Jobs

Vice Chancellor for Community & Government Relations

The University of California San Francisco seeks a dynamic, accomplished, and inspiring individual to lead its community and government-focused activities. The Vice Chancellor for Community & Government Relations (VC-CGR) will envision, direct, and execute comprehensive and strategic programs to advance UCSF’s engagement with community and government stakeholders and partners in order to enhance good will, support, understanding, and investment in its education, research, and patient-care missions. The Vice Chancellor reports to UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood and is a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet (CC). The VC-CGR also has a dotted-line reporting relationship to the President & Chief Executive Officer of UCSF Health, Suresh Gunasekaran.

The Vice Chancellor leads the Community & Government Relations organization, which currently comprises 20 FTEs and has an annual budget of approximately $5.4M. The VC-CGR serves as the primary spokesperson between UCSF and key officials, legislators, agencies, and constituencies at the federal, state, and local levels.  Through the dotted-line reporting relationship to the President/CEO of UCSF Health, the VC-CGR is responsible for developing, managing, and executing the community and government relations agenda for UCSF’s growing clinical enterprise in collaboration with UCSF Health leadership. The Vice Chancellor also staffs the UCSF Foundation board Government Relations Committee and works with the Committee Chair to create, develop, and implement short- and long-range strategic planning to ensure optimal participation from UCSF Board members in support of University priorities and initiatives.

The Vice Chancellor must be a collaborative and generous colleague who can create alignment in a decentralized environment; influence by means of credibility, expertise, and demonstrated success regardless of positional authority; and work effectively across a complex institution as a guide, partner, and supporter of central and unit-based staff to build nimble, robust, capabilities. The VC-CGR must become familiar with legislative- and government-affairs processes, the history and current state of public-policy issues relevant to UCSF, and California- and Bay-Area statutes and programs that affect UCSF in areas such as planning, development, construction, contracting, and environmental review. They must be a person of integrity whose beliefs and actions align with and advance UCSF’s mission, values, and stated policy objectives including its strong commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism among trainees, staff, faculty, and research participants. The VC-CGR will respectfully challenge institutional norms by identifying new opportunities, practices, and resource deployments to advance UCSF’s mission.

A bachelor’s degree is required, as is a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in government, community, or external relations in a large, complex, and dynamic organization in a diverse urban environment, or comparable and transferable experience in government at a local, state, or federal level is required. Professional and leadership experience in an academic medical center/healthcare setting; or experience with community and/or government relations activities in the San Francisco Bay Area and/or in California more broadly is preferred, as is 15+ years of relevant experience. The successful candidate will offer a team approach to problem-solving, commitment to collaboration, skill at building coalitions, and a demonstrated understanding of the issues impacting higher education, biomedical research, and healthcare in California and nationally. They will have excellent communication, interpersonal and representational skills, including multicultural acumen and the ability to successfully communicate with diverse groups of people. In addition, they will demonstrate a track record of measurably advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives.

UCSF is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system that is exclusively focused on the health sciences; likewise, it is the only UC campus that dedicates its educational mission to graduate and professional training. With a workforce of over 26,000 UCSF is San Francisco’s second-largest employer after the City and County of San Francisco and the fourth-largest employer in the Bay Area.  UCSF has approximately 3,200 enrolled students, 1,180 postdoctoral scholars, and 1,650 residents (physicians, dentists, and pharmacists in training). In FY2021, UCSF generated $8.6 billion in revenue. Clinical revenue for services provided by UCSF Health constituted 60% of this (nearly $4.8 billion) and sponsored research activities generated more than $1.5 billion. Philanthropy and investment income contributed roughly $600 million. UCSF receives approximately 2% of its revenue from state and federal commitments and appropriations. As of 2022, UCSF’s endowment, which is managed by its Foundation, was $2 billion.

UCSF has retained Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support this recruitment. Craig Smith, Partner, and Marisea Rivera, Senior Associate, are managing the search process. Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be emailed to marisea.rivera@opuspartners.net. In order to interview with the UCSF search committee, candidates must formally apply via Opus Partners and must provide a resume, a cover letter, and a statement of contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please consult Opus Partners for more information about the application process. The salary range for the payroll title is $215,00 – $371,800; the budgeted and expected hiring range for this position is $215,000-$280,000.

The University of California San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to the organization’s commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence – also known as UCSF’s PRIDE values – are encouraged to apply.

Job posted: 2023-04-25