Executive Director of Executive and Internal Communications (5921U), Strategic Communications #88078

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 makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

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Departmental Overview

UC Berkeley's Office of Strategic Communications leads communications for the No. 1 public university in the world. We tell the Berkeley story to inspire audiences and elevate the distinct narrative of the university's contributions to California and the world. Our mission is to promote the University's excellence in education, discovery and public service. We provide leadership and services in five integrated functions: News and media relations, executive communications, internal communications, crisis communications, and marketing communications.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Executive and Internal Communications (Executive Director) serves as a communications advisor and speechwriter for the Chancellor of UC Berkeley. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications, this position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive executive communications strategy that advances the Chancellor's leadership, supports other Cabinet leaders as needed, strengthens Berkeley's institutional narrative, and fosters trust with internal and external constituencies.

The Executive Director brings a sophisticated understanding of how language, leadership, and strategy intersect - crafting communications that are precise, authentic, and aligned with the Chancellor's voice and the university's mission across every level of executive engagement, from day-to-day interactions to defining institutional moments.

The Executive Director also supervises and develops a small but growing team, currently including the Director of Executive Communications and the Director of Internal Communications, with additional direct reports anticipated as the function evolves. This role is a member of the Strategic Communications leadership team and plays a key part in building a cohesive and high-performing executive communications function within Strategic Communications.

In close partnership with the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications, the Executive Director of Executive and Internal Communications (Executive Director) provides strategic communications counsel and executes a broad portfolio of executive communications on behalf of the Chancellor. This includes primary responsibility for all speechwriting, remarks, talking points, op-eds, social media, and all forms of communications supporting leadership engagement. This role also manages media relations specific to the Chancellor and other key leaders as needed, including triaging and responding to media requests, proactively developing Chancellor-centric visibility and profile opportunities, and advising on the reputational and communications dimensions of issues that directly involve the Chancellor.

The Executive Director develops and maintains a forward-looking executive communications plan that anticipates key moments, manages the Chancellor's speaking and engagement calendar from a communications perspective, and ensures consistency and strategic coherence across all Chancellor-facing communications. This position applies breadth and depth of higher education knowledge to navigate the complex organizational, political, and reputational landscape of a major public research university, and brings a contemporary understanding of how emerging technologies are reshaping executive communications and the stewardship of authentic leadership voice.

The Executive Director works in close coordination with the Chancellor's Office, Strategic Communications, and other senior leaders to ensure the Chancellor is well-prepared, well-positioned, and well-supported across all communications contexts.

This role also leads Berkeley's internal communications function, developing and implementing a strategic approach to employee and campus community engagement that connects faculty and staff to the university's mission, strategic priorities and leadership vision. This role also oversees Berkeley's internal communications channels and editorial calendar, ensuring a regular and strategic cadence of communication that keeps the campus community informed, engaged, and connected to Berkeley's broader institutional direction. The executive director is comfortable operating at both the strategic and executional level - bringing vision and structure while being willing to roll up their sleeves to get work done.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: August 24, 2026 For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive executive communications plan for the Chancellor that anticipates key moments, aligns with institutional priorities, and ensures strategic coherence across all communications contexts.
• Support the Chancellor in the development of remarks, addresses, and presentations - serving as a skilled collaborator and writer who helps translate the Chancellor's own ideas, priorities, and voice into compelling communications for a wide range of audiences and occasions, from major institutional moments to day-to-day engagements
• Draft talking points, op-eds, letters, messages to the campus community, video scripts, and other content that reflects the Chancellor's authentic voice and advances institutional priorities.
• Manage the Chancellor's speaking and engagement calendar from a communications perspective, assessing, prioritizing, and developing opportunities for executive visibility.
• Conduct research and interviews to inform content development, translating complex ideas and institutional priorities into clear, compelling language.
• Coordinate with the Office of the Chancellor, Strategic Communications, and other subject matter experts to ensure the Chancellor is well-prepared and well-positioned across all communications contexts.
• Apply emerging tools and technologies to the communications development process in ways that enhance the communications process and outcomes.
• Proactively develop and pitch leadership visibility opportunities - including news stories, profiles, and thought leadership - that advance UC Berkeley's institutional priorities and reputation.
• Manage media relations on behalf of the Chancellor and other executives as needed for institutional-level topics, issues, and priorities where the Chancellor serves as the primary voice and representative of UC Berkeley.
• Triage and respond to media requests involving the Chancellor in coordination with the Media Relations office, senior leaders, and other subject matter experts, ensuring the Chancellor is well-prepared and strategically positioned on matters of institutional significance.
• Prepare the Chancellor for media engagements by developing comprehensive briefing materials, anticipated questions, and key messages that reflect the full institutional context of the topics at hand.
• Develop and maintain relationships with journalists and editors covering higher education, research, and issues of relevance to UC Berkeley and its mission.
• Work with the Strategic Communications Issues team to monitor the media landscape for emerging opportunities and threats that may require the Chancellor's engagement as the institution's principal spokesperson.
• Work with the Chancellor's social media team on ensuring quality, engaging content that inspires and engages audiences.
• Provide ongoing counsel on the reputational and communications dimensions of emerging issues and pending decisions that are likely to require the Chancellor's direct engagement.
• Implement a strategic internal communications framework that connects faculty, staff, and students to the university's mission, priorities, and leadership vision - ensuring a regular and strategic cadence of communication that keeps the campus community informed and engaged.
• Developing proactive and responsive strategies that help the campus community navigate complex, sensitive, and high-stakes moments - from institutional change to national events that reverberate on campus.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to campus communicators across schools, colleges, and units - establishing best practices, developing shared frameworks and tools, and building a more coordinated approach to internal communications across the institution.
• Provide supervision for the Executive Communications and Internal Communications team members, ensuring work is aligned with the Office of Strategic Communications' priorities. and supporting growth and development of the team..
• Directly supervise employees by assigning work, establishing priorities, monitoring performance, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality communications.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff by establishing performance expectations, providing ongoing feedback, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting professional growth in accordance with university policies.
• Foster collaboration across executive communications, internal communications, media relations, and other Strategic Communications functions to ensure coordinated planning, consistent messaging, and effective execution.
• Assess team resources and workload, identify improvements, and recommend organizational enhancements to support the continued evolution of the executive and internal communications function.

