Job Summary

Reporting to the Department Chair, this position plays a crucial and indispensible role in the department. Their professional presence represents the administrative side of the department to faculty, students, college and university administration. This position, with the Department Chair, operates as the nexus of all moving parts in the department. This position contributes to and sustains the open, welcoming and collegial environment highly valued in the department. In terms of daily and routine work, the incumbent coordinates the daily administrative operation of the Political Science Department and its programs, including coordinating the department office operations and providing lead work direction for office staff under the general direction of department chair. Given the three-year department chair rotation, this position provides continuity of operation and practice with respect to the department, college and university policies. The size and variety of programs and activities in POLS create significant complexity and require extensive knowledge of and experience in administration, budgeting, public and student relations, autonomy and decision making.  

Department Summary

The Political Science Department (POLS) is one of the larger departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with four concentrations to nearly 400 students, three minors to over 200 students, as well as a Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. The department also offers general education courses and courses that meet the USCP requirement. Co-curricular activities are provided through a growing number of departmental clubs (such as POLS Club, MPP club, Pi Sigma Alpha) and three IRA activities (Mock Trial, Model UN, Paideia). Model UN and Mock Trial are also competitive club teams. The department has one department chair and one graduate coordinator (both of whom are tenured faculty), nearly 20 tenured/tenure-track and full-time faculty members, and approximately 10 part-time faculty members.

Key Qualifications

• Working knowledge of budget policies and procedures. Ability to perform business math, such as calculate ratios and percentages, track and analyze financial and/or budgetary data, and make accurate projections requiring some inference.
• Ability to organize and coordinate special events for large groups.
• Ability to provide lead work direction to support staff and student assistants.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures independently and use judgment and discretion to act when precedents do not exist.
• Ability to troubleshoot most office administration problems and respond to all inquiries and requests related to work area.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
• Five years of general office support or technical experience. (Training at a vocational school or full-time college education may be substituted for two years of the required experience on the basis of one year of college education for 6 months of experience).

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,367 - $5,538 per month

Classification Range: $4,367 - $6,362 per month

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.

Please watch the video linked here to learn more about the CSU system. 

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 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.

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.