Position summary:

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) seeks a dynamic professional to serve as Associate Manager of Heat Equity Research. The Associate Manager is responsible for strategically developing, managing, and executing LCI’s Heat Equity research, which encompass policy, planning, and actionable data to enable communities to become more resilient to chronically hotter conditions under climate change. Current projects in the portfolio focus on shade master planning, policies for mitigating and managing heat in schools, and other research that informs equitable and effective heat governance, policy, and plans. The Associate Manager will oversee a growing portfolio of projects that include enhancing state and federal investments in community heat mitigation and management. The work seeks to reduce heat exposure for vulnerable populations to support wellbeing where people live, work, learn, and play.

Reporting to the Associate Faculty Director, the Associate Manager of Heat Equity Research serves as an integral leader of the LCI team. The role includes:

• Supporting and driving strategy by communicating with faculty members and civic partners to understand the landscape of past, current, and future research opportunities with the goal to leverage LCI strengths and maximize impact for public benefit.
• Developing grant proposals, which involves identifying funding opportunities and supporting faculty affiliates to pursue their research grant priorities.
• Managing and providing research assistance on projects. Responsibilities will include serving as a liaison to funders and partners; coordinating advisory committees; preparing literature reviews; developing frameworks; analyzing climate policies/plans; analyzing data from secondary and primary data sources; organizing research findings; supervising graduate student researchers; and writing technical reports and other deliverables.
• Translating and communicating research strategically to target audiences.  She/he will work with faculty principal investigators (PIs) to distill their peer-reviewed research into policy-friendly formats that are digestible for public consumption. S/he will proactively identify and pursue opportunities to bring LCI’s research to decision-makers and influencers.

Who we’re looking for:

• You are committed to supporting heat resilience. You have experience working in climate adaptation, community resilience, or similar fields along with a masters degree (or PhD) in public policy, planning, social science, environmental studies, or cognate fields. Ideally you have knowledge of extreme heat science or policy. In addition to professional experience, ideally you also have lived experience in communities disproportionately impacted by extreme heat. You are committed to creating resources to empower communities to build heat resilience.
• You are a collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills. You are a team player who can authentically build relationships and collaborate professionally with a diverse group of community partners, funders, and colleagues. You enjoy growing a network of civic partners that you can learn from and support to advance community priorities. Ideally you also have experience with supervision given that you would supervise student workers.
• You’re a skilled communicator. You are committed to producing excellent written products ranging from detail-oriented reports to accessible summaries written for policymakers, community leaders, or other target audiences. You communicate complicated information in dynamic ways including in engaging, actionable presentations. Ideally you are also a visual communicator, who has experience with report layout, infographics, and/or other tools to highlight information in visually appealing and culturally competent ways.
• You have project management experience. You are highly organized and committed to the careful organization, tracking, and delivering of tasks by deadline. You excel when you juggle multiple responsibilities. Ideally you have experience managing grants or contracts.
• You love research. You want to support community leaders and policymakers with evidenced-based strategies for effective and equitable heat mitigation and management. You appreciate that data, research, and evaluation can support successful design and implementation of adaptation strategies, provide evidence of success, and inform lessons for future efforts. Ideally you have skills in spatial analysis and enjoy working with spatial data.

About the Luskin Center for Innovation:

Our mission is to advance effective and equitable solutions to pressing environmental challenges through actionable research that engages UCLA scholars, policymakers, and communities. We often focus on California, one of the world’s largest economies, to support a model of environmental leadership that is relevant globally. Our approach is collaborative. We unite scholars across a wide array of disciplines and engage with hundreds of civic partners who inform and use our research. The Luskin Center for Innovation has influenced dozens of public policies and investments for a more equitable and sustainable future.

It’s an exciting time to join the Luskin Center for Innovation, one of the most impactful research centers in California advancing environmental equity. You’ll be part of a team of faculty, staff, and graduate students working in collaboration with civic partners, including in communities of color, to advance environmental equity during a critical period for evidence-based environmental action.

Details and to apply:

Candidates with a range of lived, professional, and academic experiences are encouraged to apply. We value diversity in all its forms and are committed to inclusive and transparent recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes.

Anticipated pay range, depending on experience and qualifications, is $78,000 – $81,000. This position is eligible for full and generous University of California benefits. See here for details about UCLA employee perks.

Apply by February 25, 2024. For more details and for the application process, see UCLA’s official job posting.