Chief Student Development Officer

San Diego State University • San Diego, CA

9h • $180,000 - $202,404 • Onsite

About The Position

San Diego State University (SDSU) is searching for a dynamic, student-centered leader to shape the living and learning experience for thousands of students. As our Chief Student Development Officer / Executive Director of Residential Education (CSDO/EDREO), you will play a bold, visionary role in designing programs, communities, and support structures that help students thrive personally, academically, and socially. This is more than an administrative role. It’s an opportunity to transform lives at scale. You will lead one of the most influential student-facing portfolios on campus—Residential Education, Career Services, the Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities, and Program Evaluation, Compliance & Assessment, each serving as a pillar of belonging, growth, and student success. Your leadership will directly impact how students experience campus, build community, develop leadership skills, grow in resilience, and chart their pathways to graduation and beyond.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education, educational leadership, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs leadership, ideally within a comprehensive university setting.
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing complex programs or departments.
• Experience working with diverse student populations and advancing equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated professional experience in residential education, crisis response, student conduct, or student success initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of student development theory and best practices in residential education and student affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, build partnerships, and collaborate across campus divisions.
• Proven experience managing budgets, staff, and operational systems in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions in crisis situations and support coordinated emergency response efforts.
• Skilled in assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed planning.
• Commitment to student-centered leadership, inclusive excellence, and fostering belonging.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities with initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Residential Education program for nearly 9,000 students (growing to 12,000), ensuring every student finds community, safety, connection, and pathways to success.
• Build vibrant living-learning environments focused on identity development, life skills, leadership, academic momentum, and belonging.
• Champion a student experience rooted in respect, curiosity, personal responsibility, and cultural humility.
• Provide strategic oversight for Residential Education, Career Services, the Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities, and Program Evaluation, Compliance & Assessment.
• Shape programs and services that support the whole student - mind, body, and spirit.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen retention, persistence, well-being, and personal development.
• Inspire and mentor a diverse team of directors, staff, graduate students, and student leaders.
• Foster a culture where students feel empowered, seen, respected, and supported in their academic and co-curricular journeys.
• Promote equity-centered practices and help cultivate a campus where every student knows they belong.
• Serve as a key campus crisis response leader, supporting students during some of their most critical moments.
• Partner on emergency operations, expressive activities, risk management, and complex student situations.
• Offer calm, compassionate leadership in times of challenge.
• Collaborate on new housing construction projects, residential community expansion, and long-term staffing and budget planning.
• Strengthen academic partnerships that bring coordinated care advising, learning communities, and student success centers directly into the residential environment.
• Ensure the living experience reflects SDSU’s commitment to innovation, belonging, and excellence.

Benefits

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees