Assistant Director for Crisis Response

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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: 09-08-2025

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

Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES) is a multifaceted organization within the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). CHES provides leadership in student life, residential services, housing, dining, facilities, capital planning, conference services, early education services, and business and financial analysis. These units deliver educational and developmental programs that enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff, children, and external constituents. CHES oversees on-campus housing and dining for approximately 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students across ten residential colleges and six multi-college residential communities, supporting both single students and students with families.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Associate Director for Crisis Response and Operations, the Assistant Director for Crisis Response provides leadership and direct oversight for all crisis management and emergency response efforts within the College Student Life (CSL) residential communities. This role supervises two Residential Crisis Response Coordinators and ensures that best practices in crisis intervention, trauma-informed response, and student-centered emergency management are implemented across residential housing. The Assistant Director is responsible for developing, evaluating, and executing emergency response protocols, collaborating with campus partners on student safety efforts, and ensuring that residential staff are well-trained and prepared to respond effectively to crises. This position requires deep expertise in case management, crisis intervention, and emergency preparedness within a student affairs or residential setting.

This position is a live-on role, with housing provided, and requires participation in an on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 emergency coverage. Flexibility in scheduling, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on student and institutional needs is also required.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $83,000/annually
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: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: STDT LIFE DEVT SUPV 2 (004568)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

45% - Crisis Response and Emergency Management Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for all crisis response efforts within the College Student Life and ARCH communities, ensuring a trauma-informed, student-centered approach to emergency situations.
  Supervise and support two Residential Crisis Response Coordinators, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in crisis response protocols across residential housing.
• Develop and implement best practices in crisis response, including strategies for de-escalation, mental health crisis response, and emergency medical situations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all major student crises within residential communities, collaborating with university leadership, campus safety teams, mental health professionals, and student support offices.
• Oversee and manage on-call protocols, ensuring that professional staff are trained and equipped to handle emergency situations.
• Regularly review and update emergency response protocols in alignment with evolving best practices in student crisis management, trauma-informed care, and behavioral intervention.
• Ensure compliance with all university, state, and federal policies regarding student safety, crisis response, and risk management.

25% - Supervision and Staff Development

• Directly supervise two Residential Crisis Response Coordinators, providing mentorship, guidance, and performance evaluations.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding efforts for crisis response staff, ensuring highly qualified professionals with expertise in student mental health and emergency response.
• Design and implement professional development opportunities for crisis response staff, focusing on case management, trauma-informed response, and crisis intervention strategies.
• Facilitate training sessions for residence life staff on best practices for crisis response, student support, and emergency procedures.
• Provide consultation and coaching to residence life staff on handling complex student crises and mental health concerns.

20% - Case Management and Student Support

• Work closely with the Dean of Students Office, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), and Title IX Office to ensure students in crisis receive timely and appropriate support.
• Represent CSL on university-wide committees related to student crisis response, behavioral intervention, and emergency management.
• Lead the development and assessment of crisis response protocols, ensuring they align with national best practices and meet the needs of UCSC residential students.
• Oversee crisis response documentation, ensuring thorough and accurate case tracking, follow-up, and referrals.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with campus and community resources to support students facing complex personal and mental health challenges.
• Lead post-crisis debriefings and case reviews, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring staff receive appropriate support after handling traumatic incidents.
• Develop and implement proactive strategies to minimize crisis incidents through educational outreach and preventive interventions.
• Maintain privacy and ethical responsibility in managing sensitive student information.

10% - Community Safety, Security, and Development

• Foster a strong sense of safety and security within residential spaces by developing strategies that support student well-being and residential community cohesion.
  Support efforts to cultivate a positive, inclusive, and academically supportive living environment across residential communities.
• Serve as a resource to residence life staff in addressing student concerns and resolving conflicts in ways that promote student growth, community belonging and connection.
• Participate in on-call roles and responsibilities, responding to residential emergencies and student concerns as needed.
• Support leadership in crisis response and follow-up, ensuring students receive appropriate support and resources.
• Work collaboratively with CSL staff, campus safety teams, and student support offices to manage and assess policies related to emergency response and residential community care.
• Ability to drive personal and/or campus owned vehicles to locations on and off campus in order to provide on-call response for a variety of situations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in social work, counselor education, psychology, emergency management, or a related field or equivalent work experience and/or training.
• Professional experience in crisis response, case management, student support services, or emergency management.
• Experience supervising staff and providing effective leadership in high-pressure situations.
• Strong understanding of student mental health issues, behavioral intervention models, and de-escalation techniques.
• Experience developing and leading training programs for staff on crisis response and emergency preparedness.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively respond to crises, provide consultation to staff, and engage with campus partners.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student-centered crisis response approaches.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated expertise in crisis response, trauma-informed care, and emergency response strategies within residential or campus settings.
• Proven ability to collaborate with mental health professionals, law enforcement, and campus safety teams in managing student crises.
• Experience working within the University of California system or a similarly complex higher education institution.
• Knowledge of campus safety protocols, Title IX regulations, and student conduct processes.
• Experience with case management software and crisis tracking systems.
• Certification in Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Prevention, or related fields.
• Previous experience developing policies to address behavioral health crises in residential communities.
  

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.
• Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work on-call.
• Ability to respond to emergencies after hours as necessary.
• 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.
a. "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.