Director of Communications

The Director of Communications is responsible for developing and leading a comprehensive communications strategy that advances the School of Nursing’s mission and strengthens its visibility and reputation within UCSF and externally. The Director provides strategic oversight of communications planning, public affairs coordination, media relations, digital communications, and executive messaging, ensuring alignment with School priorities and UCSF institutional standards.

Operating at a strategic level, the Director advises School leadership, including the Dean and senior administrative leaders, on communications strategy, messaging, and reputational considerations. The role regularly addresses complex, high-visibility communications issues—often without precedent—requiring sophisticated judgment, risk assessment, and deep expertise across written, digital, visual, and media platforms.

The Director serves as the School’s primary liaison to UCSF campus communications offices and collaborates with communications leaders across the university, the University of California system, and UCOP initiatives to support coordinated institutional communications efforts. The Director participates in campus and systemwide communications networks that shape messaging and public positioning for the university.

Through these partnerships, the Director ensures alignment between School communications and broader institutional priorities, contributing to cohesive messaging that supports UCSF’s strategic initiatives.

As the School’s senior communications strategist, the Director leads the development of cohesive messaging and storytelling that highlights the School’s impact in education, research, and clinical care.

The Director provides editorial leadership for major publications and executive communications and oversees digital platforms and content strategy to ensure alignment with institutional standards, accessibility requirements, and user experience best practices.

The Director leads a small communications team and manages external vendors and freelancers, setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring effective execution of communications initiatives.

The Director reports to the Chief of Staff and operates within the Office of the Dean.

 

Department Overview 

The UCSF School of Nursing fosters excellence, opportunity, and innovation in nursing education, research, and clinical impact. The School consistently ranks among the top nursing schools in the nation and is recognized for its leadership in advancing health equity, improving health care delivery, and generating groundbreaking research supported by significant NIH funding.

As one of UCSF’s four professional schools, the School of Nursing plays a critical role in the university’s mission of advancing health worldwide through education, research, and patient care. The School’s work is highly visible within the university and externally, contributing to UCSF’s reputation as a global leader in health sciences.

The School of Nursing Dean’s Office administers the School’s core administrative and operational functions, providing centralized leadership for academic, research, and administrative activities across four academic departments and an organized research unit. The Dean’s Office oversees operations that support the School’s students, faculty, and staff and ensures alignment with the School’s strategic priorities and the broader mission of UCSF.

Within the Dean’s Office, the Communications Office leads schoolwide strategic communications for both internal and external audiences and works in collaboration with communications partners across UCSF to align messaging with institutional priorities and ensure consistent representation of the School within the broader UCSF community.

Required Qualifications ▪ Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training ▪ Minimum of 10 years of related experience ▪ Leadership and people management experience ▪ Expert knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning for various media venues, technical requirements, and the most effective applications ▪ Expert knowledge and understanding of technical applications to direct professional technical staff or personally perform technical work, including design concepts and multimedia applications ▪ Expert knowledge of the organization, including its mission, vision, goals, policies, and infrastructure; strong knowledge of current affairs impacting the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service ▪ Highly developed skills to create, develop, and implement long- and short-term strategic communication plans ▪ Highly developed skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications, including strategy development and response to sensitive or complex issues ▪ Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including active listening and political acumen ▪ Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and project management skills, including problem recognition, avoidance, and resolution ▪ Expert knowledge of organizational protocols and channels for internal and external communications ▪ Issues management, risk assessment, and reputational judgment ▪ Senior editorial leadership and narrative stewardship ▪ Digital communications strategy and platform oversight Preferred Qualifications ▪ Master's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training ▪ Experience in higher education/academic health environment

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.

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 https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values . In addition to , 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 https://diversity.ucsf.edu/ . Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

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.