Job Details

Senior Director of Employee and Labor Communications

The University of California Office of the President serves as the headquarters to a system of 10 campuses, six academic health centers, and three affiliated national laboratories. As one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, UC is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Together, we educate nearly 300,000 students, employ 266,000 faculty and staff, and have 2 million alumni living and working around the world.

The Employee and Labor Communications Department is responsible for strategic, systemwide communications to and about UC's employees, retirees, and key employee stakeholders. The Department ensures clear, consistent, and coordinated communications that improve the employee experience across the UC system and reiterates the value of employment at UC.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Communications, the Senior Director of Employee and Labor Communications ("Senior Director") serves as a key member of the Communications leadership team at the UC Office of the President and is the primary architect of the University of California's systemwide employee and labor communications strategy. This role provides executive-level leadership in shaping how the University engages, informs, and builds trust with its workforce in support of the University's teaching, research, and public service mission.

The Senior Director establishes the strategic vision for employee and labor communications across the UC system. As the systemwide authority in this portfolio, the Senior Director designs and advances integrated communications strategies that align with institutional priorities, workforce management, and labor relations objectives. This includes oversight of systemwide and UCOP communications for employees and retirees; communications related to collective bargaining and labor negotiations; employee benefits and HR policy messaging; and coordinated communications during organizational transformation, crisis response, and other high-risk, high-visibility moments.

Operating at the intersection of policy, leadership, and workforce engagement, the Senior Director ensures that communications strategies are proactive, data-informed, and aligned with UC's values and long-term institutional goals. The role provides strategic counsel to senior leadership on reputational risk, employee sentiment, change management, and labor relations dynamics, ensuring communications approaches anticipate impact and advance institutional trust.

The Senior Director partners closely with executive leaders across Labor Relations, Human Resources, Legal, ER&C, and campus communications functions to ensure that messaging is consistent, accurate, accessible, and aligned with policy and contractual obligations. Through strong governance, cross-functional alignment, and enterprise-wide coordination, the Senior Director strengthens transparency, reinforces leadership credibility, and elevates the employee experience across one of the nation's largest and most complex public university systems.

This is a hybrid position based in Oakland, California.

Responsibilities:

• 30% Employee and Labor Communications Strategy & Issues Management
• 25% Organizational Capability Building and Cross-Functional Alignment
• 25% Employee Experience, Engagement, and Communications Platforms
• 20% External Issues Management and Media Strategy

Required Qualifications:

Minimum of 15 years of experience in strategic communications, internal communications, labor communications, public affairs, or a related field.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field. Equivalent training and experience will be considered.

Salary and Benefits: Job Title Communications Manager 2 Job Code 000409 Salary Grade Grade 27 Payscale: $200,000 - $235,000, commensurate with experience.

Additional Information:

The position will be open until filled. Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy