Job Description

Position

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $225,000 to $260,000

Application Window

Open date:  July 22, 2025

Next review date: Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date:  Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position description

The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA is seeking an Executive Director for its Los Angeles, CA location to help lead and advance its mission to provide the premier legal education in the field of human rights; empower the next generation of human rights lawyers, scholars and leaders; and transform the promise of human rights into a reality for more people around the world.

The Executive Director serves as a leader within The Promise Institute, reporting jointly to the Associate Dean and Faculty Director, and working collaboratively with the Executive Director for The Promise Institute based in Europe, to advance the Institute’s mission and vision. The Executive Director leads and implements the Institute’s core programs and operations and supervises Institute employees at UCLA School of Law, ensuring an inclusive and effective organizational culture. The Executive Director also plays a primary role in cultivating relationships with UCLA faculty to facilitate the growth of human rights research and scholarship; advancing academic support and educational opportunities for students; and cultivating a vibrant, diverse and inclusive intellectual human rights community at UCLA. The Executive Director will develop fundraising opportunities and liaise with external stakeholders in human rights in academia, policy and law arenas in support of the Institute’s mission.

About The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA

The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA () was founded in 2017 with a visionary $20 million gift to create a hub for human rights education throughout UCLA and across the region. The Institute was established to train the next generation of human rights lawyers and leaders; generate vital scholarship; disseminate research and advance the field of human rights education through a globally diverse and inclusive lens.

In 2023, the Promise Institute added a parallel office in Europe, located in The Netherlands, with seed funding for a three-year pilot program. Led by an Executive Director, The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA’s Europe location facilitates access for students, graduates and faculty to international institutions based in Europe, builds the global profile and global impact of The Promise Institute and UCLA Law, and provides meaningful new opportunities for international student and faculty engagement.

The Promise Institute was established at UCLA School of Law, which, founded in 1949, is the youngest major law school in the nation. With approximately 100 faculty and 1,100 students, the school is very well ranked in the field of international law. The Institute coordinates its work in collaboration with UCLA School of Law’s International and Comparative Law Program (ICLP).

Executive Director of the Promise Institute

The Executive Director will dually report to the Faculty Director of the Institute and the Law School’s Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Strategic Planning and will work collaboratively with the Executive Director of Promise Europe. The Executive Director will supervise a talented team and will have overall strategic and operational responsibilities for the Institute’s programming, staff, fundraising, budget, and mission. The Executive Director will ensure daily operations and annual programming align with the Institute’s mission, and work to promote human rights education with the input and guidance from the Faculty Director and Associate Dean. The Executive Director will also help expand a sustainable fundraising framework for the Institute. In addition to successful experience an innovative leader and demonstrated success as a manager, the Executive Director must have the capacity to collaborate with the broad spectrum of the Institute’s stakeholders and audiences; have demonstrated success in building an inclusive intellectual community; have experiences working effectively with faculty, students and within higher education; and hold the substantive expertise and professional skills needed to serve as an effective leader and representative of the Institute.

This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenure track, academic position. The position is based in Los Angeles, CA and is not open to remote work. This appointment is subject to the rules and regulations of the Regents of the University of California, which are mostly embodied in The UCLA CALL and the University of California Academic Personnel Manual. (See  ; and  .)

See UC Salary Table 34 at for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $225,000 to $260,000. The salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

As a University employee, the Executive Director 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.

Qualifications

The minimum requirement includes: a Juris Doctor degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent); excellent academic record; substantial successful leadership experience of a mission-driven organization; demonstrated success as a supervisor including direct supervision of a team of experienced administrators; a track record of innovation, program leadership and program building; extensive experience, engagement and understanding of human rights law and policy; advanced administrative and organizational skills; a proven track record in working in a large and complex organization; experience in fundraising and budget management; strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and inclusively with faculty, students and the broader university community; strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to draw on the ideas of others and convert them into meaningful strategies and plans and to represent those ideas to a variety of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, policymakers, the public and the press; ability to facilitate dialogues, identify barriers to effectiveness, and generate support for solutions; and high professional and ethical standards that reflect UCLA’s core values, purpose and mission. UCLA seeks candidates committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities and to upholding UCLA’s Mission & Values, including diversity, equity and inclusion ().

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. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy at 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director position includes substantial academic and administrative responsibilities. Other responsibilities may be assigned or duties may be removed to respond to Institute and School needs.

The key responsibilities of the Executive Director position, under the guidance and direction of the Faculty Director of the Institute and the Law School’s Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Strategic Planning are listed below. The Executive Director is expected to collaborate and work effectively with the Executive Director based in Europe and other faculty and academic administrators at UCLA as needed to advance the mission.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. In collaboration with the Faculty Director, Associate Dean, and the Executive Director of Promise Europe, implement and advance the Institute’s mission, vision and strategic goals as UCLA’s leading center for human rights education, research and advocacy.
2. Engage closely with the Executive Director based in Europe to ensure collaborate and mutual support in pursuit of research, education, programming and initiatives that successfully advance the mission of The Promise Institute for Human Rights.
3. Continue to build a vibrant intellectual community at UCLA of leading human rights scholars, lawyers, advocates and policy makers to improve knowledge and understanding of factors that promote human rights and develop innovative solutions to address the most pressing contemporary human rights concerns.
4. In conjunction with the Executive Director of Promise Europe, Faculty Director and Associate Dean, and other senior administrators, help steward the Advisory Board in the advancement of The Promise Institute’s mission and fundraising opportunities.
5. Engage, advise, and support students at UCLA Law and design and implement programs to support education, build inclusive community, advance career development, and develop post-graduation opportunities.
6. Engage and support faculty at UCLA Law and affiliated faculty at UCLA by designing and implementing meaningful opportunities to build community, solicit expert advice, help promote research and scholarship that aligns with the Institute’s mission and advance a vibrant intellectual community centered on universal human rights.
7. Build, coach, and manage the Institute’s excellent team. Create a culture of cooperation, creativity, mutual respect, and professional development, within the Institute and through collaborative partnerships across the law school and UCLA. Develop and implement policies, protocols and workflow to enhance effectiveness and promote high-quality output and impact.
8. Steward a sustainable budget model and effective fundraising plan.

PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Propose, develop, implement, and lead initiatives that advance the human rights mission of the Institute, including collaborations with Promise Europe, and interdisciplinary collaborations with other programs at the law school as well as with other schools and departments at UCLA.
2. Ensure, together with the Executive Director in Europe, the effective implementation of Promise Institute offerings including an annual conference; an annual advisory board meeting; regular student and faculty engagement events; and other offerings and events designed to promote creative and critical thought and discourse on human rights.
3. Collaborate with the Faculty Director and Executive Director in Europe to build and promote a meaningful research platform for advancing human rights scholarship and research and disseminating key findings to a public audience.
4. Ensure that the regular offerings advance the Institute’s mission and include an array of globally diverse topics, experts and experiences that promote the broad array of universal human rights.
5. Foster engagement by UCLA Law faculty, affiliated UCLA faculty and students as well as participants from across UCLA and the community.
6. In collaboration with the Promise Institute Europe, continue to grow the reach and reputation of the Institute as a leading center for human rights activity, by engaging with and developing a network of human rights lawyers, scholars, and leaders from around the globe, to anchor the position of UCLA among university-based human rights programs and provide our students with a vital community upon graduation.
7. Develop and oversee programming for UCLA law students and alumni including fellowship programs, training programs, and professional development and career opportunities.

ACADEMIC & TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Work with the Faculty Director and relevant administration and faculty members to advance the scope, depth and quality of the UCLA Law human rights law curriculum.
2. In collaboration with the UCLA Law clinical program, provide leadership and direction to the clinical offerings of Institute.
3. Depending on the candidate’s background, responsibilities may also include teaching one class per year on a human rights topic and overseeing student independent studies.
4. Provide individualized academic and career counseling to students interested in human rights.
5. Hold regular advising sessions for students on the human rights curriculum.
6. Supervise and manage fellowship and post-graduate opportunities.

RESEARCH INITIATIVES

1. Work with Institute faculty to develop, coordinate, and support a world class and innovative research program in human rights law and policy.
2. Develop and supervise programs for publicizing and disseminating the results of human rights research and policy work by faculty, students and fellows through publications, the media, conferences, and other programs.

FUNDRAISING AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develop and maintain a fiscally responsible annual budget model and long-term plan.
2. Develop and implement an effective fundraising plan to support the Institute’s mission, in conjunction with the Office of External Affairs and Development, Faculty Director and the Executive Director of Promise Europe, including public and private grants, major donors, events, annual giving, planned giving, endowment campaign, and in-kind support.
3. Support effective donor relations and cultivation of new donors.

OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Build the public profile of The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA as a leader in human rights education, research and advocacy.
2. Publicize and disseminate information about Institute activities, research, and policy work to the UCLA School of Law, across the UCLA campus and to the local and global community.
3. Provide public relations for the Institute before a variety of audiences including across UCLA campus, in broader academic settings, and with policymakers, practitioners, activists, and the public.
4. Develop public outreach and effective communications strategies for advancing The Promise Institute’s mission, ensuring inclusive coverage across area and stakeholder group, through print, web-based, social media and other media platforms.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will have a background that specifically demonstrates the following:
• A Juris Doctor degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent);
• As a normal requirement, the appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g. J.D., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected for appointment in the activity.
• Substantial successful senior leadership experience of a dynamic mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated excellence in management, including direct supervision of a team of other experienced administrators.
• Demonstrated capacity to work successfully in a university setting with a globally diverse array of stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders.
• A track record of innovation, problem-solving, program leadership and program building.
• Extensive experience, engagement and understanding of human rights law and policy.
• Experience with key organizations in the field of human rights, which may include the United Nations, international courts and tribunals, regional and national human rights bodies, and human rights organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to the promotion of human rights.
• Advanced administrative and organizational skills.
• A proven track record in fundraising and budget management.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse array of colleagues, students and the broader community.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to draw on the ideas of others and convert them into meaningful strategies and plans and to represent those ideas to a variety of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, policymakers, the public and the press.
• Ability to facilitate dialogues, identify barriers to effectiveness, and generate support for solutions.
• High professional and ethical standards that reflect UCLA’s core values, purpose, and mission.

Program : 

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

Juris Doctor degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent)

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Please apply by submitting pdf copies of a cover letter discussing your interest, qualifications and experience; a resume or curriculum vitae; a statement reflecting on the candidate’s personal and professional experiences, highlighting past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan; and the names and email addresses for five professional references. Finalists will later be expected to provide two letters of recommendation during the final vetting process.

• Cover Letter - A letter discussing your interest, qualifications and experience

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of the state of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

  The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

  Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
  Expand our reach as a global university
  Enhance our research and creative activities
  Elevate how we teach
  Become a more effective institution

  Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

  Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

• List of References - The names and email addresses for five professional references

Reference requirements

• 5 required (contact information only)

The names and email addresses for five professional references

Help contact: douvan@law.ucla.edu

About UCLA

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.

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.

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• “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, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

Job location

Los Angeles, CA

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