Dean, College of Professional and Global Education

*Academic Search is assisting Cal Poly Pomona in this search under the direction of Managing Directors and Senior Consultant Dr. Cynthia M. Patterson & Dr. Maria Thompson. In order to be considered, all applicants must submit their applications through both the Cal Poly Pomona Careers page and the Academic Search Careers page.

Type of Appointment: Full Time, At-Will

Job Classification: Administrator IV

Anticipated Hiring Range: $214,500 - $230,000 annually (Commensurate with qualifications and experience)

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

First Consideration Date: January 2, 2026

THE DEPARTMENT:

The College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE) at Cal Poly Pomona is a dynamic, future-focused college dedicated to extending learning opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. Guided by its commitment to innovate locally and impact globally, CPGE offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional, continuing, and global education programs that empower learners to advance their careers, explore new opportunities, and thrive in an ever-changing world of work. Re-envisioned in 2022 and strategically expanded in 2025 with the launch of the Workforce Innovation and Career Engagement (WICE) unit, the College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE) now brings together four strategic clusters, including Program Development and Partnerships, Global Campus, Workforce Innovation, and Business Operations. Through this integrated structure, CPGE creates innovative educational pathways that serve working professionals, adult learners, life-long learners and global partners. The College’s comprehensive portfolio includes advanced degrees, professional development courses and certificates, Open University opportunities, Global Campus international education experiences, and lifelong learning initiatives. CPGE is committed to being a transformative partner in workforce development, global engagement, and community advancement. By fostering robust partnerships with industry, government, community organizations, and international institutions, the college aligns its offerings with emerging labor market demands and global competencies. Its strategic growth framework emphasizes innovation in academic programs, student success, industry partnerships, inclusive culture, and global impact. Through its Strategic Action Plan for Growth, CPGE has articulated bold goals: expanding innovative academic and non-degree programs, deepening global partnerships, launching strategic branding initiatives, establishing an Industry Advisory Board, and cultivating philanthropy and broad sources of external funding to sustain its mission. Together, these initiatives ensure CPGE is positioned as a leader in professional, continuing, and global education with the goals of strengthening Cal Poly Pomona’s economic vitality, extending its polytechnic identity, and enhancing its reputation as a national and international model of innovation in higher education.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership and Vision 

• Advance a compelling vision for CPGE as an innovative, entrepreneurial, and future-focused college.
• Collaborate across CPP colleges and divisions to co-develop interdisciplinary, market-responsive programs and build partnerships with industry, community, and global entities to align offerings with workforce and global needs.
• Lead implementation and refinement of CPGE’s Strategic Action Plan for Growth in alignment with university and CSU priorities. 
• Advance CPGE’s mission as a hub for career-connected learning, workforce innovation, and global education.
• Engage in shared governance with the Academic Senate and collaborate regularly with the President, Provost, Deans, and senior university leadership to ensure CPGE initiatives align with institutional strategy and the University's mission. 
• Model ethical leadership, transparency, and integrity in all decision-making and communications across the university community.

Academic and Program Innovation 

• Expand degree, certificate, micro-credential, online, and hybrid programs that meet emerging workforce, industry, and community needs.
• Partner across colleges to design innovative, interdisciplinary programs that respond to evolving market and societal needs through cross-campus collaboration.
• Ensure academic excellence and relevance, integrating experiential and career-connected learning into curricula.
• Ensure that new and existing programs comply with university policies, accreditation standards, and collective bargaining agreements, upholding academic and operational integrity.

Workforce Development and Industry Engagement 

• Grow and sustain the Workforce Innovation and Career Engagement (WICE) hub as the execution arm of CPGE’s Workforce Engagement Ecosystem.
• Establish and strengthen the CPGE Industry Advisory Board and program-specific advisory boards to guide program strategy, relevance and impact.
• Build partnerships with workforce boards, corporations, and public agencies to expand customized training, reskilling, and upskilling pathways.
• Collaborate with university leadership to align workforce initiative with state, federal, and CSU policy frameworks, ensuring compliance and accountability in all partnership agreements.

Global Campus and International Engagement

• Lead the growth of CPGE’s Global Campus, expanding international enrollment, partnerships, and exchanges.
• Advance global competencies for CPP learners by integrating international perspectives and collaborations.
• Strengthen relationships with universities, governments, and industry worldwide to expand global impact.
• Coordinate with the Provost, Academic Senate, and relevant university committees to ensure international partnerships adhere to university and CSU protocols, risk management, and academic standards.

Branding, Marketing, and Enrollment Growth 

• Drive strategic branding and marketing campaigns to enhance the College’s visibility. 
• Use data-driven enrollment strategies to expand reach to new learners and global audiences.
• Serve as a regional and global ambassador, building CPGE’s identity and presence in higher education and workforce ecosystems. 
• Ensure marketing, recruitment, and enrollment practices reflect the University's commitment to equity, inclusion, and compliance with CSU and CPP policies.

Fundraising, Advancement, and Resource Development

• Partner with University Advancement to secure philanthropic support and external resources to advance CPGE’s mission.
• Pursue external contracts, grants, and state/federal funding (e.g., ETP, WIOA, etc.) to grow CPGE programs. Align financial planning with growth priorities, ensuring fiscal sustainability as a self-supporting unit.
• Maintain fiscal accountability through regular budget monitoring, reporting, and alignment with CSU and CPP financial management policies.
• Ensure transparency and compliance in all fundraising, grant, and contract activities in collaboration with University Advancement and administrative partners.
• Apply data-driven metrics to resource planning and fundraising strategies, ensuring transparency, fiscal accountability and measurable outcomes.

