Systemwide Director, Project Rebound

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Systemwide Director, Project Rebound. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $135,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Administrator III

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Systemwide Director, Project Rebound to provide strategic leadership, direction, and operational management for Project Rebound programs across the 22 CSU campuses, with a focus on expanding access, strengthening enrollment pathways, and improving retention and degree completion for formerly incarcerated students.

The systemwide director guides the campus Project Rebound programs on policy and strategy, and cultivates and leads strategic partnerships across campuses, university divisions, key external community-based organizations, and public agencies to advance the program’s mission, strategic goals, long-term vision, and initiatives in alignment with CSU Forward, the Student Success Framework and the Strategic Enrollment Management Framework.

The systemwide director provides strategic leadership in advancing the program’s mission, growth, and long-term sustainability across the CSU system. This position leads strategic planning, resource development and allocation, operational effectiveness, and assessment. The systemwide director will also oversee data-informed decision making and will develop and prepare CSU, legislative, and other required reports.

Under the general direction of the Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs, Equity & Belonging, the Systemwide Director, Project Rebound will perform duties as outlined below:

Strategic Leadership

-Fosters a culture of collaboration, responsiveness, professionalism, transparency, and accountability across current and expansion campuses. Builds strong relationships through open and honest communication with campus program staff and partners, builds a team-orientated structure, and provides fair and equitable leadership.

-Leads strategic planning processes guided by principles of equity, transparency, and accountability and engaging widely with campus program staff, student staff, and key campus stakeholders across the campuses to advance CSU Forward, Student Success Framework and Enrollment Management Framework priorities.

-Develops forward-thinking strategic plans and establishes multi-campus infrastructure for building postsecondary educational pathways for formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students.

-Leads a systemwide communications strategy to elevate Project Rebound’s image, promotes its mission and programs, and builds Project Rebound’s reputation as a national model within regional, national, and global communities.

-Monitors and informs CO leadership and campuses of emerging policies, opportunities, and national trends that affect Project Rebound’s objectives.

Resource Planning and Allocation

-Plans the annual and long-range budget, establishing priorities and forecasting budget needs.

-Oversees systemwide budgets and accounts from multiple revenue streams and monitors expenses.

-Leads development strategies that include identifying and maximizing external funding opportunities. In collaboration with the CO Sponsored Programs Office, serves as a key partner and liaison in the preparation and submission of grant proposals.

-Develops and manages the implementation of a student-centered funding formula to guide campus funding in alignment with statewide goals.

Systemwide Administration and Policy

-Provides leadership and maintains regular communications with and frequent reporting to the Chancellor’s Office and campus leadership, state government, and campus program directors and coordinators.

-Ensures key systemwide program elements and service objectives are implemented consistently and successfully. This includes conducting regular meetings and site visits with Project Rebound campus program directors/coordinators to assess progress and identify common obstacles, recommend solutions, and promote the adoption of replicable innovations.

-Reviews and leads the implementation of new/revised CSU policies and state statutes that affect the Project Rebound programs, ensuring organizational readiness.

-Develops and implements a systemwide data collection, management, and reporting system that supports accountability and data informed decision making.

-Monitors enrollment, retention, transfer, and graduation data and provide recommendations to the Chancellor, SEMSS leadership, campus leadership to improve enrollment, persistence and degree completion.

-Administers a systemwide formative and summative assessment program that satisfies state-mandated legislative reporting requirements, facilitates progressive program improvement, and centers the agency and humanity of system-impacted people.

Establish Statewide Partnerships and Strengthen Collaborations

-Cultivates and leads strategic partnerships across multiple CSU campuses and their divisions, and with key external public agencies and community-based organizations to advance Project Rebound’s mission, strategic goals, initiatives, and systemwide impact.

-In collaboration with Strategic Enrollment Management, strengthens partnerships to build upper-division transfer pathways for incarcerated students seeking to complete their degrees at CSU campuses upon release from prison.

-Cultivates, enhances, and builds external relationships with a variety of senior leaders and campus partners, alumni, community partners and supporters, potential donors, and volunteers.

-Develops and maintains strategic partnerships and serves as the liaison with local, state, and federal agencies, organizations, and corporations to elevate visibility and long-term sustainability.

-Represents and advocates for Project Rebound in local, state, and federal forums.

-Builds and strengthens relationships with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Community Colleges, and the University of California.

-Other duties as assigned to advance the program’s strategic priorities and in support of the department’s mission and goals.

This position requires:

-A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

-Five (5) years of full-time experience in managing and implementing student programs and initiatives in higher education is required.

-Three (3) years of experience working effectively in a higher education setting serving historically underserved, and/or marginalized student communities is required.

-Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice and to the higher education and empowerment of people whose lives have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

-Excellent analytical, verbal, written communication, and presentation skills and demonstrated ability to articulate complex issues, plans, and concepts to diverse and differently situated internal and external stakeholders.

-Strong ability to analyze, interpret, and formulate strategic goals based on financial and program performance data.

-Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact with diverse constituencies, both inside and outside the University, including highly educated professionals, faculty, staff, volunteers, community partners, executive administration, local, state, and federal officials from all three branches of government, and donors.

-Possesses familiarity with extramural grant policies and procedures.

-Demonstrated knowledge of universities that are part of a system.

-Demonstrated ability to develop, interpret and implement procedures, policies and regulations.

-Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, identify viable solutions, and follow through with implementation and course-correction as needed.

-Demonstrated experience with effective project management and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.

-Experience developing and drafting various reports (e.g., year-end, progress, proposals, compliance, etc.).

-Two (2) years of experience working effectively with justice impacted students and other historically underserved student populations is highly preferred.

-Master’s degree and experience in one or more areas of student development and leadership programs is highly desirable. 

-Demonstrated knowledge of the experiences, barriers, and challenges faced by formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals is highly desirable.

-Extensive knowledge of the history, policies, procedures, and impacts of the criminal legal system as well as the state and national ecosystems of criminal justice reform.

-Experience working with a multi-campus system and/or engaging in strategic university/community partnerships.

-Leads with empathy and compassion for creating and maintaining positive relationships, both internally and externally.

-Self-aware and attuned to the emotions of others to help create a positive work environment.

-Experience with engaging effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders and connect with various audiences.

-Able to work collaboratively in a culturally diverse environment where many different voices will be heard and acknowledged.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by November 2, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at (562) 951-4070.

Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at: https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix

This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHSUSCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions (i.e., H1-B VISAS).

Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

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 CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.

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