UC CENTER SACRAMENTO DIRECTOR

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This is an academic position located in Sacramento, California.

UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

At the University of California (UC), your contributions make a difference. A world leader producing Nobel and Pulitzer Prize recipients with over 150 years of groundbreaking research transforming the world. Choose a career where you can leverage your knowledge, skills and aspirations to inspire and support some of the greatest minds in the world, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Working at the University of California is being part of a unique institution, and a vibrant and diverse community. At the University of California, Office of the President, we propel our mission through impactful work locally, in government centers and systemwide. We are passionate people, serving the greater good.

The University of California, one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. The University of California Office of the President is the headquarters to the 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories and enrolls premier students from California, the nation and the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Established in 2003 as a systemwide unit of the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS) is poised to begin a new chapter in its history, by integrating a highly visible, public facing program of top flight speakers, debates, briefings, and panels designed to speak to major policy issues of our time, policy work conducted on behalf of the State of California and the legislature, and an outstanding academic program for students throughout the UC system. Drawing on the extraordinary caliber of research conducted by UC faculty in the public interest, UCCS activities make their mark in the capital of the fifth largest economy in the world. Administered through UC Davis with financial support from UCOP, the Center is located within walking distance of the State Capitol in Sacramento at the new University of California Student and Policy Center (1115 11th Street, Sacramento).

POSITION SUMMARY

We seek applications for the position of Director of UC Center Sacramento, to begin no later than July 1, 2024. The Director must be a current member (or eligible for the membership) of the Academic Senate of the University of California. We are open to many kinds of candidates, ranging from scholars whose work focuses on policy-related issues to public figures who have joined the Academy, but are familiar with the landscape of state and federal policymaking. In all instances, we are interested in finding a prominent, public-facing colleague whose reputation for engagement and leadership is significant.

The Director of UC Center Sacramento is responsible for the management and operation of the Student and Policy Center; promoting highly visible public activities in the Center on behalf of UC as well as private and governmental groups; and interacting with agencies and the local community as a provider of state-of-the-art research that aims to solve policy problems. The director will be deeply engaged in the development of an expanded program of internships designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to contribute to problem solving in state agencies, legislative offices, non-profit organizations, and private sector firms, while completing challenging courses aligned to this mission.

Closely connected to the university-wide State Governmental Relations office, the Director will contribute to the overall public prominence of the University of California system. Wherever possible, UCCS seeks to enable a Sacramento presence for the University's many research groups that contribute to sound policy development through rigorous data analysis, including those focused on economic development, sustainability and stewardship of the environment, educational attainment, health equity, clean energy, and other issues of significance.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include: supervision of staff; academic collaboration with campuses on opportunities to showcase impactful faculty research; coordination of the UCCS Advisory Board and Faculty Council; engaging in fundraising for the Center; and UC goals more generally. Furthermore, the Director is responsible for developing, maintaining and communicating with the UCCS alumni association.

The Director reports to both the Provost and Executive Vice President at UCOP and the UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. Additionally, the Center Director collaborates and consults with the UC Office of State Governmental Relations, as appropriate. The Director must be in residence in the Sacramento area for this appointment.

The Director is responsible for providing overall direction, supervision and vision for three inter-related components making up the UCCS program:

1. The UC Sacramento Policy Forum, a diverse set of debates, major lectures from prominent figures, national and California-based policy advocacy events, seminars, workshops, conferences and other activities that showcase policy-relevant faculty expertise from across the University of California for a Sacramento audience and for the press.

2. The Public Policy Seminar and Internship Program, a for-credit internship related to the state public policy process in Sacramento.

3. The academic programs of the Center, which engage faculty from throughout the UC system, but with special focus on the nearby Davis campus, with whom students enroll when they come throughout California to experience all that a bustling state capital has to offer.

The Public Policy Forum is a locus for drawing attention to collaborative policy research efforts within and between the campuses, and a conduit for making that research available to state policymakers. The mission of the public-facing program is to harness all that the world's most celebrated public university has to offer to policy makers in the capital and to be recognized in the media for this effort. Accordingly, the ideal candidate will have extensive contacts in the world of politics, think tanks, and television/radio/podcast media, ranging from the leadership itself to the staffers who are influential in the policy process both in Sacramento and Washington, DC. UCCS aspires to be a "beehive" of activity, a "go-to" place for information and networking, and a proud showcase of the strengths of the University as an economic and workforce engine, a national gem of an educational institution and research excellence, the source of professional talent for industries and non-profits throughout the state, and a provider of health care through its medical centers.

The core of the academic program-the public policy seminar and internship program-is the undergraduate experience, which includes a rich combination of academic/research courses, skills courses, and experiential learning through internships in a wide range of governmental organizations. In the future, we anticipate that our major graduate programs in public policy, journalism, public economics, health science, and environmental policy will establish a presence for students and faculty in UCCS. Because the vitality of these academic programs depends on the participation of all ten campuses, the Director must be adept at working with different constituencies and representing the overall interests of UCCS to broad and divergent groups.

