CSUN's Commitment to You

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and encouraging innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN actively seeks candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

The University

One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to over 36,000 students annually and counts over 425,000 alumni who fuel the region’s economy. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and more than 12,000 jobs each year.  California State University, Northridge is a designated Minority Serving and Hispanic Serving Institution (MSI/HSI) and a California Black Serving Institution (BSI), nationally and statewide recognized for advancing opportunity and promoting the success of Hispanic, Black, African American, and other historically underserved students. In 2025, Washington Monthly named the university the No. 1 master’s university in the nation for contributions to the public good and ranked CSUN No. 2 Best Bang for the Buck in the West and No. 3 Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars.  Also in 2025, the university earned a 4.5-star rating in Money’s Best Colleges, ranked No. 3 for diversity among public universities and No. 8 in the nation for social mobility in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. In addition, CSUN placed No. 9 on the California Mobility Index for advancing economic and social mobility from the College Futures Foundation.

About the Position of Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs

The Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs (AVP FA) serves as the University’s academic personnel officer for faculty (Unit 3) and academic student employees (Unit 11). Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the AVP FA provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all faculty lifecycle matters, including recruitment, appointment, evaluation, retention, tenure, promotion, compensation, leaves, retirement, and faculty professional success. The AVP FA ensures compliance with collective bargaining agreements, CSU policies, and applicable state and federal regulations while advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all academic personnel processes.

As a member of the Academic Affairs leadership team, the AVP FA advises the Provost, deans, and department chairs on complex faculty personnel and labor relations matters. The AVP FA interprets and implements collective bargaining agreements, oversees grievance and disciplinary processes, conducts or supervises investigations as appropriate, and represents the University in labor management and arbitration proceedings. The position works closely with Human Resources, Equity and Compliance, and shared governance bodies to ensure fair, consistent, and legally sound personnel practices. This role requires sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and the ability to balance institutional priorities with faculty interests in a dynamic higher education environment.

As a leader, the AVP will have the opportunity to thrive in a community in which our leaders share common traits as identified in our Leadership Principles https://www.csun.edu/leadership-principles.

Qualifications

 Required qualifications:

• Earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution
• Credentials and experience for appointment at the rank of Professor
• Demonstrated record of excellence in university teaching and scholarly or creative achievement
• Minimum of three (3) years of administrative experience as department chair, director, associate dean, dean, or equivalent leadership role
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply, and communicate complex policies and procedures
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility in higher education
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including collaborating with campus partners, building trust, and facilitating shared governance

Preferred qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience overseeing faculty personnel processes, including recruitment, evaluation, retention, tenure, and promotion
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and implementing collective bargaining agreements in a unionized higher education environment
• Demonstrated experience administering or advising on grievance, disciplinary, or conflict resolution processes
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with human resources, equity/compliance offices, or legal counsel on personnel matters
• Demonstrated experience supporting equity-focused initiatives in faculty hiring, evaluation, and retention
• Demonstrated experience mentoring faculty and supporting department chair leadership development
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and managing administrative budgets while upholding staff welfare through dignity- and respect-centered supervision
• Demonstrated experience representing an institution in systemwide committees or external relations
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or modernization of administrative systems

  More information can be found in the institutional profile at https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches- public/entry/25728/?search=25728

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

  Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and experience. The University offers excellent fringe benefits. The anticipated   

  HIRING RANGE: $190,000 to $210,000 per year, dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Application Period

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Monday, September 28, 2026, can be assured full consideration. Review of applications will continue until position is filled.

In order to be considered in the initial review, applications must be submitted prior to the date listed above. Application submissions received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Effective Date of Appointment: January 2, 2027

How to Apply

The university is being assisted by Academic Search. Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter, a CV, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications can be confidentially submitted at: CSUNAVPFA@academicsearch.org.

Nominations and expressions of interest can be directed to the search team, electronically and confidentially, at: CSUNAVPFA@academicsearch.org.

 Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting senior consultant Chris Butler at: Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org.

Background check

This position is a sensitive position as designated by the CSU.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the status of candidates who apply for the position.

CANRA

The person holding this position will be considered a 'limited 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

This position is a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Disability (physical or mental), Gender, Gender Identity (including Nonbinary or Transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Pregnancy or related conditions, Race or Ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), Religion or Religious Creed, Sex (including Sex Stereotyping or Sex Characteristics), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Recruitment Services at 818-677-2101.