Executive Director

The Associated Students is a campus auxiliary organization serving thousands of students, faculty, staff, and community members. With an annual operating budget exceeding $21 million, the AS manages residential and retail dining services, the Bell Memorial Union, the Wildcat Recreation Center (WREC), and the Wildcat Store contract. The AS also provides a wide range of student-focused programs and services, including CAVE (Community Action Volunteers in Education), the Child Development Lab, Adventure Outings, Sustainability initiatives, and student government. The organization employs more than 125 career staff and over 450 student employees annually.

Associated Students is committed to recruiting and retaining employees who reflect and advance our organizational values and strategic priorities. We strive to foster an inclusive, culturally informed workplace and actively support university-wide diversity initiatives. We welcome candidates who will contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and student-centered organizational culture.

A satisfactory background check, including a criminal records check, is required prior to employment.

https://as.csuchico.edu/hr/executive-director-position

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SUMMARY

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief administrative and operational officer of the Associated Students (AS) of California State University, Chico, providing overall leadership, management, and oversight of AS operations, programs, and services. The ED establishes the vision and strategic direction of the organization in alignment with the University’s strategic plan and the needs of the broader campus community.

The ED promotes student success, leadership development, and enhancement of the student experience while ensuring fiscal integrity, risk management, and operational effectiveness. The ED ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as AS, Chico State, and CSU policies.

The Executive Director is an at-will employee of the Associated Students.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Executive Leadership and Operational Management

• Responsible for all daily operations of the Associated Students providing direction and leadership to the staff directors. Meets regularly with management personnel to ensure that operations are being executed in accordance with university, local, state, and federal policies and regulations, as well as with AS bylaws, policies, and procedures.
• Continually monitors organizational performance for quality and excellence; introduces internal productivity processes and systems improvement changes as necessary; and anticipates and analyzes emerging needs/trends and develops new and/or revised operating procedures as required to respond effectively to changing requirements.
• Establishes and institutes an organizational structure and provides adequate staffing support to effectively accomplish AS’s goals and objectives, as well as to maximize the efficient and safe operations of the AS.
• Serves as a member of the Chico State Division of Business and Finance senior leadership team. Represents the AS on campus boards and committees as needed.
• Oversees all Associated Students facility expansion and capital improvement projects.

Governance & Board Partnership

• Provides guidance and support to the Board of Directors (BOD), ensuring the awareness of consequences of actions as trustees of the corporation, including adherence to all relevant policies and regulations, contract requirements, authorization of plans and commitments, and evaluation of the organization’s work. Serves as an ex-officio member of the Board.
• Ensures that operations conform to policy and regulations of the university and CSU Trustees. Keeps elected officers and directors informed of university and system-wide initiatives and priorities and makes recommendations to the Board as needed.
• Provides fiscal reports and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Strategic Planning & Institutional Alignment

• Directs strategic planning activities to establish current and long-range goals and objectives for approval by the Boards of Directors. Confers with student leaders and board members to plan, develop, and initiate new programs, services, and activities. Ensures that plans, goals, and objectives are supportive of and in alignment with the strategic initiatives and priorities of the university.
• Engages in regular, ongoing networking and advocacy across the broader campus community to advance AS goals, promote awareness about the AS mission/vision, and cultivate effective partnerships.

Financial Stewardship & Fiscal Oversight

• Ensures fiduciary compliance with fiscal policies, internal controls, and CSU requirements as well as accounting, auditing and investment best practices.
• Serves as the chair of the Audit Committee which oversees the selection and procurement of external auditing services.
• Ensures the timely completion of all audits of the organizations’ financial statements, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. Reviews operating results, compares them to established objectives, and takes steps to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to correct unsatisfactory performance.
• Provides executive oversight for the preparation, management, and monitoring of a multimillion-dollar annual budget.
• Approves major expenditures, contracts, and capital projects.

Legal, Regulatory & Corporate Compliance

• Recommends to the Board the selection and retention of outside legal services. Serves as principal contact and maintains primary relationship with the organizations’ legal counsel.
• Oversees corporate and legal compliance, ensuring adherence to CSU, state, and federal regulations.
• Ensures adherence to the California Corporations Code and nonprofit governance standards, maintaining the organization’s good standing and legal authority to operate as a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
• Oversees and ensures ongoing compliance with the Operating Agreement between the Board of Trustees of the California State University and the AS, including responsibility for the five-year review process, renewal prior to expiration, and maintaining alignment with the terms governing the AS’s authority to operate as an auxiliary organization.
• Ensures timely response to public information requests, and federal, state and other governmental agencies.
• 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 ASI policy as a condition of their employment.
• Other duties may be assigned.

POSITIONS DIRECTLY SUPERVISED

• Associate Executive Director
• Financial Services Director
• Human Resources Director
• IT Director
• Auxiliary Business Director
• Government Affairs Director
• Programs Director

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Typical Work Environment:

Work is primarily performed in an office environment with frequent interaction with staff, students, campus partners, and members of the public. Work may include attendance at early morning, evening, or weekend meetings and events.

Physical Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This position requires the ability to:

• Perform work in an office setting
• Remain in a stationary position for extended periods
• Move throughout the building and campus
• Operate a computer and standard office equipment
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing

Travel Requirements:

Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel for conferences, retreats, training, and related professional activities.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Comprehensive knowledge of nonprofit governance; fiscal and operational management; auxiliary and CSU system operations; facilities management; and risk management principles.
• Strong understanding of student development theory, higher education administration, and the dynamics of student government within a university setting.
• Demonstrated skill in strategic leadership, program evaluation, and change management.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with students, university leaders, governing boards, and community partners.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
• Strong executive acumen with proven decision-making, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong sense of integrity, sound professional judgment, and discretion in managing complex and sensitive organizational matters.
• Proven ability to operate with independence and accountability while maintaining transparency and a deep commitment to advancing the organizational mission.
• Knowledge of the universal student success framework and the ability to apply its principles to support the success of all students.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum ten (10) years broad and extensive management experience in administration and development including substantial fiscal responsibility.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (i.e. business administration, fiscal management, student personnel administration or higher education administration).
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated budget and fiscal management experience of at least $5 million.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Experience in higher education involving extensive contact with students and the campus community.
• Master’s Degree in a related field (i.e. business administration, fiscal management, student personnel administration or higher education administration)
• Experience with retail services (i.e. food service, bookstore).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, including a criminal records check. A conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check yields any disqualifying information, or if it is determined that any information was withheld or falsified. A conviction does not automatically disqualify applicants from employment consideration.

At-Will Employment

Employment with the Associated Students is at-will. This means that either the employee or the Associated Students may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this job description or in any other policy, procedure, or document creates an express or implied contract of employment or alters the at-will nature of employment. No supervisor, manager, or representative of the Associated Students has authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time or to modify the at-will relationship, except in a written agreement signed by the Executive Director.

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