Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
The University of California, San Diego
About this position
Position Description
University of California San Diego is one of the fastest growing and most highly ranked and innovative public research universities in the US, with deep commitment to a transformational experience for its 46K+ students and supporting an outstanding faculty of 3K members. The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (EVCAA) is central to advancing UC San Diego’s vision as a public university that is student centered, research driven, patient dedicated, and service oriented. The EVCAA actively promotes the scholarly, educational and engagement mission of Academic Affairs units and oversees campus-wide support for academic personnel services and Academic Senate coordination. Direct Reports of the EVCAA include the Deans of the eight Academic Affairs Schools; Divisional Deans for Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs, and Extended Studies; Provosts of the eight undergraduate residential Colleges; the University Librarian, and a broad range of essential academic and administrative units. The Office of the EVCAA serves as the administrative home for the Executive Vice Chancellor and the senior leadership team—including the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, and Associate Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Finance & Administration. Reporting to the Chancellor and as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the EVCAA will be a key partner in setting and executing UC San Diego's strategic plan (https://plan.ucsd.edu/). The EVCAA joins a dynamic leadership team of vice chancellors, deans, center and institute directors, and others focused on scale, impact, and distinction—supporting a campus culture that values creativity, rigor, collaboration, and accountability. With an extraordinary faculty, an engaged and diverse student body, and a culture that embraces bold thinking and continuous evolution, UC San Diego offers the EVCAA a powerful platform to influence the future of higher education—on campus and far beyond it.As one of four academic vice chancellors, the EVCAA will have a key voice in shaping the future of Academic Affairs—championing faculty excellence, advancing innovative educational models, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring that academic strategy keeps pace with a rapidly changing scientific, economic, and societal landscape. Priorities for the next Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: Each of the priorities outlined below is essential to the success of UC San Diego’s academic mission and should be understood as interdependent and equally important. Shape and execute the academic vision that defines UC San Diego’s next era.Serve as the Chancellor’s closest strategic partner in translating a bold institutional vision into measurable institutional outcomes. Build deep alignment with the Chancellor, Academic Senate, Cabinet, and Deans to ensure UC San Diego’s strategic plan is not only aspirational, but also operational—guiding decisions, investments, and priorities across Academic Affairs. The Leadership Opportunity UC San Diego Elevate faculty excellence as UC San Diego’s primary engine of distinction and impact.Lead a comprehensive approach to faculty recruitment, development, retention, and promotion that strengthens UC San Diego’s global standing. Attract and empower world-class scholars and teachers, support rising academic leaders, and ensure the conditions for faculty success across disciplines—enhancing both research eminence and undergraduate and graduate education. Advance a future-ready academic portfolio that responds to scale, complexity, and opportunity.Align research and academic programs and define new educational models to respond to evolving research frontiers, student demand, and societal needs. Champion interdisciplinary initiatives, strengthen the undergraduate experience at scale, and ensure graduate education and research continue to thrive in depth, rigor, and innovation. Lead a high-performing academic leadership team and cultivate a productive culture.Build, mentor, and inspire a collaborative leadership community within Academic Affairs defined by ambition, trust, and accountability. Set clear expectations, delegate appropriately, empower decision-making, and nurture a culture that rewards excellence, innovation, and shared responsibility across schools, colleges, and academic units. Modernize and optimize academic operations to unlock institutional capacity.Improve institution efficiency and operational excellence by strategic resource allocation and the reduction of bureaucracy. Ensure that systems, policies, and infrastructure enable—rather than constrain—academic creativity and curiosity, productivity, innovation, and growth. Ensure financial stewardship and alignment in support of academic priorities.Partner closely with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration to align academic goals with financial realities. Promote transparency, discipline, and strategic investment in budgeting and resource allocation, ensuring that UC San Diego’s academic ambitions are sustainable, well-resourced, and clearly communicated.
Qualifications
We are seeking a strong academic leader, accomplished scholar, and administrator with a proven record of leadership in academic planning and development. The ideal candidate will bring significant experience in establishing collaborative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bring faculty, academic staff, and students from multiple disciplines together to creatively address issues affecting teaching and research. A demonstrated commitment to shared governance and a history of achievement working in a diverse academic community are essential. The candidate must also have a proven track record of success in strategic planning, budgeting, and faculty recruiting, as well as demonstrated business acumen and using technology to drive efficient business processes. The EVCAA must be an effective and collaborative team member as part of the Chancellor’s Cabinet. Active participation as a creative leader in attaining institutional academic fundraising goals will also be a key component of this role. As the leader of Academic Affairs of a world-class research university, the next EVCAA will support and encourage the creation of a culture and community that supports students, enables and empowers schools and colleges with a “customer service” orientation, and drives partnerships that enable UC San Diego’s ambitious mission and goals. This will require the EVCAA to: Invest in developing trusted, productive relationships across the Academic Affairs division and the university. Strengthen the programs that ensure a distinctive and innovative undergraduate experience—one that optimizes the eight-college residential system, focuses on teaching and learning, and supports a dedicated teaching faculty. Continue to work with faculty to define graduate and professional student experience in the classroom, lab, and studio, enabling our graduates to compete for top employment positions. Create a collegial, inclusive, mission- and team-oriented culture that nurtures collaboration, enabling faculty, staff, and students to thrive collectively. Collaborate closely with the Chancellor and University Advancement team, strengthening the philanthropic support of current donors and amplifying resources for Academic Affairs, including support of scholarships and fellowships. Promote communication with other UC campuses and advocate for UC San Diego vis a vis the UC System. The EVCAA will strengthen UC San Diego’s institutional capacity by ensuring that leadership, structures, and systems are aligned to support excellence, agility, and sustained impact across Academic Affairs. This leader will: Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team unified by purpose, trust, and accountability. Delegate as appropriate to the team and other academic leaders in Academic Affairs. Bring disciplined operational and financial leadership to clarify priorities, align resources, and accelerate decision making. Work with school Deans to recruit and retain faculty members at the cutting edge of their discipline. Foster an environment that promotes collaboration, innovation, and responsible experimentation. Lead Enrollment Management initiatives to further the campus identity as an institution of first choice for the most talented undergraduates and graduates. Champion a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging that enables all members of the community to thrive. Demonstrate advanced crisis and culture management skills, managing in high-pressure situations. Forge strategic partnerships that modernize business processes and enhance academic and administrative efficiencies and effectiveness. Ideal experience for the next EVCAA: Exceptional academic stature. A highly accomplished scholar with the ability to be appointed at the senior professorial level. Academic curiosity and creativity to think beyond one’s own discipline. Successful, transformative administrative leadership at a complex research university, ideally with some exposure to a public institution. Strong financial agility and operational acumen. Ability to prioritize complex issues. Deep demonstrated commitment to shared governance and working alongside an Academic Senate. Ability to build strong relationships with people and groups. Proven success in empowering a high-performing team and creating a culture characterized by trust, partnership, and empathy. Firm but fair. Proven track record of galvanizing ideas and bringing people together from disparate areas. Demonstrated understanding of faculty promotion, tenure, and discipline. A record of authentic and impactful engagement on issues of equity, diversity, multi-culturalism, and inclusion. Highly effective communication skills. A strong listener. An articulate, honest, inspiring communicator.
Job Location
Campus