Communications Director

COMM SPEC 4 (005887)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_3051

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

3/4/2025 11:37:24 AM

Date Last Edited:

3/4/2025 11:37:18 AM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1300O

Organization:

LETTERS AND SCIENCE

Division Code:

1330D

Division:

L&S LIFE SCIENCES

Department:

088800 - LIFE SCIENCES ADMINISTRATION

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_3051

Position Description ID

235737

UC Payroll Title:

COMM SPEC 4 (005887)

Business Title:

Communications Director

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

Grade 24

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40043455

Reports to Payroll Title:

Dean

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40043455

Department Head Payroll Title:

Dean

GENERAL DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent receives guidance in terms of broad goals and overall objectives and is responsible for establishing the methods to attain them. Generally the incumbent is in charge of an area of work, and typically formulates policy for this area but does not necessarily have final authority for approving policy.

004017

Writer Editor 3

0.5

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communications Director works closely with other administrative members in the Division of Life Sciences, including all Departments and Institutes, the Dean's Office, as well as with College Development, and UCLA Strategic Communications, to advance the Division's educational and research activities to both internal and external audiences. Under the guidance of the Dean, Associate Dean, and Assistant Dean the incumbent builds awareness of Life Sciences, the breadth, depth and excellence of its academic programs, and the contributions and achievements of its students and faculty at local, national and international levels. The incumbent will participate in the school's strategic planning process and will build a comprehensive communications and marketing program that supports the division's short-term and long-term goals. In addition, the incumbent will be in charge of the school's internal, external and crisis communications and will determine and develop objectives, programs, policies and strategies that proactively position and protect life sciences' reputation and thought leadership. The incumbent will act as an advisor to the Dean, department chairs, program directors, senior staff, student leadership, cross-campus leadership, elected officials, business community, other academic and research organizations, alumni and donors by establishing strategic and timely messaging and relationship-building platforms.  The incumbent develops and maintains working knowledge of faculty research, student scholarly activities, and department programs and events. The incumbent is also responsible for the management of the division's webpage, social media accounts, as well as any print, digital, and multimedia promotional assets.

The Division of Life Sciences encompasses the biological and psychological sciences, which include some of the university’s highest-ranked academic programs. The biological sciences are represented by the departments of ecology and evolutionary biology; integrative biology and physiology; microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics; and molecular, cell and developmental biology. The psychology department, one of the largest academic departments in the University of California system, has research programs in the behavioral, cognitive and brain sciences, all encompassed in eight departmental areas (behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, learning and behavior, quantitative psychology and social psychology). A leader in interdisciplinary instruction and research, the division sponsors a life sciences core curriculum that cuts across its departments, jointly administers graduate programs in the biosciences with the school of medicine, and is home to interdepartmental degree programs in bioinformatics; computational and systems biology; molecular biology; molecular, cellular and integrative physiology; neuroscience; and the Institute for Society and Genetics. The division includes four interdisciplinary research units – the Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences, the Center for Reproductive Science Health and Education, the Molecular Biology Institute and the Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences – and has oversight responsibility for the Mathias Botanical Garden. Including microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics (dual report to the school of medicine), the division houses over 170 ladder faculty, over 11,000 undergraduate majors and over 600 graduate students.

Strategic Communications and Marketing

1. Conceive of and implement an overarching internal and external strategic communications and marketing program for the Division of Life Sciences that is innovative, progressive and proactive ,including messaging that extends across all media and vehicles in order to build awareness of, and enhance the image of the division, its research programs, area expertise and its departments, and appropriately support define and meet its goals and objectives. (E)

2. Develop/implement public relations strategies to help recruit highly competitive faculty, graduates and undergraduates, and promote alumni/donor development and fundraising activities. (E)

3. Coordinate marketing efforts for education and outreach determining appropriate schedules and overseeing successful deliveries of marketing materials. (E)

