Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the Assistant Director of Talent and Organizational Development is responsible for the independent leadership of employee development, organization development and efforts for Human Resources.

The Assistant Director provides independent leadership and oversight for learning and development activities for all employees. This incumbent is responsible for leading efforts that maintain and enhance ongoing learning and development across the university by defining, creating, and implementing strategies for the design, delivery, and assessment of programs that facilitate professional development, leadership and management development, and continuous learning for all employees. The incumbent will lead and influence learning and development approaches for the university including strategic planning, workplace culture, change management, and workforce planning.

Department Summary

The Human Resources (HR) department within University Personnel at Cal Poly leads workplace strategies that enable our approximately 3,000 employees (staff, faculty and management) to thrive in their roles. Through traditional practices like recruitment, benefits, employee and organizational development, employee relations, information systems and performance management to strategic practices like professional development, organization development, workforce planning, and engagement, HR is dedicated to cultivating the excellence of all employees.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in executing both traditional and strategic talent management strategies.
• Sound knowledge of employment programs, policies, laws and regulations with an ability to quickly acquire a thorough knowledge of university systems and structures.
• Demonstrated expertise and ability in understanding, developing, delivering and assessing sophisticated learning and development programs and activities that enable employees to thrive within the university.
• Expert-level facilitation and presentation skills for small-group, large-group and executive management groups concerning complex content.
• Demonstrated expertise in ensuring continuous improvement and creative problem-solving for the overall organization through collaboration, planning, assessment, coaching/advising and consultation.
• Demonstrated skill in employee development, onboarding, leadership development, change management, workplace culture, strategic planning, and workforce planning, with the goal of enabling success at both strategic and tactical levels.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible professional organization development experience, which includes a minimum of two years of human resources management experience.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $115,000 - $140,000. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and 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 student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly 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.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

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.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.