Executive Director, News & Media Relations

University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco

The Executive Director, News & Media Relations is a senior leader within UCSF's Office of Communications and serves as the institution's principal strategist for enterprise media relations and public affairs. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor, Communications, this position develops and leads integrated external communications strategies for UCSF. The role works in partnership with communications and institutional leaders across the enterprise to protect and strengthen UCSF's reputation as one of the world's leading academic health systems and biomedical research institutions. It also advances institutional priorities across research, education, patient care, and public service.

The Executive Director provides strategic communications counsel to executive leadership and ensures a coordinated, enterprise-wide approach to external communications.

Primary Responsibilities

The Executive Director is responsible for leading UCSF's external communications strategy through the Public Affairs function by:

Developing and executing integrated external communications strategies that advance institutional priorities and strengthen UCSF's reputation through media relations, public affairs, and executive visibility.
Serving as the senior strategic advisor to executive leadership on media relations and public affairs for the UCSF enterprise.
Directing enterprise-wide media relations, including oversight of earned and owned media strategies, media engagement, and rapid response communications.
Leading and developing a high-performing Public Affairs team through coaching, mentorship, talent development, and a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.
Driving innovation in storytelling by leveraging emerging communications technologies, evolving media platforms, analytics, and audience insights to increase communications effectiveness and institutional impact.

Secondary Responsibilities

As a member of the Office of Communications leadership team, the Executive Director also:

Collaborates with leaders across Marketing, Strategic Communications, Internal Communications, Government Relations, Health Marketing, Development, UCSF Health, and the research and academic enterprise to deliver integrated communications strategies.
Partners with the Executive Director of Strategic & Crisis Communications to support the enterprise Strategic Communications function, including issues management, crisis communications, and coordinated responses to high-profile, sensitive, or rapidly evolving situations.
Contributes to enterprise-wide communications planning and organizational initiatives that strengthen the effectiveness, innovation, and impact of the Office of Communications.
Builds strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance trust, engagement, and UCSF's visibility and influence at the local, national, and global levels.

The successful candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader with exceptional interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and experience advising senior executives on complex communications issues. They will excel in leading communications professionals in a rapidly evolving media environment while fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence across the organization.

This is a hybrid role and is expected to be on site three days per week or more as the work requires.

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

The UCSF Office of Communications advances the University's mission by building trust, strengthening reputation, and inspiring engagement through strategic communications. Our team partners across UCSF and UCSF Health to tell compelling stories, elevate institutional leadership, support executive communications, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and position UCSF as a global leader in health sciences, patient care, education, and biomedical discovery. Through integrated marketing, media relations, digital communications, internal communications, and public affairs, we help connect UCSF's groundbreaking work with audiences around the world.

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