Because internships and experiential learning are fundamental to the UCCS student experience, the Director is expected to engage actively with public life in Sacramento. Securing opportunities for UC students and faculty to work with legislators, state agencies, the Governor's office, unions, professional associations, advocacy groups, journalists, and on faculty-led research projects aimed at solving public problems, are important responsibilities of the new Director.

The academic program of the Center consists of a set of courses offered to undergraduates (and, we hope, graduate students in the future) who are interested in learning about issues of the day including climate change, health care, educational attainment and inequality, racial disparities, and many other topics of current concern. Students take a full program of academic classes, in addition to their internship responsibilities, to advance in degree completion and develop the insights and skills needed to contribute to their post-graduate lives.

Promoting these opportunities with relevant academic leaders on the ten campuses is central to this role. Developing options for related undergraduate majors (e.g., in public policy, political science, sociology, environmental science, and economics) and graduate programs (Political Science, MPA/MPP in Public Affairs/Policy, Business and Public Management, etc.) to spend semesters/quarters, summers and more limited-time intensive seminars, is a crucial goal going forward. In addition to these academically integrated opportunities, students of all kinds are recruited to UCCS by maintaining strong relations with the campus deans and student affairs directors.

In partnership with the campuses, outreach is aimed at alumni of UCCS, with the goal of raising funds to sustain and enhance the academic experience of this student program. The Director must be an effective manager, capable of exercising authority over a range of complex functions essential to the operation of the Student and Policy Center space and UCCS academic program.

The Director must be willing to take up residence in the Sacramento area while serving in this role but prepared to travel throughout the state on behalf of UCCS. Ideally, the candidate will have experience in running a substantial institution. Involvement in a multi-campus program or experience in collaborating with multiple UC campuses would be desirable, and the candidate must demonstrate an ability to work with different groups and achieve consensus on difficult issues.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should demonstrate the following competencies:

Leadership and Management

* Ability to "think big," run with nascent ideas where appropriate, and build coalitions across institutional boundaries within the university and between UC and external actors.

* Good business acumen and a taste for innovation that is fiscally sound.

* Ability to work with and lead skilled staff.

* Ability to recognize and solve problems of varied kinds quickly and effectively.

* Experience/ability to work collaboratively with the Office of the President, UC Davis, and advisory and governing boards that oversee academic programs, financial matters and governance.

* Leadership skills and administrative experience, including program management, designing and/or managing curricular programs, overseeing a program budget, managing facilities, and dealing with student welfare issues.

* Ability to provide leadership and direction for UCCS operations including the academic program, public policy research program and public engagement efforts.

* Ability to bridge organizational cultures at a detailed level.

Outreach

* Experience in building visible and durable networks of political office holders, researchers, journalists, and others in the "policy ecosystem."

* Experience in public relations, journalism, policymaking.

* Ability to forge strong connections between UCCS with experts and professional organizations in the Sacramento area and beyond.

* Dedication to strategic partnerships with State Governmental Relations (UC SGR) along with other UC programs

* Exceptional communications skills and ability to work well with diverse constituencies in order to advocate on behalf of UCCS in coordination with State Governmental Relations.

* Ability to serve as the public face of UCCS and foster a sense of community with alumni, other UC and external audiences, as well as with UCCS students.

* Willingness and ability to fundraise for UCCS.

* Commitment to strengthen ties between the program and the campuses and to recruitment of students in all disciplines, particularly in science, arts and humanities.

Academic Leadership

* Be a member (or be eligible for membership) in the Faculty Senate at one of the campuses of the University of California.

* Passion for the academic mission, commitment to a balance between core research and experiential learning for a broad spectrum of majors.

* Familiarity with UC policies and practices with respect to academic courses and program development, faculty hiring and assessment.

* Ability to build strong relationships with and between UCCS faculty, staff and students.

* A commitment to program development and to exploring ways to broaden student participation in UCCS.

* Experience within the UC system, or a comparable research-rich academic environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

This position could be anywhere from 50% time and above, up to and including 100% time. The selected candidate will be expected to make the UCCS the primary focus of his/her/their work life. The appointment is for a five-year renewable term.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment, and discipline. See Tables 1-8 (). The salary range for this position is determined by the underlying academic appointment. A reasonable estimated annualized full-time salary range for this position is $180K-$325K based on experience and accomplishments. "Off-scale salaries" and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

How to Apply

To apply, please login to the UCOP job page at:

Applicants are asked to submit a letter of application expressing their interest in the position, a CV, a statement of contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a list of three persons who can speak to their qualifications. Questions about the position should be directed to Ehsan Choudhry (Ehsan.Choudhry@ucop.edu).

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

For full consideration, application materials should be submitted no later than January 10, 2024. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position.

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California, Office of the President, 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.

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