Director, Alianza UCMX

Position Announcement
Director, Alianza UCMX
Alianza UCMX
University of California

The University of California (UC) is seeking a distinguished and innovative leader to direct the university’s burgeoning programs related to Mexico. The Director, Alianza UCMX provides vigorous academic and administrative leadership for a wide array of research, education, outreach, and service programs across the entire UC system, and works to enhance academic exchange between UC and institutions in Mexico. This new position reports directly to the Chancellor of UC Riverside, which serves as the host campus on behalf of the UC System.

The Director has the opportunity to shape UC’s newly reconfigured Alianza UCMX, by establishing strategic direction for UC’s efforts in Mexico, in consultation with a high-level advisory committee. As someone with a strong record of academic achievement, the Director will also provide leadership and facilitate collaboration among UC faculty at all 10 campuses and the national laboratories, to coordinate and implement these strategic priorities. Much of this work will be carried out with Mexican partners, therefore the Director will also establish strong working relationships with academia, government, the private sector and civil society in Mexico. As appropriate, she or he will also develop partnerships with state and federal government, other universities and university systems, foundations, corporations within the U.S.

Alianza UCMX represents a consolidation of the longstanding and well-respected UC-MEXUS, President Napolitano’s UC-Mexico Initiative, and the university’s facility in Mexico, Casa de California. The Director has responsibility for these newly integrated programs. The Director also provides liaison and coordination with other UC endeavors, such as the Mexico-related efforts involving the UC Education Abroad Program, University Extension, and International Affairs, a variety of campus-based centers, and, as needed, numerous faculty-led efforts related to Mexico.

A critical aspect of the Director’s role will be to guide the re-envisioning of these and other programs to maximize UC’s potential, as well as resources, in terms of the university’s presence in, impact on, and ability to benefit from Mexico. As founding director of Alianza UCMX, the incumbent is responsible for redefining the strategy and priorities, as well as identifying an appropriate organizational structure, including staffing requirements, accountability processes, and resource allocation.

The Director will be responsible for leveraging the core funding provided by the UC Office of the President to unlock additional resources that can be dedicated to UC-MX efforts. These additional resources could come: from repurposing campuses resources, from research funders, from state and federal governments on both sides of the border, from other universities or university systems for collaborative efforts, from the private sector, from foundations, from alumni on both sides of the border, and from high-net-worth individuals.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

Programmatic
• Provides strategic direction to Alianza UCMX, including its efforts in research, education, policy, and service.
• Convenes a high-level advisory committee, which in turn provides recommendations to the Director and Chancellor
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with individuals and institutions in Mexico representing academia, government, the private sector, foundations, civil society, and philanthropists; as appropriate, enters into agreements and ensures that these are fulfilled
• Engages relevant agencies from the government of the State of California in developing programs; keeps government agencies, employees and California legislators informed of UC’s progress related to Mexico; interacts with Mexican government agencies and legislators as appropriate
• Ensures regular evaluation of and accountability for Alianza UCMX
• Establishes a comprehensive communication strategy to inform stakeholders, both internally and externally, of progress

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Manages an annual budget; establishes annual processes for determining priorities and allocating resources in conjunction with stakeholders throughout the UC-System and with key Mexican institutions.
• Oversees systemwide contracts for Alianza UCMX, including the long-term agreement with Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)
• Provides fundraising leadership not only for the work directly undertaken by Alianza UCMX but for system-wide efforts with Mexico, especially for efforts that involve multiple campuses. Coordinates this fundraising with the advancement offices of the Office of the President and the individual campuses. Identifies opportunities to leverage the President, Chancellors and other UC leaders to support the fundraising efforts. Seeks funding from federal and state agencies, industry, foundations and high-net-worth individuals in both the US and Mexico.
• Creates an organizational structure that optimizes resources and personnel; manages staff at both UCR and Casa de California, currently totaling 11.0 FTE
• Keeps UC Office of the President, UC Riverside leadership, and the UC Academic Senate informed of significant activities, as appropriate
• Ensures that Alianza UCMX maintains a comprehensive database of the UC students who have studied in Mexico and of the Mexican students who have studied at UC as well as a database of the joint research and policy efforts currently underway (and previously conducted) between CA and MX.

Academic Opportunity

With the appropriate academic background, the Director would be eligible for a tenured professorial appointment at UC Riverside. Although the successful applicant will not have any obligation to maintain academic activities, the Director would have the ability to participate in teaching and to maintain modest research activities, with the option to return to their professorial appointment upon stepping down. Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

The University of California is a public research university with a record of innovation and results, as well as a commitment to diversity and excellence. It includes ten campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz; the Hastings College of Law; three National Laboratories, and satellite locations in Sacramento, Fresno, Palm Desert, Washington, and London, in addition to Casa de California in Mexico City. All of the campuses adhere to exceptionally high academic standards and the same admissions guidelines, yet each has its own distinctive character. Collectively, UC boasts in excess of 238,000 students and more than 190,000 faculty and staff, with approximately 1.7 million alumni living and working around the world. UC’s academic offerings include 150 disciplines, 600-degree programs, and 20,000 extension courses. With its 10 campuses, 6 medical schools, and 3 national laboratories, UC contributes $46.3 billion to the California economy.

The Riverside campus, where Alianza UCMX’s are headquartered, has grown rapidly in recent years, with an enrollment of 23,365 students in fall 2017, including 20,069 undergraduates and 3,296 graduate and professional students. UCR has more than 1,100 instructional faculty, including 800 ladder rank positions. Total research contract and grant funding reached approximately $145 million in 2017. UCR is comprised of seven colleges and schools: the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; the Bourns College of Engineering; the School of Business; the Graduate School of Education; the School of Medicine; and the School of Public Policy. In the most recent issue of US News and World Report, UCR was recognized as the top university in the United States for social mobility, recognizing the University’s deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. It was also the first UC campus designated as a Hispanic-serving Institution—an honor it has held since 2008. UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

A national recruitment will be conducted for this appointment, which will be located at UC Riverside. The successful applicant will normally also be granted a tenured faculty appointment at UCR, although for a candidate with a distinguished history of leadership, alternative arrangements could be negotiated. Salary will be commensurate with experience and may include an administrative stipend. The director position is a year-round appointment (not an academic-year appointment).

The selection advisory committee for this position will review applications and nominations in strict confidence and will continue to receive them until a candidate is selected.

Candidates must submit their curriculum vitae, cover letter, and statement of contributions to diversity. All materials must be uploaded using UCR’s on-line application system located at be https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/.

Materials should be addressed to:
Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox
UC- Riverside

Support Staff/ Questions, please contact:
Luisa L Levario
Chief Operating Officer/Chief of Staff
Alianza UCMX
951 827 7884
Luisa.levario@ucr.edu

Further information about the programs may be obtained at https://ucmexus.ucr.edu/, https://casa.universityofcalifornia.edu/, and , https://ucmexicoinitiative.ucr.edu/, while information about UC and its commitment to diversity may be obtained at https://www.ucop.edu/diversity-engagement/. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.