4. Review department communications requests including annual reports, alumni newsletters, and alumni engagement materials to ensure all materials meet UCLA brand quality standards and convey the strategic message of the division. (E)

5. Strategize with departments on effective communication tools; advise on the production of departmental media. (E)

6. Coordinate Divisional communications between various entities and offices within UCLA for all education and outreach announcements. (E)

7. Work with the dean and divisional faculty on messaging and presentation before high-profile events.  (E)

8. Evaluate and optimize the effectiveness and success of communication vehicles with different internal and external audiences on an ongoing basis. (E )

9. Lead and compose communications that coordinate crisis and disaster management as they pertain faculty, staff, and students in the Life Sciences. (E)

50%

Information Technology Strategy and Management

1.Work with Divisional Web developers to maintain the Division of Life Sciences website; as needed, make updates including maintaining relevant news and events. (E)

2. Partner with Life Sciences Computing to contribute to website and news/event outreach systems for the departments and Division to ensure high level of usability, communicability and visibility. (E)  3.Develop the Division's strategy for social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and X. Oversee contributions. ( E)

4. In collaboration with Divisional Web Developers, advise departments on best practices for web and social media. (E)

20%

Content and Media Relations

1. Work with the Office of Strategic Communications to increase knowledge of divisional research both nationally and internationally. 

2. Collaborate with media relations representative for Life Sciences on how to prioritize divisional achievements. (E)

3. Engage departmental and freelance writers who produce articles about current topics; as appropriate, conduct interviews with faculty, staff, and students as background for this content.

4. Write, edit and contribute material as appropriate. (E)

5. Interface with local and regional media, including newspapers, TV, and radio to educate and promote divisional activities. (E)

6. Develop comprehensive media monitoring plan that allows real-time adjustment to messaging strategies. (E)

15%

Community Engagement

1. Survey current Division education and outreach efforts, and assess the Division's overall effectiveness. Advise on more effective strategies for the division. 

2. Advise faculty and staff on public outreach and education. (E)

3. Build relationships with new and current partner schools, to increase interest in science and public awareness of Life Sciences research.(E)

4. Facilitate outreach efforts by divisional faculty through expertise in evidence-based approaches. (E)

5. Contribute expertise to the proposals for public outreach awards. (E)

6. Work with the Life Sciences development team and the Alumni Association to better connect alumni and donors with engagement opportunities. (E)

7. Plan and implement new outreach measures to enhance divisional programs for both internal and external entities. (E)

8. Provide and present strategic planning for current and anticipated needs. (E)

15%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

In related area and / or equivalent experience / training

Required

Extensive experience in developing communications strategies for large organizations, preferably in higher education or the sciences.

Required

Superior writing skills to compose and edit correspondence and reports for appropriate grammar, spelling, and content, and to effectively engage the reader.

Required

Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.

Required

Superior oral and written communication skills to obtain and convey information to a broad and diverse audience.

Required

Strong interpersonal skills to interact courteously and effectively with co-workers, alumni, volunteers, faculty, staff, donors, and key University officials

Required

Ability to work as part of a team and participate productively to meet shared goals. As well as working independently and following through on assignments with minimal supervision as the situation demands.

Required

Ability to work effectively under conditions of heavy work load, frequent interruptions, distractions, crisis, and deadlines.

Required

Demonstrated computer proficiency in order to create and maintain databases, tables, reports, letters and memos using software such as Word and Excel. And experience working with content management systems such as WordPress and proficiency in various Adobe products.

Required

Strong knowledge of social media platforms.

Required

Experience in event planning and educational program planning.

Required

Ability to identify and evaluate current problem, and propose and implement appropriate solutions.

Required

Bachelor's degree in life sciences, or related field or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF 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.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Hershey Hall

Standing/Walking

X

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Other Mental Requirements

If "Mental demands other" was selected above, please explain:

Ability to do all of the above under times of crisis and able to adapt to ongoing senior leadership directives

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.