Communications Specialist 4 CM

The Regents of the University of California on behalf of their Los Angeles Campus; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Associate Director of Executive Communications at UCLA Strategic Communications leads strategic messaging for UCLA’s top leaders, translating complex information into clear, compelling messaging across internal and external audiences.

They independently manage high-visibility projects, advise senior executives on communication strategies, and drive stakeholder engagement to elevate UCLA’s mission, priorities, and public profile with an emphasis on inclusive excellence.

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications within large organizations
• Experience advising senior executives on communications strategy and sensitive issues
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, memorable messages
• Ability to collaborate with senior leadership to identify communication needs
• Ability to tailor messages for diverse internal and external audiences
• Commitment to inclusive excellence and diverse communications
• Strong understanding of technology and new media capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with deadlines
• Proven ability to work across a broad communications organization

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement executive communications strategies supporting UCLA leaders
• Provide strategic counsel on messaging, positioning, and reputation management
• Translate complex information into concise, engaging messages for diverse audiences
• Lead high-visibility communications projects with autonomy
• Collaborate with senior staff to identify communication needs and opportunities

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive counseling

Speechwriting

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Editing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department Summary

UCLA Strategic Communications (StratComm) brings UCLA’s mission and values to life by inspiring positive action as UCLA's lead storytellers, reflecting the multifaceted diversity of our university and surrounding communities. Demonstrating and reinforcing the university's commitment to inclusive excellence in all creative work is central to StratComm’s success. Our two pillars are transparency and humanity.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Executive Communications serves as a senior communications strategist responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive executive communications initiatives supporting the Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor/Provost, and other university leaders. The incumbent independently manages highly visible communications projects and provides strategic counsel on messaging, executive positioning, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. Working with significant autonomy, the position develops integrated communications strategies that advance UCLA's mission, institutional priorities, and public profile across internal and external audiences. The successful candidate will be curious and creative – and have a knack for translating complex information into clear writing that resonates easily with broad internal and external audiences. This person will have a talent for learning – and taking on – the voice and style of different senior leaders, as well as an ear for musical language and the flow of ideas. The ideal candidate will have exceptional research and editing skills, and a talent for synthesizing information from different sources and translating it into concise, memorable messaging. This person will be deft in learning the processes and protocols of navigating a large, complex organization.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years Progressively responsible experience developing and implementing strategic communications programs within a large, complex organization, including direct experience advising senior executives on communications strategy, executive positioning, and sensitive organizational issues. (Required)
• Demonstrated experience leading communications initiatives with institution-wide visibility and significant reputational impact. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex and difficult information into creative and effective messages. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior leadership and senior departmental staff to identify communication needs and to conceive and execute programs and services to meet such needs. (Required)
• Ability to translate leaders' initiatives and goals into inspiring ideas and concepts, as well as an understanding of how to effectively tailor messages for different audiences. Demonstrated ability to research, collect and organize data and material from diverse sources to create memorable speeches and/or messages. (Required)
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to serving in an environment that prizes inclusive excellence. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to articulate goals, strategies, tactics, and benchmarks. Comprehensive, current knowledge of technology with the ability to fully utilize the capabilities of new media. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to strategically improve and maintain internal communications structures within a complex organization. (Required)
• Ability to successfully manage multiple ongoing tasks and responsibilities of varying degrees of complexity simultaneously. Demonstrated experience in writing on deadline. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a broad and diverse communications organization and beyond. (Required)
• A strong strategic orientation, commitment to excellence, and attention to detail. Ability to handle all information with sensitivity, discretion and solid judgment. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to produce professional-level written materials in Spanish. (Required)
• Background in complex, global environment and industries. (Required)
• Working knowledge of UC and UCLA departments, policies, regulations, guidelines, and resources for programming. Knowledge of the history, policies and practices of the University of California system and UCLA. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree Emphasis in history, writing, social sciences, education, international relations or business. (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Schedule

Variable based on operational needs

Union/Policy Covered

CM–Comms, Mktg, & Sales Profs