Project Director Of Strategic Development And Partnerships For The Institute For Technology, Law & Policy (itlp) At Ucla

Position

Position title: Project Director of Strategic Development and Partnerships for the Institute for Technology, Law & Policy (ITLP) at UCLA School of Law

Salary range: See UC Salary Table 34 for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $115,000 to $135,000.

Application Window

Open date: July 31, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Aug 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Sep 25, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The UCLA School of Law is seeking a highly energetic and entrepreneurial individual with legal training and experience in law, policy, research, and strategic partnerships, to serve as Project Director, Strategic Development and Partnerships for the Institute for Technology, Law & Policy (ITLP).

ITLP is a joint initiative of the UCLA School of Law and UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. Established in 2020, ITLP conducts interdisciplinary research and provides a suite of nation-leading courses and programs at the nexus of technology development and regulation, including in the areas of data privacy, cybersecurity, AI law and policy, antitrust, intellectual property, and innovation policy. ITLP’s leadership team comprises Executive Director Julia Powles and Faculty Co-Directors Mark McKenna and John Villasenor.

The Project Director will lead the Institute’s partnership strategy through a crucial phase of consolidation and growth. Reporting to and working under the direction of the Executive Director, the Project Director will have four core responsibilities:

• developing curricular and research programming across a lean and ambitious interdisciplinary Institute working on critical challenges in law and technology;
• developing funding prospects and applications for extramural funds to support the Institute’s core operations and its portfolio of research, public-interest projects, educational delivery, and programming;
• scoping, designing, and building a sustainable funding model for a new Technology Law Clinic; and
• co-designing and stewarding a new ITLP industry network that connects the Institute across the legal, technology, non-profit, and public sectors.

Across all four responsibilities, the unifying objective is to secure and steward the financial resources that will allow ITLP to continue to pursue independent, public-interest research and teaching at the speed of technological change. The Project Director’s legal training is integral to the role. It provides the credibility, professional standing, and substantive expertise required to engage funders, industry and government partners, and UCLA colleagues, and to navigate the legal, financial, and governance dimensions of funding relationships and partnerships.

The Project Director will be involved across the full spectrum of ITLP’s activities in research, teaching, and public service, and will work in close collaboration with both the ITLP leadership team and the broader affiliated faculty, fellows, and students. Depending on the background and interests of the Project Director and the priorities and needs of the Institute, this may include teaching into the Technology Law Specialization.

This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenure-track academic position. Funding is available for a one-year limited appointment. Renewal contingent on funding. The Project Director will be expected to work on location in Los Angeles.

This appointment is subject to the rules and regulations of the Regents of the University of California, as reflected in The UCLA CALL and the University of California Academic Personnel Manual. (See The UCLA CALL and UC Academic Personnel Policy .) As a normal requirement, the appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g. J.D., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected for appointment in the activity.

As a University employee, the Project Director will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

See UC Salary Table 34 for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $115,000 to $135,000. The salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum requirements for this position include: a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; an excellent academic record; membership in the California Bar or the bar of another state; a minimum of three (3) years’ relevant experience with the legal, financial, and governance issues relevant to technology law and policy; a demonstrated track record of strategic partnerships; excellent verbal and written communication skills; excellent project management skills; budget management skills; and demonstrated management, administrative, and organizational skills.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please apply online at UCLA Recruit by submitting pdf copies of:

• a cover letter discussing your interest, qualifications and experience;
• a resume or curriculum vitae;
• a statement reflecting on the candidate’s personal and professional experiences, highlighting past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan; and
• two letters of reference.

PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES

This position carries the following duties and responsibilities, which may be assigned or removed to respond to Institute priorities and needs.

1. Curricular Responsibilities
   a) Work with the relevant administration and faculty members to broaden and deepen curricular offerings addressing the broader societal implications of technology.
   b) Play a leading role in administering the law school curricular specialization, and, together with the affiliated faculty, provide academic and career guidance to students in the specialization.
   c) Depending on the candidate’s background, responsibilities may also include teaching one class on a technology/law topic, including clinical teaching, and overseeing student independent studies.
   d) Provide individualized academic and career counseling to support students interested in issues at the technology/law intersection.

