Senior Advisor, Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs)

Job description

Special Instructions to Applicants

This contract will end on 6/30/2027, with the possibility of extension and/or conversion to a career appointment.

Department Summary

As a pivotal member of UCLA Student Affairs, you'll ignite the Bruin spirit and contribute to a vibrant community that champions academic success, student wellbeing, and holistic development. UCLA Student Affairs is the backbone of the Bruin journey-supporting students from admission to graduation and beyond. In this role, you join a community committed to personal growth, academic persistence, and enriched student engagement. Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of the UCLA legacy. Join us in shaping the future of UCLA, where each day you make a meaningful difference for students and the broader Bruin family.

Position Summary

The Senior Advisor, Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs) is a confidential, exempt professional serving as a key operational leader within UCLA Student Affairs and the division of Campus Life. Reporting to the Manager, Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs) and working closely with the Chief of Risk & Compliance, the Senior Advisor advances UCLA's educational mission by promoting student success, protecting student rights, fostering student wellbeing, and supporting a safe, inclusive campus environment that encourages free expression and respectful engagement. The Senior Advisor provides leadership for the Student Affairs Mitigator (SAM) Program by educating and advising students, student leaders, and campus partners on Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policies, First Amendment principles, risk management, and campus resources. The position supports the planning and implementation of compliance, emergency preparedness, and student engagement initiatives while serving as a frontline leader during demonstrations, major campus events, labor actions, and other high-impact activities. Through real-time observation, communication, de-escalation, and coordination with campus partners, the Senior Advisor helps promote student safety, operational continuity, and the effective resolution of complex campus situations. As a member of the University's tiered-response framework, the Senior Advisor also functions as an operational liaison to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during campus disruptions, including demonstrations, labor actions, and other significant events. In this capacity, the position routinely handles confidential, labor-sensitive, and operational information that supports institutional decision-making and labor relations strategy. In addition, the Senior Advisor will be closely coordinating activities and reporting in real time with Labor Relations and other critical partners, including the AVC for Campus & Community Safety, the VCSA, the AVC of Campus Life, and the AVC's of Student Affairs. This includes real-time reporting and tracking of on-the-ground activity to communicate protest activity, strike actions, and demonstrations as they unfold, as well as identifying the need for any building or area closures, working directly with the EOC command center and Labor Relations. The Senior Advisor will correspond and coordinate through all confidential communication channels, including Slack, radios, and cell phones, to ensure timely, secure information-sharing across these sensitive operations. Due to this direct involvement in EOC operations, access to confidential labor relations information, and potential conflicts of interest, the position is designated Confidential (Employee Relations Code F) in accordance with PPSM.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

Experience in training, compliance, risk management, emergency response, or student affairs (Required) And

Demonstrated experience supporting or coordinating institutional response to campus protest or other time-sensitive student-led activity, with attention to safety, student rights, and operational impact. (Required) And

Ability to analyze data, evaluate programs, and recommend actions (Required) And

Experience advising fraternities/sororities or high risk student organizations (Preferred) And

Experience with incident reporting systems or emergency operations (Preferred) And

Experience within the UC system or a comparably complex public research university (Preferred)

Advanced skills in project and time management, with a proven ability to maintain operational focus and manage multiple competing priorities independently under general supervision (Required)

Thorough knowledge of student development theory and student-centered practice. (Required)

Ability to engage effectively with diverse populations. (Required)

Advanced interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and facilitation. Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse groups, build consensus, and navigate sensitive or high-pressure compliance situations. (Required)

Ability to make autonomous decisions in real-time crises. Willingness to participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation. (Required)

Ability to provide operational briefings, data, and consultations to senior institutional leadership with confidence and clarity. (Required)

Strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in high-stakes, dynamic situations. (Required)

Strong operational knowledge of First Amendment law, TPM policy frameworks, and applicable federal/state/UC regulations, as well as institutional policies and practices that govern freedom of expression, protest, and campus engagement. (Required)

Knowledge of compliance program administration, policy interpretation, and risk mitigation practices. (Required)

Skilled in developing and delivering compliance training and educational programs that foster understanding and accountability across the campus community. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

Bachelor's Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Public Administration, Counseling, Emergency Management, or related field, or equivalent work experience. (Required) Or

Master's Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Public Administration (Preferred)

CPR and Standard First Aid Certification by start date (Required) And

CPR/FA/BBP Instructor Certification (Preferred) And

ICS/NIMS emergency management training (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

CANRA: The position is designated as a mandatory reporter under CANRA. The employee must sign the "Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse".

Schedule

Schedule varies based on operational needs and will include occasional evening and weekend work.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered

Complete Position Description

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Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.