Associate Director for Policy and Communications

Associate Director for Policy and CommunicationsPosition overview:Associate Director for Policy and CommunicationsSalary 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 - $240,000Application Window:Open date: October 15, 2026Next 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 UCLA Center for Community Schooling advances democracy, justice, and public education by helping schools become vibrant, community-centered places where young people learn and thrive. Bringing research, policy, and practice into close conversation, the Center partners with students, families, educators, and public agencies to support meaningful and lasting school transformation. This work is grounded in long-term research–practice partnerships with the two UCLA Community Schools in LAUSD, where democratic values and community voice shape everyday learning. At the state level, the Center co-leads California's $4 billion Community School Partnership Program, supporting more than 2,000 public schools and reaching over one million students and families. Through applied research and implementation support, the Center demonstrates how universities can be powerful partners in advancing equitable, community-driven change.UCLA has established and maintained an active program of engaged scholarship and research at the UCLA Community School since 2009, when the school opened. Given the success of the UCLA Community School and the establishment of the Mann UCLA Community School in 2016, the UCLA Center for Community Schooling was established to study and share research and practice at both sites—supported by a Regional Training Center grant from the University of Pennsylvania to expand university-assisted community schools on the West Coast.Since that time, the UCLA Center for Community Schooling has become a nationally recognized leader in community school transformation. Its work synthesizes emerging research, rigorous documentation of practice, and strategies for continuous improvement to generate insights and tools that support educators and communities.Primary responsibilities:A. Academic Policy Leadership and Research TranslationProvide advanced academic leadership in translating research and evaluation findings into policy recommendations and resources that inform community school implementation and educational systems change.Lead the development of research-informed policy briefs, reports, legislative testimony, and scholarly publications for local, state, and national audiences.Collaborate with faculty directors, principal investigators, and research teams to analyze and synthesize complex research findings, including statewide CCSPP implementation and evaluation data, to inform educational policy and practice.Identify emerging educational policy issues and opportunities to apply the Center's research to state and national policy discussions.Serve as a subject matter expert and provide research-based consultation to policymakers, educational organizations, philanthropic partners, and public agencies.B. Scholarly Communications and PublicationsProvide academic leadership for the Center's scholarly communications and research dissemination initiatives to expand the reach and impact of its scholarship.Serve as Associate Editor of the Center's journal, establishing editorial priorities and coordinating the development, review, and publication of scholarly articles and research-based resources.Develop and implement research dissemination strategies that effectively communicate complex findings to researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and institutional partners.Collaborate with faculty and research teams to identify publication opportunities and ensure scholarly materials maintain academic quality and accurately reflect research findings.Coordinate academic convenings, presentations, and other dissemination activities that elevate the Center's research and contributions to the field.C. State and National Academic and Policy PartnershipsLead academic and policy engagement initiatives that strengthen the Center's role as a state and national resource for community school research and implementation.Represent the Center's research and academic initiatives on statewide and national committees, professional associations, policy forums, and educational networks.Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with universities, school districts, public agencies, research organizations, and other institutional partners.Monitor emerging research, policy developments, and implementation trends in community schools and related fields, including health, social services, and workforce development.Identify opportunities for collaborative research, policy engagement, and academic initiatives that advance the application of research to educational policy and practice.D. Academic Partnership and Program DevelopmentProvide advanced academic coordination and program development expertise to strengthen research–practice partnerships and expand university-assisted community school models.Collaborate with faculty leadership, university administrators, school districts, and community partners to develop and sustain research–practice partnerships.Provide subject matter expertise in developing memoranda of understanding, institutional partnership frameworks, and implementation resources that support university–school district collaboration.Lead the coordination of academic and programmatic planning for university-assisted community school partnerships, identifying opportunities and strategies for sustainable institutional engagement.Contribute to the development of professional learning opportunities, academic convenings, and technical assistance initiatives that support community school implementation.E. Strategic Academic Program Coordination and EvaluationProvide high-level academic coordination and oversight of initiatives that advance the Center's research, policy, and dissemination objectives.Collaborate with Center leadership to establish academic priorities, strategic objectives, and implementation plans for policy engagement and scholarly communications.Independently coordinate complex academic initiatives involving faculty, researchers, academic staff, and external institutional partners.Develop evaluation measures, assess program outcomes, and prepare substantive reports and recommendations to inform academic planning and continuous improvement.Contribute to the development of proposals and funding opportunities that support the Center's research, policy, and academic initiatives.Qualifications:Basic qualifications:Master'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 qualifications:Extensive 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 requirements:Curriculum 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 formUCLA 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 UCLA