Associate Director for Policy and Communications
The University of California, Los Angeles
About this position
Position Overview
Position title: Associate Director for Policy and Communications Salary range: See Table 36: t36 for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for the annual salary for this position is $111,002 - $240,000
Application Deadline
Open date: October 15, 2026 Next review date:Saturday, Nov 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Final date: Saturday, Nov 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.
Position Description
The Associate Director for Policy and Communications will work closely with the Co-Directors for the UCLA Center for Community Schooling to provide advanced academic program leadership that strengthens the Center’s capacity to connect educational research, policy, and practice. Through independent coordination of complex academic initiatives, scholarly publications, research translation, and institutional partnerships, the position will contribute to the Center's statewide and national impact while advancing UCLA's mission of research, public service, and community engagement. The Associate Director will play a critical role in translating the Center's research and evaluation findings into actionable policy recommendations, scholarly publications, and resources that inform educational practice and systems change. Working collaboratively with faculty directors, principal investigators, researchers, policymakers, and community partners, the incumbent will lead academic initiatives that strengthen the Center's influence on community school policy, implementation, and institutional development. The position requires substantial expertise in educational policy, research translation, community school systems, and research–practice partnerships. The incumbent will exercise a high degree of independent academic judgment in developing and coordinating complex initiatives, representing the Center in academic and policy settings, and advancing the dissemination and application of research findings. The Associate Director will also provide intellectual and programmatic leadership for the Center's scholarly communications, including serving as Associate Editor of the Center's journal, developing policy briefs and research publications, and coordinating the dissemination of findings to diverse audiences.
Qualifications
Basic qualificationsMaster’s degree in Education, Public Policy, Educational Leadership, Social Sciences, or a closely related field. Significant progressively responsible experience in academic program development, educational research, policy analysis, or research–practice partnerships. Demonstrated expertise in educational policy, community schools, public education systems, or related areas of educational transformation. Preferred qualificationsExtensive experience in educational research, policy analysis, community school implementation, or evaluation, including knowledge of California's Community Schools Partnership Program and related educational policy initiatives. Demonstrated experience translating complex research findings into scholarly publications, policy briefs, technical reports, and other materials for academic, professional, and policy audiences. Experience providing academic leadership and independently coordinating complex initiatives involving multiple institutional partners at the local, state, or national level. Demonstrated experience developing and sustaining research–practice partnerships with universities, school districts, public agencies, and community organizations, including university-assisted community school models. Experience in scholarly communications, including academic journal editing, research dissemination, and the development of publications that inform educational policy and practice. Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills, with demonstrated independent judgment, organizational leadership, and commitment to educational equity and community-engaged scholarship.
Application Requirements
Document requirementsCurriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. Cover Letter - In the cover letter, please include a research statement of your past research activities and your research mission for this position. Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education. The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows: Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution Prompt for candidates for recruitment: Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service Statement of Teaching (Optional) Reference requirements 3-5 letters of reference required Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references and must prompt the recruitment system to request letters to complete their application Apply link:https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF11390 Help contact:alfredsen@gseis.ucla.edu