Project Director

PROJECT POLICY ANL 4 (007399)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_4411

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

5/15/2025 5:18:42 PM

Date Last Edited:

5/15/2025 5:18:40 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1180O

Organization:

LUSKIN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Division Code:

1181D

Division:

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Department:

302000 - LUSKIN CENTER FOR INNOVATION

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_4411

Position Description ID

239784

UC Payroll Title:

PROJECT POLICY ANL 4 (007399)

Business Title:

Project Director

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 23

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:

40037881

Reports to Payroll Title:

ACAD PRG MGT OFCR 4

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40057949

Department Head Payroll Title:

PROF-AY

DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent establishes procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives in a broad area of work. Only the final results of work done are typically reviewed. Incumbent typically develops procedures within the limits of established policy guidelines.

007398

PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

2.5

POSITION SUMMARY

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) is hiring a Project Director for our Climate Action research area. The main project that they will direct is LCI's multi-year evaluation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC). In addition, they may conduct synthesis analyses across TCC sites and beyond to inform equity-centered and community-driven climate investments. Responsibilities include hiring, training, and supervising a team of staff and student researchers; developing funding proposals to expand LCI's research advancing community-driven climate action; liaising with funders about project updates; representing LCI at stakeholder engagement opportunities; overseeing the development of written and digital materials that summarize LCI's research findings; and scoping out new methods, data sources, and approaches to program evaluation in order to strengthen LCI's work in this area. Receives direct supervision from the center's co-executive director and guidance from the faculty director.

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation informs solutions to environmental challenges to improve lives. Our mission is to equitably solve environmental challenges through actionable research with communities and policymakers. We often focus on California, one of the world's largest economies, to support a model of environmental leadership that is relevant globally. Our approach is collaborative. We unite scholars across a wide array of disciplines and engage with hundreds of civic partners who inform and use our research. The Luskin Center for Innovation has influenced dozens of public policies and investments for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Research Project Direction

1. Manages complex research tasks that involve multiple partners and multiple qualitative and quantitative methods.

2. Explores and assesses new research tools (GIS, Python, R, Microsoft Excel, etc.) and the feasibility of their application for projects.

3. Proposes methodological approaches for assessing impacts of existing and potential environmental policies and programs.

4. Updates project budgets on an annual basis to reflect shifting research priorities and staffing assignments.

5. Consults and strategizes for the long-term direction of LCI's Climate Action Initiative and to guide short-term research proposal priorities.

6. Oversees proposal writing process to leverage existing projects towards new research opportunities.

60%

Supervision

1. Recruits, hires, and trains new staff and student researchers.

2. Develops workplans for staff and student researchers.

3. Supervises daily workflow and work accomplishments of support staff to ensure accuracy and compliance with LCI internal procedures and University policies and procedures.

4. Consults in center-wide staffing plans according to the skills, experience, and professional development goals of fellow staff.

5. Conducts performance evaluations, disciplinary actions and termination of employees, including recommending salary actions to staff, as necessary.

20%

Communication

1. Communicates status of project to the Center's Faculty Director and Co-Executive Director.

2. Presents project outcomes and communicates UCLA capabilities by serving as a LCI representative to external audiences, including funders, policymakers, and other partners at conferences and meetings. 

3. Responsible for content creation to communicate project updates and outcomes on LCI website, social media, and Constant Contact to promote that content.

4. Collaborates with colleagues to explore innovative and interactive means of publicly sharing data, narrative information, and other findings (e.g. digital data dashboards, story maps, etc.).

20%

•

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

Required

Master's Degree

Preferred

Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in project management and tracking.

Required

Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively with clients, university leadership, and supervisees.

Required

Demonstrated ability to supervise staff in a way that supports their productivity and advances their own professional development goals.

Required

Demonstrated ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects, meet deadline requirements in the face of frequent interruptions, and adaptively adjust priorities as situations evolve.

Required

Strong knowledge in environmental planning and policy.

Required

Demonstrated skills in strategic planning and research grant proposal writing.

Required

Excellent writing and oral communication skills to prepare and present materials ranging from technical research reports to marketing materials that are analytical, grammatically correct, clear, and concise.

Required

Expert knowledge of Excel, Access and other databases or analytical software needed to conduct appropriate research. 

Required

Demonstrated skill in use of GIS research software, such as ArcGIS and Stata.

Preferred

Demonstrated analytical and statistical skills and tools (such as Excel and Stata), especially applied to economics, environment and financial impacts.

Required

Strong knowledge in evaluation principles, methods, and their application.

Required

Familiarity with UCLA departments, policies, procedures and academic mission, preferred.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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

COVID and Flu Vaccinations: The position is subject to providing evidence of inoculation.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Work from home with occassional research site visits and events throughout CA

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

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

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

Communication skills

X

Numerical skills

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.