Chief Administrative Officer (ADMIN MGR 1) - 85130

Under direction from the Department Chair and Executive Assistant Dean, provide leadership and financial and administrative management and oversight for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), an academic and research department. This position is responsible for all administrative, financial, and operational aspects of the department’s business including staff development and training, academic personnel hiring support, human resources, business and finance, contract and grant administration, space use and facility maintenance, student affairs, instructional support, research and teaching laboratory support, industrial affiliate interactions, safety and liability, information technology deployment, and university administrative policy and procedures. This position is an important risk manager and is responsible for identifying and mitigating risk across the department, as well as implementing business operations improvements that lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness within the department and beyond.

RECRUITMENT PERIOD ONE MONTH: Applicants will be screened after two weeks; and then on a weekly basis. The position can be filled prior to the removal date.

Apply By Date: April 17, 2026

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications - For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and/or certification if required of the position

• Bachelors Degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Three or more years of management and leadership experience in a higher- education or a high- technology setting.
• Experience implementing principles of performance management, multi-culturalism and diversity, coaching skills to enhance staff contributions.
• Experience developing organizational structures, delegating, developing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of accounting principles and practices.
• Demonstrated success at managing and developing staff through effective recruitment, training, evaluation, motivation, and problem resolution with success at building an effective service-oriented team.
• Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to share information with all levels of personnel and diverse populations.
• Demonstrated success at business process improvement, including deployment of information technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or an educational background in Engineering and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience in strategic planning and business analytics. Quantitative skills to prepare reports, budgets and projections, and to interpret reports prepared by others.
• Knowledge of and experience with University policies and procedures related to academic and research departments.
• Knowledge of and experience with some aspect of the high technology industry that employs students who graduate with degrees in chemical engineering or materials science and engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• 25% - Departmental Leadership and Management
• 20% - Financial Management and Planning
• 15% - Research Administration Management
• 15% - Human Resource Management
• 10% - Academic Personnel Administration
• 10% - Instructional Support
• 5% - Other Duties As Assigned

Department Overview

Department Overview The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is a large, complex academic department in the College of Engineering and provides instruction and research in multiple specialty areas of engineering. The Department has 32 tenure tracked faculty and Professors of Teaching, 2 adjunct professors, and 26 staff. The department has one of the largest undergraduate and graduate programs in the college with approximately 929 undergraduates and 149 graduate students enrolled. The incumbent of this position works in an independent manner. In conjunction with the Chair and leadership of the department, the CAO works closely with the Dean's Office, Office of Research, Business Contracts, Accounting and Financial Services, and other external parties. Serves on campus and college wide committees associated with financial management matters. The total annual expenditures for the department is roughly $28M. The Department occupies space at both on and off-campus locations. This position has a dual reporting relationship with the Executive Assistant Dean of Administration and Finance in the Dean's Office and the Department Chair and will receive support and direction from both parties regarding performance management.

POSITION INFORMATION

• Salary or Pay Range: $102,400.00 - $202,400.00/year
• Salary Frequency: Annual
• Salary Grade: 25
• UC Job Title: ADMIN MGR 1
• UC Job Code: 000547
• Number of Positions: 1
• Appointment Type: Career
• Percentage of Time: 100%
• Shift (Work Schedule): M - F 8:00AM - 5:00PM
• Location: Davis, CA
• Union Representation: No
• Benefits Eligible: Yes
• This position is 100% on-site