Job Details

METL Program Executive Director

Position Number: 6875177
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Position Type: Distance Education Programs

METL Program Executive Director

University of California Santa Barbara

Position overview
Salary range: $84,246 - $150,000 Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: March 1, 2026 or later Application Window

Open date: January 23, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Feb 16, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Jan 22, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Master of Engineering and Technology Leadership (METL) Program is a new online professional masters program being launched by the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) College of Engineering. This interdisciplinary program will prepare early- to mid-career technology professionals to become corporate leaders and will serve to accelerate their careers.

The program will focus on and leverage domains in which UCSB has strong existing educational and research programs and industry partnerships and is recognized as a world leader. Courses are developed and taught by a combination of renowned UCSB faculty and industry leaders from a variety of companies. Course structure and class meetings times are designed to be flexible in order to allow students to continue working in whichever time zone they live in while completing their degree.

The METL Program Executive Director will provide vision and entrepreneurial leadership in developing the program and supporting its growth, and will serve as the operational leader of the program. As this will be the first program of its kind at UCSB, the Executive Director will need to help establish and oversee the development of much of the back-end structural and operational aspects of the program, some of which include:

recruiting
marketing/advertising
admissions
student support
financial aid
curriculum development
teaching assignments
IT and technology stack for delivering online education
corporate outreach and relations

The METL Program Executive Director will work closely with and will report to the Associate Dean for Online Education in the College of Engineering, who serves as the program's Faculty Director. The METL Executive Director will coordinate efforts with various entities that are collaborating in the development of the METL program, including the program's 3rd party online program manager (OPM), UCSB Graduate Division, and the UCSB Registrar's Office. The Executive Director will also assist in the hiring of and will oversee a dedicated program staff, will manage the program's budget, and will be the key liaison for the program with the University's Graduate Division.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

A Bachelors Degree with at least five years of experience in management, business administration, and/or university administration.

Preferred qualifications

Master's or PhD degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience
Significant and demonstrable experience in leading the creation and implementation of innovative, relevant, and sustainable graduate and professional learning programs
Experience with online education and online education programs
Deep knowledge of graduate and continuing education learning and best practices
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, as well as demonstrated success as a collaborative leader and administrator
A record of entrepreneurial, creative approaches to academic program development
Experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with external organizations and employers
Experience with CRM tools and digital marketing and recruitment (SEM, SEO, etc)
Experience as a supervisor

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Resume - Your most recently updated Resume.
Cover Letter

Reference requirements

3-5 required (contact information only)

Contact information for 3 references is required. Candidates who are considered finalists will have their references contacted for a letter of recommendation.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03057

Help contact: kathrynhopkins@engineering.ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Job location
Santa Barbara, CA

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03057