Required Qualifications

Executive Communications and Institutional Narrative

• Comprehensive knowledge of executive communications and speechwriting, with a demonstrated ability to develop and steward an authentic and consistent leadership voice across a wide range of audiences, occasions, and communications contexts - from major institutional moments to day-to-day internal engagement.
• Advanced written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas and institutional priorities into clear, compelling, and audience-appropriate language under deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic internal communications programs that connect faculty, staff, and students to institutional mission, priorities, and leadership vision - ensuring institutional narratives, priorities and Chancellor and other executive leader voices are reflected consistently across all internal channels and touchpoints.
• Advanced strategic communications planning skills, including the ability to develop and execute communications plans that anticipate key moments, align with institutional priorities, and ensure coherence across complex organizations - both internally and externally.
• Familiarity with emerging tools and technologies and their application to communications, with a clear-eyed understanding of how to leverage these tools while preserving authentic leadership voice and institutional credibility.
  

Strategic Counsel and Issues Management

• Strong strategic thinking and consulting skills, with the ability to anticipate the communications implications of decisions and developments and provide proactive counsel to senior leaders across both internal and external contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive and controversial issues with sound judgment, discretion, and diplomatic skill, providing counsel that balances institutional interests, reputational considerations, and the demands of transparent public communication.
• Proven ability to develop and execute campus climate communications strategies that address complex, sensitive, and high-stakes moments with empathy and strategic clarity - helping the campus community navigate institutional change, national events, and other moments that reverberate internally.
• Advanced knowledge of media relations, including demonstrated experience managing media on behalf of executive-level leaders on complex, high-stakes institutional topics.
• Breadth and depth of higher education knowledge, including a sophisticated understanding of the organizational, political, and reputational landscape of a major research university - including faculty governance, academic culture, the unique dynamics of campus community communications.
  

Visibility, Engagement, and Partnerships

• Demonstrated ability to leverage social media and digital channels to advance strategic messaging, storytelling, and leadership visibility - including direct experience managing executive social media presence.
• Experience serving as a strategic advisor and thought partner to communicators across a complex organization, including developing best practices, shared frameworks, and tools that build institutional communications capacity and coherence.
• Highly skilled in navigating complex organizations, building relationships across senior leadership, and coordinating effectively across functions, offices, and institutional boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build effective partnerships across a complex institutional environment, including with senior leaders, subject matter experts, and communications colleagues within Berkeley and across the UC system.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with external stakeholders - including media, community leaders, and peer institutions - in ways that advance institutional priorities and reflect well on the Chancellor and UC Berkeley.
• Advanced project planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams simultaneously in a fast-moving, high-visibility environment.
  

Team Leadership and Development

• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and inspiring high-performing communications teams, with the ability to set clear expectations, provide meaningful feedback, and foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous growth.
• Proven ability to build and evolve a communications function, including assessing team resources and workload, identifying opportunities for improvement, and recommending organizational enhancements that support the team's continued development.
• Experience fostering collaboration across communications functions - including executive communications, internal communications, media relations, and other strategic communications disciplines - to ensure coordinated planning, consistent messaging, and effective execution.
• Ability to serve as a senior leader and thought partner within a broader communications organization, contributing to the strategic direction and culture of the team while modeling the values and standards expected of the function.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. (Required)

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 range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $180,000.00 - $220,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

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.