Sr. Director for People, Culture, and Engagement

View the full job posting for the Sr. Director for People, Culture, and Engagement

Application Review Begins: 11/2/2026

Department Market Statement

As the University of California's systemwide education abroad organization, the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) inspires and empowers global learning. Since 1962, UCEAP has served more than 100,000 UC students and welcomed over 30,000 international exchange students, advancing the University's commitment to accessible, academically integrated international education. Today, UCEAP supports more than 6,000 student participants annually through more than 160 academically rigorous study, research, internship, and experiential learning programs across 37 international locations, while welcoming approximately 1,500 international students annually to UC campuses through the UCEAP Reciprocal Exchange Program. Guided by its values of integrity, collaboration, agility, inclusion, and stewardship, UCEAP works with faculty, campuses, and global partners to prepare graduates to lead, serve, and contribute in California and around the world.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC.

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

The Senior Director for People, Culture, and Engagement provides strategic leadership and organization-wide direction for people strategy, organizational culture, employee engagement, human resources, and stakeholder relations. Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director, the position serves as a key member of UCEAP's leadership team and oversees the Human Resources and Development and Alumni Engagement units. 

Working within a complex, geographically dispersed organization, the Senior Director develops and implements strategies, programs, and initiatives that foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and support communication, professional development, and relationship-building across UCEAP's workforce and stakeholders.

The Senior Director also serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, collaborating with UC campuses, international study centers, and institutional partners to advance UCEAP's mission, values, and long-term strategic priorities.

 Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Organizational Psychology, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Highly accomplished professional with extensive progressively responsible experience in human resources, organizational development, people and culture, or related organizational functions, including senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational culture, employee engagement, and change strategies in a complex organization.
• Broad experience across multiple HR functional areas, such as employee and labor relations, talent management, compensation, workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management.
• Direct supervisory experience managing professional staff and functional units.
• Strong knowledge of organization development, organizational culture, employee engagement, and change management principles and practices, with the ability to translate organizational priorities into effective people culture strategies.
• Ability to assess organizational needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop practical strategies that strengthen organizational effectiveness, collaboration, engagement, and accountability.
• Broad and substantive knowledge across key human resources functions, such as employee and labor relations, talent management, compensation and total rewards, workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and employment compliance, with the ability to integrate this expertise to develop holistic, people-centered solutions that support organizational growth and workforce sustainability.
• Ability to interpret and apply organizational policies, requirements, and procedures, and provide sound guidance to organizational leadership.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, including the ability to develop and motivate staff, establish priorities, foster accountability, and effectively lead teams and functions across disciplines, including areas outside of primary professional expertise.
• Ability to influence, build consensus, and achieve results across organizational boundaries and without direct-line authority.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to establish credibility, and build effective working relationships across organizational levels, functions, institutional partners, and geographically dispersed environments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into action and consistently deliver high-impact results through effective execution, accountability, and follow-through.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated skill in conflict resolution, performance management, and mediation, including navigating sensitive matters and supporting organization change.
• Strong business acumen, sound judgement, discretion, and negotiation skills, with familiarity with strategic and budget planning methods.
• Proficiency using technology and business applications such as Microsoft 365 or similar platform to support communication, collaboration, analysis, and organizational operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education or a similar public institution.
• Experience working in an international or globally distributed organization.
• Experience overseeing or partnering with Development and Alumni Engagement, advancement, or another specialized organizational function outside the primary area of expertise.
• Experience supporting or leading organization-wide people, culture, and/or employee engagement initiatives and events, particularly in a complex or geographically dispersed organization.
• Familiarity with international HR practices, including foreign employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and indirect or seconded employment arrangements.
• Experience with alumni engagement, development, or related stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR, or comparable professional certification.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Hybrid work arrangement: On-site presence required Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, in addition to leadership and staff meetings, delegation visits, training sessions, and other activities as required. Hybrid arrangements are subject to change.
• The University cannot pay or reimburse expenses prohibited by UC policy, including commuting to the designated work location.
• Access to and handling of sensitive and confidential information, including employee and student records, financial information, and strategic plans. Must exercise discretion, restrict access to those with a legitimate business need, safeguard records, and comply with University privacy and data protection requirements.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a tobacco free environment

Equal Employment Opportunity:
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 status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations:
The University of California endeavors to make https://jobs.ucsb.edu accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805-893-4664 or email [email protected]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $123,000 to $200,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $123,000 to $237,000/year.