MESM Director at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management

The Bren School's Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) degree is a 2-year master's degree focused on training the next generation of professionals to solve environmental problems. We seek a MESM Director (100% time) to administer the MESM program in support of the Bren School faculty and administration. The Director is supervised by the Bren School's Assistant Dean. Like all Academic Coordinator positions, the MESM Director is appointed for one year with the opportunity to be reappointed annually following a successful performance evaluation. Formal merit reviews will occur every two years. This position requires being available to students, therefore it is in person.

The job responsibilities for the MESM Director (100% time) include the following:

MESM Program Management and Student Affairs (40%)

-The Director represents the program as the main point of contact and manager of MESM program affairs, attends Orientation and Commencement as representative of the program.

-The Director collaborates with Bren staff to manage admissions, student affairs, academic programs and career services for the MESM program.

-The Director serves as a resource for MESM academic programs. The Director works with faculty to guide the direction of the MESM degree program.

-Serves as the coordinator and consultant for various academic and

professional program committees, including but not limited to the Group

-Project Committee, Master's Curriculum Committee, Recruitment Admissions and Support Committee, Strategic Environmental Communication and Media Program Committees.

-Reviews MESM curriculum, identifies gaps in instruction, and provides recommendations to address personnel shortages.

-Works with specialization advisors (faculty) to update coursework for MESM specializations. Identifies opportunities for short courses or workshops to supplement professional training at the Bren School. Schedules courses and workshops associated with academic foci (including the Eco-Entrepreneurship focus and Strategic Environmental Communication and Media focus).

-The Director serves as a resource to MESM students and is regularly present for advising and guidance, and offers opportunities to hear their ideas and concerns. --Coordinates MESM specialization advising with faculty advisors, reviewing and approving student programs of study through MyPlan or other course planning tools.

-The Director works with administration and staff to address students' needs and improve the quality of the student experience. Generates programmatic initiatives aimed at increasing educational effectiveness and ensuring program competitiveness.

-Works with Finance team on the annual budget for Master's Projects and other MESM programmatic needs, manages budget in coordination with Bren administration.

MESM Program Marketing, Outreach and Recruitment (10%)

-The Director leads outreach and communication efforts on behalf of the MESM program. The Director develops and implements communication strategies for social media and the Bren School's website. The Director collaborates with the Bren School's Media & Communications Director to create web content, social media campaigns and advertisements and brochures.

-The Director develops an admissions and recruitment strategy for the MESM program. This includes travel to on and off-site graduate fairs to promote the program and recruit prospective students.

-The Director attends and promotes the program at recruitment events such as Open House and Admitted Student Day.

-Supports the Development department on fundraising efforts.

-Engages strategically and operationally with Alumni Relations.

Master's Project management, selection and assignment (40%)

-Coordinates the MESM Group Project Committee, which reviews and selects proposals to serve as the master's thesis projects for MESM students. Maintains knowledge of policies and procedures for research project selection and communicates these to faculty and students on the committee. Schedules meetings, sets agendas with faculty chair, distributes meeting materials to committee members, and records project strengths and weaknesses as discussed by committee members. Prepares ballot with project options, manages student voting, and assigns master's projects to first-year MESM students. Works with faculty and MESM Group Project Committee to lead review, analysis and updates to the Group Project processes and structure, as needed.

-Works with faculty chair to assign faculty advisors to master's projects.

-Works with Development staff to help MESM students identify and pursue opportunities for summer internships funded by donors and linked to master's projects.

-Collaborates with Career Development unit to leverage master's projects for summer internships.

-Manages communication with project clients, including notification of proposal acceptance or rejection. Provides guidance and alternatives to clients for rejected projects.

-Coordinates with the Eco-Entrepreneurship (Eco-E) Program Manager to include Eco-E Projects in the annual options for MESM students.

-Within policies set by faculty, oversees timeline for academic milestones and deliverables for Master's Group Projects and Eco-E Projects. Annually updates and posts comprehensive guidelines for Master's Group Projects, maintaining clarity and consistency. Communicates regularly with MESM students and faculty advisors to prepare them for upcoming deliverables.

-Develops and administers professional training and workshops for MESM students on thesis requirements, project management, team building, interpersonal dynamics, conflict resolution, research defenses, public presentations, and other relevant topics. Recruits technical experts to lead professional development workshops, as needed.

-Addresses and resolves concerns and conflicts between students, clients and/or faculty advisors. Provides strategic guidance to faculty advisors and students on effective mediation strategies and facilitates conflict resolution within groups, with the goal of supporting productive group dynamics.

-Deploys, gathers, and archives quarterly self- and peer-evaluation surveys, and annual faculty advisor evaluations for MESM Group Projects and Eco-E Projects.

Monitors and documents Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) from master's projects, providing detailed analyses and strategic recommendations to faculty and deans.

-Prepares MESM students for Faculty Reviews in Winter Quarter. Selects and assigns faculty reviewers and plans Faculty Reviews event. Manages logistics of Faculty Reviews, gathers faculty feedback during reviews, and distributes feedback to students and advisors.

-Prepares MESM students for Final Presentations in Spring Quarter. Works closely with Senior Events Manager to plan annual public event featuring MESM student research. Provides guidance to students on specifications for web abstract. Plans schedule of presentations and coordinates with students on logistics for Final Presentations.

Master's Project marketing and networking (10%)

-Creates and distributes annual Request for Proposals (RFP) for MESM Group Projects. Serves as liaison between the Bren School and prospective project clients, including businesses, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and research and education institutions. Cultivates relationships with prospective clients and donors; facilitates connections between clients, faculty, and students; reviews draft master's project proposals; advises students, prospective clients, and faculty on elements of competitive proposals.

-Updates and maintains searchable online database of master's projects to enhance the visibility of student research and promote the Bren School. Gathers and posts project deliverables to master's project database.

*Master's degree

*Minimum 4 years of experience advising students

*Demonstrated project management experience

*Excellent written and oral communication skills

*Good organizational skills

*Ability to identify and resolve problems

*Ability to work independently under general supervision

*Skilled in computer applications including word processing, data management and analysis, and visual presentation software

*Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

*Familiarity with environmental science

*Experience advising graduate students

*Experiences with event planning

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will be contacted only if the candidate becomes a finalist.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "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 or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

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.