OPEN POSITION
Executive Director, Public Outreach (HYBRID)
Government and Community Relations
Working Title : Executive Director, Public Outreach (HYBRID)
Department : Government and Community Relations
Reports To : Associate Vice Chancellor
Supervises :
Salary : $128,208
Payroll Classification: Communications Specialist 5 ()
Req Nbr : 8173

Position Summary
The Executive Director, Public Outreach will have a significant impact in UCLA's Government and Community Relations (GCR) work as you lead efforts toward more purposeful, strategic and positive public outreach. Within UCLA's External Affairs organization, UCLA's Office of Government and Community Relations helps represent the chancellor and the university in engaging with members of Congress and their staffs, the White House, and federal/state executive branch agencies and local/community entities.  GCR promotes UCLA's academic, research, and public service missions in an effort to build support for campus programs and activities. 

Primary Responsibilities
As the Executive Director, Public Outreach, you will be instrumental in advancing the objectives of UCLA's Government and Community (GCR) work. Primary responsibilities of this position include identifying opportunities for public outreach activities; serve as editor-in-chief of a UCLA journal to highlight research in areas relevant to Los Angeles and California and to stimulate discussion about leadership and this region's civic culture; identifying opportunities for administrators and faculty to be spokespeople on key public outreach initiatives.  As the Executive Director, you will work closely and collaboratively with campus leaders, faculty, and staff throughout the university, as well as external constituents in support of GCR and UCLA's public outreach objectives.  As the Executive Director, you will have experience and expertise in creating and implementing innovative communications and media relations programs to advance public outreach initiatives.  In addition, the Executive Director will have extensive experience in managing multiple, complex communications projects. You will serve as a partner to the Associate Vice Chancellor, responsible for cultivating a broad range of relationships aligned with the university's core mission of serving society through education, research and partnerships. You will collaborate and work closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor and other colleagues in GCR.



Qualifications
1. Minimum of twelve years of experience primarily in journalism as well as one or more of the following areas: campaigns/politics, public policy/affairs, think tank, strategic communications, or strategic management consulting firm. 

2. Extensive knowledge of and experience with public affairs campaigns.

3. Demonstrated experience with and ability to provide media training.

4. Extensive experience with and knowledge of print, broadcast, and online media needs and priorities.

5. Demonstrated experience leveraging public events that can be used to advance institutional objectives.

6. Outstanding written and oral communications skills.

7. Solid professional judgment, impeccable integrity and discretion in working with stakeholders/constituents and in the management and preservation of confidential or sensitive information.

8. Demonstrated ability to create and implement innovative communications and programs to address and advance public outreach initiatives of GCR.

9. Extensive media contacts at key California and national media entities.

10. Demonstrated software proficiency; with web and new media technology expertise.

11. Demonstrated ability to work with multiple constituents, including an understanding of navigating complex audiences.

12. Extremely well-developed interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to develop and maintain close working relationships with senior campus leaders, faculty, students, media relations and communications colleagues, UC systemwide staff, as well as external individuals, including volunteers and donors.

13. Thorough knowledge of issues facing public institutions of higher education.

14. Ability to work independently and set priorities that advance institutional mission and visibility; ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and to successfully and simultaneously manage multiple ongoing projects and initiatives of varying degrees of complexity.

15. Extensive knowledge and understanding of UCLA’s mission, long-tern objectives and key strategic plans is preferred.

16. Ability to work/attend evening and/or weekends as needed.

17. Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science or a related field is preferred.

Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. 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 categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.