Deputy Director of Policy (0566U) - Job #79378 - College of Environmental Design

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The Terner Center formulates bold strategies to house families from all walks of life in vibrant, sustainable, and affordable homes and communities. Established in 2015, the Terner Center is a leading voice in identifying, developing, and advancing innovative public and private sector solutions to achieve broader housing affordability for American communities. The Terner Center is named after Don Terner, a housing pioneer whose ambitious, "no limits" spirit lives on in the ethos and approach to our work.

The Terner Center is focused on identifying ambitious, yet pragmatic solutions to today's most pressing housing challenges, supported by rigorous, action-oriented research. Our success is measured in part by the extent to which our ideas, research, and solutions influence dialogue, decision-making, and practice among policymakers and private sector leaders.

The Terner Center pursues ideas that increase the supply of high-quality, affordably priced housing by reducing barriers to housing production, reduce the rate of homelessness by preventing housing insecurity and improving access to permanent housing, advance innovations in affordable housing financing, production, and preservation, and increase the supply of low-carbon and climate resilient housing in California and beyond.

Through rigorous research, timely and strategic policy engagement, and robust collaboration across sectors, the Terner Center develops ideas and builds solutions that increase housing supply and lower the cost of housing, expand access to quality homes and drive innovation in housing policy and practice. The Terner Center for Housing Innovation is seeking a talented Deputy Director of Policy to join our team to drive Terner's policy work.

The Deputy Director of Policy will:

• Ensure that Terner Center's research is informing and shaping relevant legislation, rulemaking and agency guidance at the California, and federal levels. This involves providing written technical assistance, providing briefings and testimony, and generally maintaining relationships with state and federal legislators, as well as legislative and executive staff.
• Keep Terner Center staff educated on active policy issues that are being debated at the state and federal level in order to identify opportunities for data and research projects that could help to inform policy decisions.
• Work closely with the Terner Center research and communications team to inform and oversee the creation of communication products that distill Terner Center research and learnings and make them accessible to policymakers, governmental staff, advocates, and other key constituencies.
• Manage the Terner Center's policy team, which may include Terner Center Fellows and/or Research Affiliates Affiliates, staff policy associates and graduate student researchers.
• Ensure that policy work is being coordinated across both Terner Labs and Terner Center, particularly in areas with a high degree of overlap such as innovative construction and land use.
• Regularly author op-eds, blog posts, or other shorter commentary pieces, with a focus on uplifting Terne research findings and making Terner's research visible and understandable for a policy audience.
• Regularly take high level media requests.
• Amplify Terner research on social media. Identify and coordinate Terner's participation in conferences and networking events.
• Serve as Terner's point of contact for housing trade groups and associations.

The First Review Date for this job is: 7/14/25 or Open until filled

25% Develops summaries, op eds, blog posts, and other communication materials to distill Terner research and findings.

20% Shares Terner research with legislators, legislative aides, agency staff and industry representatives and advocates.

15% Tracks relevant legislation, rulemaking and agency guidance.

10% Participates and presents research in relevant conferences, seminars, and meetings.

10% Performs supervisory functions including recruitment of policy associates, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, fellows/affiliates, and is responsible for training and handling disciplinary issues according to UC Berkeley and Center's HR policies.

10% Responds to requests from media, external stakeholders and partners for data analysis and research implications.

5% Identifies, develops and executes on fundraising goals for program activities.

5% Stewards industry partnerships, helps recruit and support advisory board members and fellows.

• Expert knowledge of common organizational- or research-specific and other computer application programs.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and writing skills, including the ability to effectively communicate quantitative and qualitative findings to non-academic audiences in presentation and written format; Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Highly skilled in all levels of project management.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and municipal housing programs or land use regulations; Strong knowledge of the mechanics of legislative and administrative change making at the federal or state level; Expert knowledge of the organization's processes, protocols and procedures and external regulatory requirements in policy domain.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, simultaneous projects and tight deadlines.
• Expert knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques.
• Expert analytical / problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated subject knowledge of housing policy and the ability to analyze and explain legislative and regulatory language.
• Expert ability to work with a dynamic and diverse group of faculty, staff and students.
• Leadership experience in policy, research, non-profit, academic and / or government agencies.
• Demonstrated expertise in building collaborations between agencies and sectors, including, non-profit, academia, industry and / or governmental agencies.
• Experience overseeing teams, mentoring professional colleagues, and/or directly managing staff or students.
• Ability to understand and navigate complex political environments.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Strong Fundraising Experience.
• Strong Negotiation Skills.
• Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., Planning, Public Policy/Administration, Urban Economics, Law).

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $140,000 - $170,000.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct 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. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

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.