Director of Communications, SCIDS

UC San Diego

Director of Communications, SCIDS

Hiring Pay Scale: $130,000 - $160,000/Year

UC San Diego is launching a new School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS), and is seeking a dynamic communications leader to guide the strategic communications foundation of this major university initiative. As the inaugural Director of Communications, this position will help introduce a school built to drive the next generation of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data-driven discovery — powered by the San Diego Supercomputer Center’s national leadership in high-performance computing and the Halicioglu Data Science Institute’s forward-looking AI research and education.

The Director of Communications will work directly with the dean, senior leadership and University Communications to develop and execute a long-range communications strategy that elevates scientific achievements, supports institutional goals and strengthens UC San Diego’s position as a leader in AI innovation. This position will collaborate with faculty, researchers and partners across campus to deliver compelling stories that highlight emerging technologies, landmark discoveries and new academic programs.

This role is central to the school’s launch, with responsibility for crafting strategic narratives, building media visibility, guiding digital outreach and providing expert communications counsel to school leaders.

This role provides the chance to help build the voice and direction of a new school at a defining moment and is an exciting opportunity to bring complex AI, data science and computing breakthroughs to life through impact-driven science communications.

The University Communications Public Relations team drives strategic outreach and engagement in support of internal and external communications for UC San Diego, while also collaborating on content development with University Communications colleagues.

University Communications PR professionals are expert storytellers who utilize best-in-class internal and external communications channels to deliver the unique stories of the university’s people, schools and colleges as well as key initiatives and programs. The PR function drives earned media efforts by cultivating and leveraging relationships with key regional, vertical and global media to elevate the university’s profile of prestige, distinction and global leadership in research, medicine, science, engineering, technology, policy, management, the arts and more.

The PR team also leads communications for the university’s distinguished research centers and institutes, including the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Qualcomm Institute and leading collaborations in robotics, energy, materials discovery and design and other emerging areas.

Additionally, the University Communications PR team serves as a critical resource for communications strategy and support for staff and faculty engagement communications initiatives in support of the university’s advancement, student affairs, human resources and library functions by integrating and aligning with strategic university priorities and initiatives. Issues and crisis communications are managed through this team.

This position supports UC San Diego’s new School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS) that meets a critical need in modern society to transform data into actionable knowledge across disciplines to advance data science and AI education. This effort requires attracting, training and cultivating talented researchers, staff and students at all levels across the university.

SCIDS combines the strengths of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, a national leader in high-performance and data-intensive computing, and the Halicioglu Data Science Institute, a pioneering interdisciplinary institute that advances data science and AI education and research.

By establishing the new school, UC San Diego affirms its commitment to leadership in building a dedicated academic unit that advances cutting‑edge data science, AI innovations and top‑tier education for the workforce of the future.

The Director of Communications is a collaborative communicator that serves…