2. Research Development
   a) Work with Institute faculty to develop, coordinate, and support a world class and innovative research program in technology law and policy.
   b) Help advance the reputation of the Institute as a hub for scholarship on the legal and policy issues associated with rapidly evolving technologies.
   c) Develop and supervise programs for publicizing and disseminating the Institute’s research and policy work by faculty, students and fellows through publications, conferences, and other programs.
   d) Contribute to the Institute’s academic, policy and other potential fellowship programs.

3. Fundraising and Resource Development
   a) Develop and lead the Institute’s overall partnership strategy, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Faculty Co-Directors, and the Law School’s external affairs and development teams.
   b) Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic, foundation, government, and industry funding to support the Institute’s core operations and its portfolio of research and public-interest projects.
   c) Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective funders, develop cases for support, and contribute to gift agreements (in coordination with the Office of Gift Planning) and stewardship materials.
   d) Prepare grant proposals, funding applications, donor briefings, and reports, and manage timely substantive reporting to funders in coordination with the Office of Contract and Grant Administration, UCLA Foundation, and the Law School’s financial and external affairs and development teams.
   e) Nurture effective relations with existing donors and sponsors, and reach out to new and potential donors in order to diversify and stabilize the Institute’s funding base.

4. Technology Law Clinic Funding and Sustainability
   a) Design and build a sustainable funding model for a new Technology Law Clinic, including the mix of philanthropic, foundation, sponsored-project, and earned-revenue sources required to launch and maintain it.
   b) Develop the financial architecture, multi-year budget, and funding runway for the Clinic, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Faculty Co-Directors, and the Vice Dean for Clinics and Experiential Education.
   c) Cultivate and secure founding and ongoing funding commitments for the Clinic, and prepare and contribute to the associated proposals, agreements, and donor reporting.
   d) Integrate the Clinic’s funding model with the Institute’s broader development strategy and industry network.

5. Industry Network Design and Stewardship
   a) In collaboration with the Executive Director and Faculty Co-Directors, co-design the structure, governance, membership model, and value proposition of a new ITLP industry network.
   b) Recruit, onboard, and steward network members from the legal and technology sectors and allied industries, and manage member relationships and expectations consistent with the Institute’s commitment to independent, public-interest research.
   c) Design and convene network meetings, briefings, workshops, and roundtables that connect industry partners with ITLP faculty, fellows, and students.
   d) Develop and manage the network’s contribution and sponsorship framework as a sustainable funding stream for the Institute, in coordination with University colleagues.
   e) Represent the Institute in partnerships with industry, non-governmental organizations, and other academic institutions.

6. Administrative Responsibilities
   a) Act as a project manager within the Institute, including during times when the Law School is not in session; manage documents, conduct research, and support ongoing projects as required for effective project management.
   b) Assist in the management of project finances, including budgeting and grant management, in partnership with UCLA colleagues.
   c) Supervise project staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers as necessary, and work with the Institute and Law School’s faculty and other senior administrators.
   d) Serve as a member of the Law School community, contributing to relevant committees and representing the Institute in campus, university, and Law School settings.
   e) Assist with other administrative tasks as necessary.

7. Outreach Responsibilities
   a) Foster relationships with funders, industry partners, academics, lawyers, government officials, and advocacy organizations who may be interested in supporting or collaborating with the Institute.
   b) In collaboration with other Institute faculty and staff, disseminate information about the Institute to UCLA School of Law students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external audiences, including by developing written materials.
   c) Serve as a representative and ambassador for the Institute before a range of audiences, including funders, policymakers, practitioners, and the public.

THE PROJECT DIRECTOR POSITION

The successful candidate will have significant experience and extensive contacts across the technology law and policy ecosystem. The minimum requirements for this position include:

• A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school;
• As a normal requirement, the appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g. J.D., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected for appointment in the activity;
• An excellent academic record;
• Membership in the California Bar or the bar of another state;
• A minimum of three (3) years’ relevant experience with the legal, financial, and governance issues relevant to technology law and policy;
• A demonstrated track record of strategic partnerships;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Excellent project management skills;
• Budget management skills; and
• Demonstrated management, administrative, and organizational skills.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

A J.D. or Ph.D. or equivalent top terminal degree

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Cover Letter - A letter discussing your interest, qualifications and/or experience.

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• 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

Reference requirements

• 2 letters of reference required

Please provide two letters of reference.

Help contact: View email address on thenonprofitnetwork.org

About UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

Job location

Los Angeles, CA