Communications Strategist

MEDIA COMM SPEC 3 (007462)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_4057

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

3/12/2025 6:09:56 PM

Date Last Edited:

3/12/2025 6:09:54 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1140O

Organization:

SCHOOL OF LAW

Division Code:

1141D

Division:

LAW DIV

Department:

025000 - LAW

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_4057

Position Description ID

237319

UC Payroll Title:

MEDIA COMM SPEC 3 (007462)

Business Title:

Communications Strategist

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 22

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):

1 - Staff: Contract

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

41126776

Reports to Payroll Title:

COMM SPEC 4

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40040696

Department Head Payroll Title:

DEAN

SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent performs a variety of routine duties within established policies and procedures or by referral to the supervisor’s guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law is a new, dynamic organization seeking a Communications Strategist to direct our external and internal program communications, manage our program outreach and events and amplify our work through timely and strategic communications. The Center generates innovative ideas at the intersection of immigration scholarship and practice; serves as a hub for transforming those ideas into meaningful changes in immigration policy at the local, state, and national level; and empowers students with unique opportunities for experiential learning through work with academics, practitioners, policymakers, and activists. An ideal candidate is highly professional, advances work autonomously and with initiative, can work effectively with people at all levels in the organization from Affiliated Faculty Members to students, has excellent communication and problem-solving skills and enjoys purpose driven work. The Communications Strategist will have primary responsibility for running the Center's day-to-day communications work. This includes generating content for and coordinating the Center's social media accounts, conducting media outreach and pitching stories, maintaining the website and editorial calendar, developing tailored press lists, coordinating press events, generating press releases, and finding proactive ways to insert the Center's expertise into the daily news cycle. The Strategist will create and manage communications for the program such as by developing and implementing strategic communications plans; promoting events, written products, and other Center initiatives; interfacing with journalists, other campus communications professionals, and Center staff, students, and stakeholders; producing Center newsletters throughout the year; creating email campaigns; developing and maintaining a social media presence; and keeping our website updated. The Strategist will also have significant responsibility for event planning and execution. Events include conferences, lunch talks, workshops, and speaker series. The Strategist will work with internal and external stakeholders, including CILP Affiliated Faculty, UCLA Law alumni, UCLA Law students and staff, other university faculty, external professionals in the environmental law field, and others. The Strategist will work closely with the Center's Director of Strategic Communications and other CILP staff to provide daily operational support, including some administrative support as needed. The Communications Strategist will be supervised by the Center's Director of Strategic Communications. The Strategist will also work directly with the Center's Faculty Co-Directors and staff. The ideal candidate will be creative, empathic, and proactive about working to change dominant narratives about immigration and highlighting the Center's innovative work. They will also have experience in political research and communications, excellent communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work effectively with people at all levels in the university and beyond, including faculty, students, and people working on immigration issues outside the university community. While the Communications Strategist does not need to be an expert on the substance of immigration law and policy, they must have a strong interest in migration-related issues.

Strategic Communications

1. Design and execute communication strategies, in collaboration with the Communications Director, to promote CILP educational events, research, and other faculty products to researchers, policymakers, community leaders, journalists, and other targeted audiences.  2. In collaboration with Center scholars and leadership, oversee release of Center work, including timing, messaging, digital dissemination, etc. and to coordinate outreach to journalists and stakeholders on matters within Center faculty and staff expertise.  3. Create and maintain editorial calendar   4. Manage communications projects such as website creation and maintenance. 5. Create and track Center electronic mailings, contact lists, press hits and media lists.  6. Under supervision of Center's Communications Director, coordinate media outreach and pitching, develop tailored press lists, coordinate press events, generate press releases, and find proactive ways to insert the Center's expertise into the daily news cycle.

40%

Social Media Management

1. Manage day-to-day creation and posting on social media platforms. 2. Help grow the Center's social media presence and relevance. 3. Create and distribute center e-newsletters.

20%

Departmental Operations

1. Support Communications Director on a variety of matters including presentations, research projects and event planning.  2. In coordination with the Program Manager, assist with planning, promoting and executing programs and events. This includes creating graphics and promotional materials for student and public facing events and conferences.  3. Oversee internal and external communications and event-related matters including presentations, outreach and coordination regarding research projects, and engagement with campus support offices.

20%

Research

1. Create research database cataloging Center's press hits and academic research supporting Center's work.

10%

Event Management

1. Develop departmental strategy for planning, promoting, and executing programs and events. These include speaker's series, conferences, roundtables, panels, etc. Manage catering, rentals, room reservations, speaker travel, RSVPs, promotional materials, webpages, internal calendars and event management systems, timelines, and day-of-event logistics. (E)  2. Serve as a liaison to speakers and other participants and assist them with travel, accommodations, and reimbursement as needed. (E)

10%

•

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

or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required

Minimum 4 years

relevant work experience in strategic communications, outreach and social media.

Required

Demonstrated ability to organize and present complex information effectively to a range of audiences including faculty, students, staff and the public.

Required

Communications Experience- Able to independently draft Press Releases, Talking Points, Media Pitches and Media Briefings.

Required

Experience pitching stories and cultivating relationships with the media.

Required

Political Research Experience- familiar with news articles and data bulletin.

Preferred

Expert familiarity with various social media platforms and Microsoft Office software programs, and Canva.

Required

Requires advanced ability to initiate activities independently and organize, prioritize and complete work in a timely manner despite deadlines and competing requests. Strong time management skills required.

Required

Ability to set priorities which accurately reflect the relative importance of job responsibilities and deadlines. Skill in working collaboratively to prioritize work demands and resources to meet anticipated deadlines.

Required

Sense of humor and interpersonal skills to communicate and interact effectively, with faculty, staff, students, vendors and the public.

Required

Ability to take initiative, pay attention to detail, work independently, organize workflow, establish a productive work environment and follow through on assignments with minimal supervision.

Required

Ability to post materials online and/or search the Internet for requested information. Ability to create and maintain Internet websites and pages.

Required

Familiarity with Immigration policy and related social movements.

Preferred

Ability to work off-hours as the news cycle and press needs dictates.

Required

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.

Spanish Language Fluency

Preferred

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

385 Charles E. Young Dr. East. Los Angeles, CA 90095

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

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

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

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.