Operational Excellence and Staff Leadership

• Oversee CPGE’s budget, staffing, and organizational structure to ensure efficiency, sustainability, and policy alignment. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, transparency, and professional growth among staff.
• Ensure compliance with CSU, CPP, and collective bargaining policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of professional staff, implementing succession planning and cross-training to ensure operational continuity and strong internal controls.
• Develop and maintain effective information management and reporting systems that support decision-making, accountability, and transparency.
• Leverage technology and data systems to support digital transformation of processes and services.
• Use data and performance analytics to guide continuous improvement and decision-making across all operations.
• Promote a culture of collaboration and accountability that values diversity and professional growth.
• Uphold the University’s ethical, safety, and compliance standards, including mandated reporter, conflict of interest, and campus security obligations.

Student Success

• Advance equitable access for broad range, non-traditional, and international learners.
• Champion lifelong learning pathways and credentials aligned with labor market demand and the needs of a broad range of learners.
• Partner across CPP to support student success and economic mobility through flexible, inclusive, and career-relevant educational opportunities and engagements.
• Foster an inclusive environment that advances equitable success for both learners and employees, ensuring all members of the CPGE community have access to opportunities for growth and belonging.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD - Earned doctorate/terminal degree from an accredited institution or master's degree with significant professional experience in adult education.
• Minimum of five (5) years of academic administrative leadership.
• Demonstrated success in developing and scaling innovative academic, self-supporting, and professional programs aligned with workforce needs and market trends.
• Proven ability to build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to communicating and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders in a large public university system.
• Prior experience developing and delivering professional and continuing education programs.
• Familiarity with the range of existing and emerging technologies and methodologies that support life-long and distance learning.
• Commitment to the establishment of an open and supportive management environment to foster excellence in services;
• Ability to motivate staff and other stakeholders in cooperative efforts to support the vision, mission and strategic plan of the institution;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying best practices in higher education.
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial, organizational and time management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, computer, oral and written communication skills.
• Personal integrity and high ethical standards
• Excellent speaking, writing and presentation skills;
• Ability to quickly interpret a variety of information/data in written, oral or graphic form.
• Strong supervisory, communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and records;
• Skills in examining operations and procedures, formulating policy and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures;
• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart information to a range of clientele and/or media sources.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Proven leadership in developing and implementing strategic plans with a track record of achieving measurable outcomes and advancing organizational mission and strategic priorities in higher education. Demonstrated success in developing and scaling innovative academic, professional development, and micro-credential programs aligned with workforce needs and market trends.
• Experience cultivating industry and community partnerships, securing contract funding, and engaging advisory boards that strengthen industry/community engagement, align programs with workforce needs, and inform the college’s long-term strategic direction.
• Proven ability to secure and strategically manage institutional and external resources across multiple funding sources, including workforce development funding, with a focus on sustainability, accountability, compliance, and launching transformative initiatives.
• Proven leadership in advancing global education and international partnerships to expand student access and institutional reach.
• Strong commitment to inclusion and access with a record of advancing success of a broad range of learners.
• Evidence of collaborative, visionary leadership that inspires high-performing teams and builds cross-campus and external partnerships to achieve shared goals.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers. Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future. As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California. The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. For more information, go to the California State University Out-of-State Employment Policy.

Background Check

Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check). The conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. In determining the suitability of the candidate for the position, Cal Poly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to any information that the applicant submits for consideration regarding the criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity and recency of the conviction, the candidate’s conduct, performance or rehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of the job applied for. For more information, go to the California State University Background Check Policy.

CSU Classification Salary Range

The CSU Classification Standards for this position are located on the CSU Classification Standards website. The CSU Salary Schedule is located on the CSU Salary Schedule website. The classification salary range for this position according to the respective skill level is: minimum $10,106 and maximum $32,441 per month. Please refer to the anticipated hiring range for the appropriate salary rate for this particular position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. For more information, go the I-9 Acceptable Documents website.

University Driving Requirement

Positions that require driving for university business by using a personal or state vehicle must comply with the Authorized University Driver Policy. Driving records are monitored and evaluated by the Risk Management Department. The Risk Management Department evaluates a good driving report based on the following criteria. The driver must: 1. Have a valid California or other State Driver’s license. 2. Have no more than 3 motor vehicle violations or been the cause of 3 accidents in a 12-month period (or any combination of 3 thereof) 3. Not have more than 3 DMV Points, if their license is Class C or, 4. Not have more than 5 DMV Points, if their license is Class A, B, or C with endorsements. For more information, go to the Authorized University Driver Policy.

Outside Employment Disclosure

Executive and Management Plan Personnel employees must disclose all current outside employment at the time of hire as a precondition of hire and at the following times after hire: annually in July, within 30 days of accepting outside employment, and upon their manager’s request. For more information, go to the Outside Employment Disclosure policy.

Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Act (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. Read more at the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act policy.

Security & Fire Safety

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Fire Safety Report.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. For more information, see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision poster.

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at ADACoordinator@cpp.edu. For more information, go to Employment Notices.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Other Notices

For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Employment Notices web page.