Chancellor's Office Statement

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 Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Strategy & Transformation. 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.

Salary

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $300,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Work Arrangements

Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the main headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Premium Benefits

Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Generous vacation plan

15 paid holidays a year

Tuition waiver education program (also applies to eligible family members)

Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

More details here: Comprehensive Benefits Package

Classification

Administrator IV

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking an Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Strategy & Transformation to provides innovative vision, thought leadership, and strategic direction to advance high-impact, data-informed strategies that fuel enrollment growth and yield, expand access, and strengthen institutional sustainability and performance across the 22-campus California State University (CSU) system.

The AVC plays a central role in operationalizing key priorities of CSU Forward and the CSU Strategic Enrollment Management framework by leading systemwide efforts to modernize onboarding and admissions experiences, strengthening affordability through strategic financial aid, supporting the expansion of flexible and workforce-aligned academic pathways, advancing a responsive adult learner model, and scaling efforts for student re-engagement and re-enrollment. This role also supports the implementation of critical infrastructure, including a unified student lifecycle CRM and an integrated data ecosystem that delivers real-time, actionable insights, to support personalized high-tech, high-touch student engagement and success outcomes.

As a key member of the SEMSS Division leadership team, the AVC serves as a strategic partner and senior liaison to campus vice presidents and associate vice presidents of enrollment, advancing systemwide enrollment goals by scaling innovation and improving outcomes for all student populations, and supporting leadership onboarding. The AVC champions evidence-based approaches that equip universities with predictive analytics, integrated student support models, and regionally responsive strategies that accelerate measurable gains in student retention, persistence, and timely degree completion while strengthening institutional capacity for long-term success. The AVC also provides expert advice to the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, Chancellor’s Council and other campus leaders in enrollment strategy and student success, and represents the CSU in engagements with external partners, including but not limited to legislative agencies, national organizations, community partners, and other university leaders.

The AVC provides leadership and oversight of strategic enrollment management, admissions, financial aid, strategic partnerships, and outreach, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in innovation, accountability, and collaboration. The AVC oversees budget planning and resource allocation to ensure alignment with systemwide priorities, and leads continuous assessment of enrollment related polices, practices, and procedures to drive measurable effectiveness across the CSU system.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Vice Chancellor, SEMSS, the Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Strategy & Transformation will perform duties as outlined below:

Lead Systemwide Enrollment Strategy, Innovation and Planning

-Set vision and strategic direction for enrollment management, ensuring alignment of outreach, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and student success efforts with long-term institutional goals and statewide needs.

-Provide expert analysis of current and emerging trends affecting enrollment growth, decline, and yield, including demographics, regional shifts, K-12 pipelines, and transfer patterns, to inform strategies that achieve systemwide enrollment targets. 

-Establish systemwide yield goals and performance benchmarks, using data and predictive analytics to monitor and inform continuous refinement of recruitment, admission, and financial aid strategies.

-Identify and scale innovative enrollment practices, including technology-enabled solutions, application and CRM systems that expand access and improve the student experience across all populations.

-Leverage systemwide data, predictive analytics, and external research to assess workforce, and educational trends, informing enrollment targets and long-range planning.

-Provide strategic leadership for systemwide enrollment FTE allocation, aligning targets and distribution with campus capacity, student demand, and state priorities.

-In collaboration with the Division of Academic Affairs, ensure alignment of enrollment strategy with academic planning, workforce development, and lifelong learning initiatives, strengthening pathways from entry through completion and post-graduate outcomes.

-Serve as a key member of the divisional leadership team and advise the Vice Chancellor (VC) on strategies related to student success and data-informed innovation. Partner with other AVCs to provide regular advise to the VC ensuring coordinated approaches to improve the effectiveness and impact of SEMSS.

Drive Implementation of Systemwide Initiatives

-Provide leadership and direction by overseeing the planning and implementation of key elements of CSU Forward and the SEM framework, ensuring coordinate approach to access, flexible academic pathways, financial aid optimization, persistence, degree completion, and re-enrollment.

-Lead the development and implementation of centralized financial ad and admissions back-office functions, improving efficiency, consistency, and service delivery while enabling campuses to focus on student-facing engagement and support.

-Oversee the successful execution of major enrollment initiatives led by SEM units, including application systems, outreach and recruitment strategies, financial aid programs, direct admissions and transfer pathways.

-Advance initiatives that support modern learners, adults, working students, and re-engagement of stopped-out populations, aligning system efforts with statewide attainment and workforce goals.

-Champion a high-tech, high-touch model of student engagement, ensuring the effective use of enrollment technologies and personalized support throughout the student lifecycle.

-Ensure strong cross-functional and cross-campus collaboration to deliver a consistent, seamless, and student-centered experience across all CSU institutions.

Shape Long-Range Enrollment Direction and Policy

-Inform the analysis on the return on investment of a CSU degree by aligning enrollment, financial aid, and academic pathways with affordability, timely degree completion, manageable student debt, and strong post-graduation outcomes. 

-Define and monitor key performance indicators for enrollment and student success, advancing a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-informed decision-making.

