Assistant Director-Strategic Initiatives (3 Year Temporary) Internal Only

Application Open to Internal Candidates Only

Definition & Purpose

The Assistant Director–Strategic Initiatives provides executive leadership and organizational ownership of ASI's organization-wide strategic initiatives, organizational effectiveness, and administrative operations. The position leads strategic planning, enterprise project governance, organizational performance, change management, and continuous improvement efforts while overseeing the Administration and Organizational Development departments.

Serving as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and executive leadership, the Assistant Director provides organizational analysis, facilitates executive decision-making, and ensures successful implementation of ASI's Strategic Plan through performance measurement, governance, and cross-functional collaboration. The position builds partnerships internally and across the university to advance organizational priorities, strengthen operational excellence, and ensure alignment with institutional priorities and regulatory requirements.

This position is based at the Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Requirements

Educational & Qualifying Experience, Skills, Licenses, Credentials

Educational/License/Credential Requirements

• Graduation from a four-year college or university.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Must hold a CA Driver’s License with a driving record acceptable to ASI insurance underwriters.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum five (5) years of experience demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, preferably in a college or university setting.
• Experience in project management, strategic planning, and change management.
• Demonstrated experience in communication and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Supervisory experience required.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements

• Comprehensive project management capabilities across complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to motivate, mentor, and develop staff. 
• Strong political acumen and discretion with confidential/sensitive matters.
• Organization, time management, and the ability to plan ahead while adapting to shifting priorities.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate and present content to small and large groups.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and partner institutions.
• High attention to detail with strong follow-through, persistence, and patience in evolving environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, SharePoint, and project management tools.
• Understanding of budgeting and purchasing processes.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise the Executive Assistant.
• Directly supervise the Coordinator I–Administrative Support.
• Directly supervise the Assistant Coordinator–Organizational Development.
• Oversee supervision of all subordinate professional and student employees.

Executive Leadership

• Lead executive governance, strategic planning, and organizational change initiatives to advance ASI priorities.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and ASI Management Team by providing organizational analysis and recommendations that support global decision-making.
• Evaluate organizational risks and opportunities and recommend strategies that strengthen organizational performance.
• Represent ASI among university leadership, CSU partners, and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and advance organizational priorities.
• Develop executive materials that support informed decision-making, governance, and organizational accountability.

Strategic Initiatives

• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives and ASI Strategic Plan priorities from planning through implementation to align with institutional priorities.
• Serve as the primary liaison among ASI, university stakeholders, and external partners to support strategic initiatives.
• Lead strategic projects by developing action plans, monitoring progress, preparing executive briefings, and mitigating risks.
• Direct working groups and stakeholder engagement efforts while coordinating meetings, timelines, documentation, and organizational communications.
• Develop and maintain project management systems and governance processes supporting strategic initiatives.

Strategic Planning and Assessment

• Lead implementation of ASI's Strategic Plan by aligning organizational initiatives, departmental priorities, and operations.
• Assess organizational risks and barriers and recommend corrective actions.
• Evaluate ASI Strategic Plan outcomes, recommend updates, and facilitate continuous improvement to ensure organizational priorities remain relevant and responsive.
• Develop and communicate organizational performance metrics and ASI Strategic Plan progress reports for executive leadership and governance.
• Develop organizational assessment frameworks to measure effectiveness, identify trends, and support data-informed decision-making.

Organizational Development

• Develop organizational frameworks and best practices that strengthen leadership, staff performance, and operational excellence.
• Lead enterprise business process improvements by evaluating workflows, systems, and services to improve efficiency and organizational capacity.
• Evaluate corporate communications, information flow, and change management, recommending improvements that strengthen transparency and collaboration across ASI.
• Establish governance standards and continuous improvement practices that support organizational growth, operational consistency, and implementation of the ASI Strategic Plan.

Budget & Resource Management

• Oversee departmental budgets for Administrative Support and Organizational Effectiveness, with shared oversight of additional budgets in collaboration with other directors. 
• Authorize expenditures within delegated limits and ensure alignment with budget priorities. 
• Monitor financial performance and ensure fiscal responsibility across areas of oversight.

Administrative Support

• Lead Administrative Support operations, ensuring services, systems, and administrative functions support organizational priorities and executive leadership.
• Lead performance management and professional development by establishing expectations to foster accountability and operational excellence.
• Evaluate administrative processes and workflows using systems thinking to improve efficiency, standardization, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Direct administrative systems, resource coordination, and operational processes to ensure continuity and responsive organizational support.

Compliance

• Exercise sound judgment on priorities, confidentiality, and escalation needs, navigating sensitive conversations with discretion and diplomacy.
• Evaluate potential impacts of errors or risks in all functions of the role and implement corrective communication and workflow adjustments.
• Ensure documentation of decisions, change proposals, deliverables, and timelines to support accountability.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in ASI policy as a condition of their employment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Background Check

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. ASI will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current ASI employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Benefits

Salary Schedule

• Starting Annual Salary: $99,701.42
• Annual Salary Range: $99,701.42 - $159,522.27
• Premium Overtime: No 
• Shift Differential:  No
• Exemption Status: Exempt  

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Social Security (FICA)
• Paid State Holidays
• Vacation Time
• Sick Leave
• Personal Holiday
• Birthday Holiday
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Unemployment Insurance

Application Open to Internal Candidates Only

Accepting Applications Until 08/24/2026

Location: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA.

The Associated Students, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.