operational management, development and leadership of curriculum, content and outcomes for the PaCE learning and development initiatives.
• Under the direction of AVC, supervise and direct the work of professional and administrative staff. Provide feedback in areas of growth and performance development.

Research & Data:

• Provide oversight and project management for the data collection project to automate and extract student and program data for required internal and external audiences at the c-level, federal, state, and local levels.

Qualifications

This position requires:

• A Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience is highly preferred, to include a minimum of 5 to 7 years of professional related work experience at the systemwide or university administrative level.
• Workforce development program and partnership development is highly preferred, to include a minimum of 2 to 3 years of professional related work experience.
• Contract management and negotiation experience with third-party service providers is preferred, to include a minimum of 1 year of professional related work experience.

Leadership/Management:

• Supervisory experience or acting as a lead in assigning work.
• Ability to act as the primary liaison for self-support strategies and partnerships systemwide in the absence of the AVC.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage day-to-day programs and operations at the system level, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and compliance expectations. Provide clear leadership and work direction to professional and administrative staff, including coordinating cross-functional efforts; overseeing workflow and performance; and supporting staff through structured training, ongoing development, and intentional coaching to strengthen effectiveness and accountability.
• Ability to interpret and apply systemwide policies and procedures independently, using judgment to act when precedents do not exist. This includes handling confidential data, information and reporting.
• Ability to articulate systemwide plans and initiatives into actionable and measurable.

Operations:

• Demonstrated success in new program development to include credit and non-credit micro credentials, delivery modalities, market and labor analysis, and enrollment management strategies.
• Familiarity with building strong academic programs for non-traditional (adult) and professional students across a range of fields.
• Demonstrated decision making in a self-support or revenue recovery-based operation.
• Ability to troubleshoot and understand problems from a systemwide, broad perspective and seek solutions (preferred).
• Working knowledge of self-support activities within continuing and professional education systemwide (preferred).
• Familiarity with regional accreditation and state authorization (preferred).

Internal/External Relations:

• Working knowledge of state workforce development and investment board programs and funding sources.
• Ability to manage interpersonal relationships systemwide and outside the CSU.
• Ability to leverage influence to drive change and influence stakeholders.

Communication:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit good listening and comprehension skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple tasks, and ability to prioritize tasks to ensure completion in a timely manner to meet deadlines.
• Ability to occasionally work evenings and travel overnight for meetings, exhibits and conferences.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Cooperates with others toward the achievement of common goals.
• Seeks consensus and win-win solutions to problems and conflicts.
• Contributes actively and participates fully in team initiatives.
• Builds and maintains constructive work relationships.

Policy:

• Knowledge of national trends in continuing and professional education.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of systemwide financial policies and procedures, with an ability to use a broad range of technology systems to anticipate and resolve arising matters and implement solutions to address institutional success (preferred).
• Demonstrate working knowledge of: national issues in higher education; CSU systemwide infrastructure and divisional policies; policies affecting California higher education (preferred).

Application Period

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by May 27, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

How To Apply

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.