Communications Director

University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Full-time Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations

Posted on April 8, 2024

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Communications Director

Location: Santa Cruz
Job ID: 64485

JOB POSTING

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our Talent Acquisition website.

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD. Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 02-28-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Sitting on the edge of the Monterey Bay and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, UC Santa Cruz is nationally recognized for its marine science and coastal sustainability research. Our internationally renowned faculty and researchers bring important and varied expertise connecting research and technology, community engagement and social justice, and climate policy. The Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) is supported by the UC Santa Cruz Office of Research, which is led by the Vice Chancellor for Research. The center aims to advance campus research and to partner with state and federal agencies as well as private foundations to address coastal climate change, resilience, and sustainability.

JOB SUMMARY

Leads strategic communications plan for the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. Writes high-level features/press releases and produces content for public speaking engagements. Responsible for the Center's communications team, including written and visual communications by staff and outside vendors. Evaluates results, and provides guidance and direction on complex communications issues. Communicates effectively with legislators, funders, donors, non-profit partners, stakeholders and university leadership about the work of the Center in order to demonstrate the impacts and successes of the Center and to aid in fundraising.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $105,000 - $120,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

Full-time, Fixed
Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: 2 years from hire date, with possibility of extension

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus. This position requires on-campus work and may be considered for hybrid work, subject to the terms of a telecommuting agreement and dependent on the needs of the research community.

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 005887 (COMM SPEC 4)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

55% - Strategic Communications

Lead strategic communications for the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience.
Communicate with legislators, funders, donors, non-profit partners about the work of the Center in order to demonstrate the impacts and successes of the Center and to aid in fundraising.
Serve as the primary contact for news writing and media relations; build relationships between journalists and Center-funded research experts in order to advance public understanding of high-impact research and to share timely insights and perspectives that inform public discourse.
Recommend changes and improvements to communications programs and strategies.
Advise on all aspects of effective communications involving a full range of disciplines.

30% - Communications

Write features/press releases/content for public speaking engagements. Includes writing and distributing press releases; coordinating in response to media requests; notifying journalists about experts who can speak to current events; providing support to the Director for op-ed articles, speaking engagements, and other media submissions.
Offer training to Center-funded faculty that prepares experts to communicate effectively with journalists and the public.
Monitor and share media coverage related to the Center.

15% - Team Oversight

Manage the Center's communications team, consisting of contracted writers, photographers, and videographers; and Center-funded postdocs working with partners and UCSC writing programs.
Select, train, guide, mentor, evaluates contractors.
Ensure that high quality work is completed within budget and time constraints.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience and/or training.
Advanced knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including various technical aspects and requirements, and potential applications.
Advanced skills to create, develop and implement comprehensive long- and short-term strategic communications plans.
Advanced knowledge of the science communication field, in order to communicate the CCCR achievements, mission, vision, goals, policies, practices, and knowledge of current affairs, issues in higher education, health sciences, and / or specialized subject matter.
Advanced skills in advising and consulting management to ensure that desired institutional messages are delivered to appropriate target and / or broad general audiences.
Advanced skills in communicating to targeted audiences, including policy makers, researchers, as well as to the general public.
Advanced skills to ensure production of high-quality work within budget and time constraints.
Experience coordinating communications including website, newsletter, and social media.
Experience building relationships between journalists and internal experts in order to advance public understanding and to share timely insights and perspectives that inform public discourse.
Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to actively listen.
Excellent written communications skills.
Excellent political acumen skills.
Excellent strategic planning skills.
Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
Excellent critical thinking skills.
Excellent project management skills.
Leadership skills to select, train, lead, direct, guide, motivate and evaluate professional and / or support staff to produce high-quality work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced degree in related area.
Experience leading communications aspects of public events, professional conferences and provides public relations support.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
This position requires on-campus work and may be considered for hybrid work, subject to the terms of a telecommuting agreement and dependent on the needs of the research community. While telecommuting, the employee is responsible for ensuring a worksite environment suitable for accomplishing their regular job duties during scheduled hours of work and, if applicable, arranging for dependent care just as they would if they were working in person at a UCSC worksite.
The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS
View full job description and access on-line application:
https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucsc/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=11&JobOpeningId=64485&PostingSeq=1

To ensure review of application materials by the hiring unit, they must be submitted on or before the initial review date (IRD) via the Staff Employment Opportunities web site; https://jobs.ucsc.edu. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources Office located at Scotts Valley Center. The Scotts Valley Center is located at 100 Enterprise Way, Suite E100, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. To learn more or to request disability accommodations, call 831-459-2009. Hearing impaired are encouraged to use the California Relay Service at 800-735-2922. UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

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