Graduate Advisor and Department Analyst

*The nature of this position requires an in-person, on-campus presence during the academic year. In time, 1-2 days of remote work per week may be considered. Summers (mid-June to mid-Sept) may be mostly remote.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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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: 01-06-2026

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 Politics Graduate Program at UC Santa Cruz studies politics through historical, philosophical, cultural, conceptual and other perspectives - in addition to the scientific approaches that are customary in the U.S. discipline of political science. The small size of the program encourages close interactions among the 20 faculty and 30 doctoral students.

The Politics Department is the administrative home to the Legal Studies Program, including curriculum/scheduling and events. Politics Department and other affiliated faculty, including lecturers with offices in Crown and Merrill, are supported by the faculty service centers.

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

JOB SUMMARY

Administrative support of graduate program, including admissions, academic advising, financials and student employment. Event coordination, purchasing, reimbursement and travel processing. Oversight of faculty service center, equipment, and student workers. Politics and Legal Studies lecture pool management and hiring. Interpret and apply university policies. Provide backup to the Department Manager, as needed.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $71,200.00 - $82,100.00 / 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 Main Campus

Union Representation: Student Services and Advising Professionals (SSAP) - SV Union

Job Code Classification: 004575 (STDT SVC ADVISOR 3) - Grade 19

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

60% - Graduate Program Coordination and Advising

• Applying professional student services concepts, provides the full range of student services to the student population served by the organization.
• Academic Advising: From recruitment and admissions to degree completion - responsible for interpreting organization policies and advising students and faculty on requirements for progress, recommending interventions as needed.
• Serves as liaison and resource to campus offices including the Dean's Office, Registrar's Office, Graduate Division, International Programs, Summer Session, other academic departments and advisors.
• Financial aid: Researches and resolves issues associated with block allocation, admission offers, graduate student employment, research/travel/summer fellowship disbursement, and/or financial aid. Ensures compliance with contracts, policies and procedures. Tracks and advises on student funding history, needs, and employment eligibility.
• Academic Human Resources: manages the assignment and appointment of Teaching Assistants, Graduate Student Instructors, and Readers; configures student evaluation surveys and faculty assessments.
• Manages content for the graduate program's web and social media presence, curriculum and catalog.

40% - Department Analyst

• Financial Support for Department Operations: Initiates and completes all necessary accounting forms (i.e., purchase orders, travel advance requests, recharge forms, honorarium, reimbursement, etc.). Inventories and orders office supplies. Responsible for the copy machine administration. Researches and recommends purchases to the Department Manager.
  *Academic HR: Acts as point person for Politics and Legal Studies Lecturer Pools - acknowledges and communicates with new applicants, coordinates faculty review of file materials, processes batch reports to qualify applicants for future hiring considerations. Acts as liaison with divisional HR staff and submits hiring dossiers as directed.
• Events: Plans and implements complex, high-visibility events for the Politics Department and Legal Studies Program, including room reservations, set-up and breakdown coordination, creation of flyers and other publicity. Coordinates with speakers to make arrangements for travel, equipment needs and reimbursements.
• Facilities: Maintains database, tracks department space utilization, assigns offices and keys/codes for grads, faculty, lecturers and staff.
• Oversees work-study students supporting Merrill and Crown Faculty Service Centers and delegates low-level administrative tasks (mailboxes, mail distribution, copies and scanning projects). Advertises open work-study positions through campus systems and manages recruitment and hiring processes.
• Acts as back up to Department Manager for AHR, budget support and resource management when the department manager is absent.
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Demonstrated knowledge of advising and counseling techniques; experience working in higher education with students.
• Multicultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, including the ability to set priorities, maintain workflow, meet deadlines, and complete a high volume of work with frequent interruptions.
• Abilities to assimilate, interpret, explain, and apply a variety of UC administrative policies and procedures.
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with individuals at all levels within the organization, and other professionals.
• Solid writing and editing with the ability to draft and edit a variety of documents.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Skills in judgment and decision-making, problem solving, and discretion relative to sensitive or confidential matters.
• Strong budgeting, financial accounting, or payroll skills and experience.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  

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.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.