Assistant Director, Strategic Relations

Assistant Director, Strategic Relations
University of California Los Angeles


Requisition Number: 34667
Salary: Salary commensurate with skills, knowledge and experience.

Position Description:
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities houses UCLA's Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLA GC). The SLA GC is a campus wide initiative launched in 2013 by the Chancellor that is aimed at applying UCLA's research, expertise and education to help transform Los Angeles into the world's most sustainable megacity by 2050. SLA GC's vision is for Los Angeles to be the most livable, equitable, resilient, clean and healthy megacity, and an example for the world. The SLA GC is bridging the gap between academic scholarship and real-world beneficial application to the surrounding community and beyond. The SLA GC seeks an energetic and motivated individual with demonstrated experience in establishing and growing strategic relationships across diverse sectors that yield novel funding mechanisms and positive real-world impact.

The Assistant Director, Strategic Relations (AD, SR) for the SLA GC will identify, develop and maintain strategic relationships for engaged research with investor group, industry, nonprofit, community-based, and governmental organizations and non-traditional research sponsors and consortiums that are interested in university research, expertise and engagement and who share a passionate desire to realize a more livable, equitable, resilient, clean and healthy Los Angeles. The AD, SR will use business data and market knowledge about potential partners to develop recommendations and strategic/tactical partnership plans that will contribute to attracting and securing novel external funding for university engaged research and education that results in transformational urban sustainability outcomes mutually beneficial to all partners and stakeholders. This position requires the ability to gather and analyze data and information on potential partners to provide insight and develop strategies around partner priorities, interests and trends in sustainability/social investments that align with SLA GC faculty expertise and to then build and maintain reciprocal meaningful relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders, to communicate collegially and knowledgeably with faculty and researchers in a variety of disciplines using diverse approaches, and to creatively support and contribute to engagement and growth strategies for maximizing novel revenue streams to support the SLA GC and UCLA urban sustainability research and desired outcomes. The ideal candidate for this position has exceptional relational, analytical, communication, interpersonal and strategic development skills, content expertise, impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills, and an advanced degree relevant to the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge or business development.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1) analysis of trends and patterns (gathering intelligence) on potential partners, especially local and state partners, and thoroughly understanding their interests, priorities and needs in order to develop a strategic and tactical plan for engagement; 2) relationship cultivation with strategically identified external partners from industry, nonprofits, community-based and governmental organizations; 3) development and maintenance of partnerships and related funding strategy for engaged research for the SLA GC; 4) developing an understanding of faculty research in urban sustainability across campus, especially as it relates to potential and existing partnerships and related funding; 5) tracking and evaluating partnerships and their outcomes using data to optimize the performance of the partnerships and utility to UCLA faculty and researchers; and 6) coordination between external partners, faculty and researchers, and other groups as necessary to create partnership strategies and secure funding for advancing urban sustainability.


For full application instructions and position description, please visit: https://hr.mycareer.ucla.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=81932

The University of California 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. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy, https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction


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