Director of Communications (5887U), Othering & Belonging Institute - #84537

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Othering and Belonging Institute ("the Institute") at UC Berkeley brings together researchers, stakeholders, policymakers, and communicators to identify and challenge the barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society and to create transformative change. The Institute is a vibrant hub of researchers, community leaders, policymakers, artists, and communicators that advances research, policy, and work related to marginalized communities. We engage in innovative narrative, communications, and cultural strategies that attempt to re-frame the public discourse around marginality and inclusion and respond to issues that require immediate and long-term action. Our work is informed by understanding how structures and systems work to create or exacerbate othering and exclusion.

Position Summary

The Othering and Belonging Institute's work is focused on making belonging without othering a global norm by 2040. This position will design and implement a comprehensive three-year strategic communications plan to help advance this "big bet" of the Institute. The Communications Director is a key leadership role responsible for infusing the Institute's body of work into public debate and discussions by advancing strategic narratives developed by the Institute and its partners and networks through a wide variety of communications channels including events.

The Communications Director is responsible for stewarding and amplifying the Institute's identity and voice, elevating its work, and overseeing strategic dissemination of its narratives, research, and convenings. The Communication Director's purview extends beyond the traditional scope of messaging and media work towards shaping public discourse and narrative change using fundamental Institute frameworks and concepts. The role is supported by a robust team of six.

The Communications Director works with OBI's various research, narrative, convening and network teams to translate scholarship and ideas and disseminate them to targeted and priority audiences and partners, such as policy makers, advocacy organizations, community organizations, the press, and other stakeholders. The Communications Director ensures the quality and helps determine the strategic use of a wide variety of mediums such as digital media, social media, legacy media, and through events such as policy briefings and OBI's flagship biennial conference. In 2026 a priority for this position will be to oversee communications efforts for the 2026 O&B Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Communications Director frames the Institute's vision, mission and work for internal and external audiences, identifies and communicates key findings from our research and trends in the social justice field, and interprets and applies lessons from our message testing, survey results and public opinion to communications output for greater impact.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 03/09/2026.

Responsibilities

Strategy:

• In deep collaboration with OBI staff and partners, design and oversee the execution of a three-year communications strategy to reach identified strategic audiences.
• Components of the strategy should include, but not be limited to, an updated SWOT Assessment (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), data and measurement, tailored dissemination strategies for target audiences, and growth goals.

Targeted Audience Building:

• Lead on audience identification, cultivation, and growth to elevate the Institute's visibility and reach.
• Identify and cultivate priority audiences and relevant partners (social media influencers, legacy media, etc.).

Narrative & Discourse:

• Leverage the Institute's research and community collaborations on narrative development to influence public discourse.
• Working with program staff, leadership, and the OBI Communications team, this position stewards and directs OBI communications work to shift public narratives among audiences identified in the three-year communications strategy.
• This work also includes collaboration with arts and culture strategy staff and partners with the goal of infusing popular culture with belonging narratives.

Learning & Evaluation:

• Evaluate the impact of Institute work and the communications strategy and report results to Institute leadership.
• This includes tracking media coverage, social media coverage, and scholarly references to our work, as well as public discourse impacts to measure effectiveness and reports results to Institute leadership.
• Develop a set of benchmarks to measure and track the success of various initiatives, projects, and efforts, online and otherwise.
• Evaluate effectiveness of the dissemination of critical strategic narratives and key frames or ideas in public discourse and media usage.
• Provide related input for proposals and reports to donors.

Internal Comms Alignment:

• Convene and facilitate collaborative spaces (e.g. working groups) to work with OBI staff on aligning and strengthening OBI communication strategies in order to make progress on OBI's goal of norming belonging.
• Partner with the Development Director to develop relevant collateral for donor events and campaigns including branding, narrative & messaging.

Overseeing Communications Team:

• Manage OBI's communications team, professional staff and contractors responsible for producing a diverse and high-volume communication output in a variety of mediums including written, visual, and digital communications.
• Ensures production of high-quality products that effectively deliver the desired message within budget and time constraints.
• The Comms Director supervises the Assistant Comms Director, who currently supervises a comms team of 5. Manage communication's unit annual budget.

Participate in leadership and organizational meetings, working groups, and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of eight years' experience in communications leadership roles, including deep, relevant experience in all of the key responsibilities listed above.
• Strong knowledge of, or the quick ability to develop this knowledge, in order to clearly and consistently articulate the Institute's mission, vision, and its core areas of research and programming, and belonging and bridging frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience in creating, developing and implementing comprehensive long and short-term strategic communications plans for a high volume, multi-issue organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing and mentoring a team, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and achieving measurable team goals.
• Sophisticated understanding of media dialogue, narrative, discourse, and rhetoric regarding issues and policies that face marginalized communities.
• Demonstrated experience shifting public narratives through strategic storytelling, consistent messaging, and innovative communications campaigns.
• Advanced skills to create, develop, and implement strategic audience-, platform- and brand-building initiatives.
• Advanced skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications, ranging from developing effective communication strategies to appropriately responding to inquiries regarding sensitive or complex issues or information.
• Experience with contributing to organizational development, providing guidance and input as part of a senior leadership team.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal communication, active listening and political acumen skills.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, time management, project management, and problem recognition and resolution skills.
• Advanced knowledge of a complex and changing body of communications tools, including publishing software, social media channels, analytics software, and website content management systems.
• Must be able to reliably travel to the Berkeley campus and other designated locations for periodic in-person meetings, team engagement, and Institute events, and must be available for regional and national travel as required by the role.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $112,400.00 - $163,200.00.

• This is a 3-year, full-time (40 hours/week), contract appointment that is eligible for UC benefits with the possibility of extension dependent on fundraising success.
• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is eligible for up to 100% remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with the supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change. The Communications Director must be able to reliably travel to the Berkeley campus and other designated locations for periodic in-person meetings, team engagement, and Institute events, and must be available for regional and national travel as required by the role.

Misconduct

SB 791 and AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"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. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

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.