-Provide executive leadership in the development, refinement, and approval of systemwide enrollment policies and practices, ensuring they reduce barriers, support students, and enhance access and success.

-Oversee policy alignment across admissions, financial aid, outreach, and student records, ensuring consistency, compliance, and responsiveness to legislative and regulatory requirements.

-Guide and oversee the translation of strategy into coordinated systemwide policies and practices, building on operational leadership to ensure effective implementation and measurable outcomes.

-Advise executive leadership, the Chancellor’s Office, and the Board of Trustees on enrollment trends, policy implications, and emerging issues, including legislative and intersegmental developments.

Strategic Partner to Campuses and Stakeholders

-Serve as a key strategic partner and senior liaison to campus enrollment leaders, supporting the adoption and scaling of systemwide initiatives while enabling campus-level innovation.

-Guide university stakeholders in cutting-edge approaches to achieving equitable student outcomes and provide campuses with actionable data, tools, and guidance to implement evidence-based enrollment strategies.

-Facilitate collaboration across campuses and with external partners, including K-12, California Community Colleges, UC, and community organizations, to strengthen pipelines and student pathways.

-Provide the Chancellor and VC with expert advice and analytical support on complex enrollment issues. Develop thoughtful analysis and strategic recommendations.

-Develop Board of Trustees agenda materials and prepare presentations. Present and follow up on inquiries from key state stakeholders, Trustees, ASCSU, CSSA, and the public.

-Serve as a highly effective internal and external ambassador for the CSU. Represent the CSU in interviews, statewide and national forums while maintaining integrity and delivering accurate and credible messaging aligned with CSU’s mission.

-Advise system and campus leaders on enrollment strategy, policy, and performance.

Provide Executive Oversight of Enrollment Functions

-Provide executive oversight of systemwide enrollment management functions, establish a highly motivated work environment, monitor staff performance, and create opportunities for professional growth and development.

-Direct organizational planning, budget development, and resource allocation to maximize impact and efficiency across enrollment operations.

-Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, belonging, and continuous improvement across all enrollment functions, strengthening organizational effectiveness and long-term impact.

Qualifications

This position requires:

-An earned graduate degree from an accredited university is required. A doctorate or terminal degree is highly preferred.

-Seven years of progressively responsible senior leadership experience in enrollment management, student success, or academic administration, including oversight of admissions, financial aid, or registrar operations.

-Five years of experience working within a public higher education institution.

-Comprehensive knowledge of higher education best practices in enrollment managed and thorough knowledge of federal financial aid policies

-Proven ability to lead large, diverse teams, with demonstrated skills in organizational change, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.

-Breadth and depth of the principles, strategies, and efforts of strategic enrollment management and the administration of its functions. 

-Proven track record of providing visionary, collaborative, trusted, skilled and innovative leadership with exceptional administrative, financial, and managerial skills.

-Familiarity with the dynamics of academic decision-making and policy development experience required for extensive consultation with groups of administrators and user constituents.

-Excellence consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills.

-Ability to interact and negotiate with colleagues having disparate interests while adequately representing the position of the CSU.

-Understanding of the dynamics of a public multi-campus university system.

-A skilled, diplomatic leader with an enthusiasm for managing change with a high level of transparency and inclusivity while inspiring stakeholders toward meeting organizational goals.

-A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards; personal and professional integrity above reproach.

-Exceptional strategic planning and change management abilities.

-A demonstrated commitment and specific experience in advancing equity and inclusion as strategic priorities, particularly for students.

-Historical and current knowledge of educational, enrollment and financial aid policies and practices to accurately represent context of policies and procedures to key stakeholders

-Ability to problem-solve creatively, consultatively, and strategically.

-Genuine enthusiasm for collaboratively managing the people side of change to meet organizational goals.

-Demonstrated understanding of universities that are part of a large state system.

-Documented competence in both written and oral communication.

-Strong organizational, interpersonal and public speaking skills.

-Ability to synthesize information effectively to formulate, analyze and advocate effective policy.

-Ability to address details, manage multiple responsibilities, organize and prioritize, work collaboratively, tolerate ambiguity, and exhibit integrity in the furtherance of the CSU’s mission.

Application Period

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by July 13, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

How To Apply

SP&A is assisting the California State System Office in this search. Review of materials has begun and will continue until the conclusion of the search process. For fullest consideration, candidate materials in MS Word or PDF should be submitted as soon as possible and not later than July 13, 2026.

Applications should be received by July 13, 2026, and must include the following documents: A detailed letter of interest/cover letter that addresses the priorities and responsibilities outlined in this profile and a current curriculum vitae/resume. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. All applications and nominations will be handled with the strictest confidence. 

Applications, nominations and inquiries can be directed to SP&A Executive Search:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Sal Venegas Jr., Partner

Email: apsearch@spaexec.com

Refer to code “CSU-AVC” in the subject line

SP&A Executive Search

6512 Painter Avenue

Whittier, CA 90601

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Title IX

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

E-Verify

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).

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

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.

Mandated Reporter Per CANRA

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.

Conflict of Interest

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.

CSU Out of State Employment Policy

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.

Background

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.

Learn more about working at the California State University and the impact of our mission.