Health Care Program Director (Full Specialist) - UC Berkeley Labor Center

Position overview

Position title: Health Care Program Director
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/july-2024-scales/t24-b.pdf The current full-time base salary for this position is $90,000 - $188,200. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100

Anticipated start: November/December 2025

Position duration: The initial appointment will be 100% time for one (1) year with the possibility of extension based on funding.

Application Window
Open date: August 30, 2025

Next review date: Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Dec 5, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

UC Berkeley Labor Center Overview
The UC Berkeley Labor Center conducts research and education on issues related to labor and employment. The Labor Center's curricula and leadership training serve to educate a diverse new generation of labor leaders. The Labor Center carries out policy-relevant research on topics such as job quality and workforce development and works with unions, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop innovative policy perspectives and programs. The Labor Center provides an important source of research and information on unions and the changing workforce for students, scholars, policymakers, and the public. This position offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-impact, high-visibility organization and to work with a nationally recognized team of researchers, policy analysts, and educators. We have nearly 40 diverse staff members.

Position Overview
The UC Berkeley Labor Center, at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), UC Berkeley, seeks a Health Care Program Director to develop, oversee, and conduct research related to health coverage, health care affordability, and health care workforce job quality, as well as supervise research staff, fundraise, and contribute to organizational leadership.

Position Responsibilities

• Direct the Center's Health Care Program, including supervise the program's research staff and graduate students, and serve on the Center's program directors team
• Plan, supervise, and conduct policy-relevant research on health coverage, health care affordability, and health care workforce issues in the state of California and nationally
• Fundraise for the program, including writing grants and maintaining relationships with funders
• Provide technical assistance to stakeholders and policymakers on issues related to health care and labor and employment topics
• Coordinate research with academic researchers on other UC Campuses
• Serve as lead author on research reports and policy briefs
• Engage the public via presentations, responding to media requests, authoring op-eds, and providing legislative testimony
• Support the Center's efforts to build a diverse generation of future labor researchers

Department: https://irle.berkeley.edu/

Unit: https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least ten (10) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree and at least eight (8) years of professional experience
OR
PhD or equivalent international degree and at least two (2) years of professional experience.

The Labor Center is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Public Policy, Public Health, Sociology, Economics, or related field
• Ten (10) years of relevant experience in research and policy analysis
• Five (5) years of experience directing or otherwise providing high-level leadership on research and policy analysis
• Advanced knowledge of federal and state health care policies and major health policy issues
• Knowledge of major labor issues in California
• Established track record of conducting research and policy analysis on health care and labor and employment issues, including analysis of the role of race, immigration status, and income
• Excellent research skills (quantitative or qualitative)
• Experience with fundraising and serving as a Principal Investigator
• Advanced writing skills, geared toward policy research reports
• Strong collaboration skills, including experience working with University faculty, staff, and students, state agencies, and stakeholders such as unions and health care consumer organizations
• Substantial record of publishing research and policy reports

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Policy Writing Sample #1
• Policy Writing Sample #2

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04897

Help contact: laurel.lucia@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley 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, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "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 or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA; Eligible for 3 days remote work


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04897