Institute Manager

Overview

This position is open until filled with the starting salary for this position of $6,250.00 - $6,833.33 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

All applications require a letter of interest or cover letter.

SDSU Research Foundation

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s
strategic aspirations.

Our core values

Service

We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration

We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation

We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect

We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity

We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The
Institute for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Justice
(IAHSJ) at San Diego State University is a collaboration of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Letters. The IAHSJ is an interdisciplinary hub for research, creative projects, and community engagement at the intersection of the arts, humanities, and social justice. The Institute seeks to interrupt systemic injustices in access to the arts and education through cultivating dialogue and collaboration among faculty, students, and partners with a goal of building bridges across the university and community.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

IAHSJ is seeking an organized, collaborative, and mission-aligned
Institute Manager
to support the coordination, implementation, and advancement of IAHSJ initiatives. This role works closely with the Founding Director and is responsible for the management of the Institute, including operations and strategic priorities across funded programs.

The Institute Manager provides direct supervision to designated IAHSJ staff; coordinates personnel, financial, and administrative processes with SDSURF; maintains systems for project and grant management; and ensures that deadlines, documentation, and operational requirements are completed accurately and on time. The position also leads the implementation of designated strategic and grant-funded initiatives, including pilot and innovative programming, working across programs and regions to support effective implementation and sustainable integration.

The Institute Manager serves as a critical operational partner to the Founding Director, identifying organizational needs, implementing practical solutions, and providing clear and timely information regarding staffing, budgets, projects, and issues requiring leadership attention. The position works across IAHSJ initiatives, including Prison Arts Collective (PAC), Valuing Incarcerated Scholars Through Academia (VISTA), and Holistic Learning in Higher Education in Prisons (HLHEP), while collaborating with program leads who maintain responsibility for specialized programmatic work within their respective areas.

Responsibilities

Administration and Operations 35%

• Responsible for managing day-to-day administrative projects including collaboration with SDSURF partners for financial projections and tracking and ensuring equity and accountability with staff across roles and positions.
• Manage staff supervision and hiring for the Institute in collaboration with the SDSURF (onboarding, off-boarding, training, communication, reporting).
• Monitor staff and student intern processes and supervision, identify and share gaps and suggestions, and communicate recommendations for improvement.
• Implement and maintain current systems, workflows, and documentation and make recommendations to improve organization and efficiency across IAHSJ initiatives.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized documentation and systems across IAHSJ initiatives, ensuring consistency and holding program staff accountable to established practices.
• Implement and maintain an Institute-wide project management system, including establishing workflows and standards, orienting and training staff on its use, and supporting consistent adoption across programs and initiatives.
• Monitor financial activity in collaboration with SDSURF, the Founding Director, and program staff to ensure spending aligns with grant requirements, timelines, and approved budgets.
• Coordinate and monitor alignment between program needs, staffing, and available resources, ensuring programs are appropriately supported, proactively identifying gaps or surpluses, and alerting the Founding Director.
• Track and maintain required documentation, personnel appointments, and training compliance, ensuring materials are complete, up to date, and submitted on time.
• Review and approve standard administrative and personnel documents as appropriate, providing clear updates and alerting the Founding Director to any issues in a timely manner.
• Oversee the IAHSJ office, ensuring shared spaces are organized and administrative needs are supported.
• Support alignment between program needs, staffing, and available resources in coordination with the Founding Director.
• Review IT and office space needs for equity, access, and efficiency and consider ways to improve and support within existing budget and space limitations.

Program Oversight 35%

• Responsible for supervision and staff management, including ongoing review for equity, accountability, and engagement, as well as internal mentoring and opportunities for professional development.
• Coordinate program implementation across IAHSJ initiatives to ensure consistency in reporting, communication, and delivery.
• Support development, refinement, and implementation of strategic plans across IAHSJ initiatives, ensuring programs are aligned with defined goals and held accountable to outcomes.
• Oversee program performance within Prison Arts Collective (PAC) by monitoring implementation, reviewing progress, and supporting the Regional Leads in ensuring programs operate effectively and meet established goals.
• Work with program leadership to address challenges, improve processes, and maintain progress toward program goals.
• Monitor progress and follow up with program leads to ensure timelines, deliverables, and grant requirements are met.
• Supervise IAHSJ staff including program leads, Regional Leads, student assistants, interns, and part-time staff across