Executive Assistant to the Dean

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Departmental Overview

Berkeley Law is one of the nation's premier law schools, located at one of the world's great universities, in one of the most vibrant places on the planet. Berkeley Law is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. It is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in the nation.

At Berkeley Law, we are committed to excellence in education and scholarship, as well as equality of opportunity. We believe we have a responsibility to use our substantial intellectual capital to help solve real-world problems and to create a more just society through clinics, research, and policy engagement. We believe that a Berkeley Law degree is a tool for change, both locally and globally, and that we should be educating the leaders of tomorrow. We maintain an environment that nurtures academic and personal growth, respects a diversity of ideas, and stimulates independent thought and critical reasoning.

Position Summary

The Executive Assistant to the Dean provides executive level support to the Dean of Berkeley Law School. The position will also be responsible for providing leadership to manage effective systems and protocols within the Dean's Office under the supervision of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. The position will manage the Dean's calendar, conduct research in order to prepare briefing materials, coordinate travel, manage the Dean's tasks, coordinate confidential and sensitive communications among law school units and central campus administration, provide support for the Dean's teaching, and assist the dean in his legal work. This position works closely with several Law School units including Development and Alumni Relations, Operations, Human Resources and Academic Personnel. This position assists the Dean with special projects as needed. This position will also facilitate activities and appointments between the Dean and the CAO/Deputy CAO and the Dean's Office in general.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 14, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Executive Administrative Support

• Serves as the lead administrative support professional in a fast-paced, high visibility work environment, providing comprehensive executive administrative support to the Dean of Berkeley Law School. Coordinates and manages a complex and dynamic schedule involving internal and external meetings, events, travel, and other executive commitments.
• Manages the Dean's appointment calendar and prepares daily schedules, briefings, and check-ins to ensure the Dean is prepared for all upcoming activities.
• Serves as a primary point of contact and gatekeeper for the Dean, appropriately screening and directing requests and determining when matters require the Dean's attention, additional information, or referral to another individual or office.
• Exercises independent judgment in prioritizing competing demands, identifying time-sensitive matters, resolving scheduling conflicts, and allocating the Dean's time based on urgency, importance, and organizational priorities.
• Oversees travel and entertainment, and related logistical activities for the Dean and Dean's Office, delegating appropriate responsibilities to other support staff as appropriate, while maintaining overall accountability for timely and accurate completion. Serves as the Dean's primary point of contact for these activities, ensuring responsive, high-quality service, and support throughout all activities both inside and outside of the Law School.
• Implements and maintains related administrative and business processes in accordance with Law School and University policies and procedures. Accurately interprets and clearly communicates applicable processes and policies to staff and others, explaining the rationale and operational implications of established procedures.

Administrative Operations and Process Management

• Identifies opportunities to establish, improve, strengthen, and refine internal administrative systems and processes, office procedures, and workflows to improve efficiency, service, communication, and responsiveness within the Dean's Office.
• Organizes, tracks, and monitors multiple concurrent assignments, tasks, initiatives and time-sensitive matters. Exercises sound judgment in adjusting priorities as demands shift, without sacrificing goal attainment or work quality.
• Delegates work assignments to other support staff as appropriate, assuming overall responsibility for ensuring that delegated work is completed accurately and timely. Provides training, guidance, and clarification to others regarding assigned work as needed. Develops and maintains a comprehensive tracking system and database for initiatives, assignments, deadlines, delegated work, and follow-up activities.
• Participates in the development and implementation of efficient and effective systems for managing information, projects and communications to ensure accurate and timely responses.
• Researches and implements appropriate technical and administrative solutions to address operational challenges that arise. Adapts to changes in technology, systems, and administrative practices and applies appropriate judgment regarding the use of available technologies and tools.

Executive Communications

• Serves as one of the front-line representatives of the Dean, the Dean's Office, and the Law School, managing and addressing all manner of inquiries from staff, faculty, students, campus officials, and members of the public.
• Drafts, edits, and prepares correspondence, responses, reports, communications, and other materials on behalf of the executive regarding organization operations, administrative matters, policies, procedures and other issues within the Dean's purview. Uses a high level of written and verbal communication skill and exercises discretion in tailoring communications to the audience and circumstances.
• Reviews and evaluates information received by the Dean's Office to identify emerging issues, time-sensitive matters, potential operational concerns, and other issues that may have broader implications or require immediate action. Determines appropriate follow-up and keeps the Dean and relevant leadership informed as needed.
• Coordinates with the Director of Communications and other departments leads regarding significant communications, key messages, meetings with stakeholders, and response strategies. Helps ensure that communications are timely, accurate, appropriately coordinated, and consistent with established organizational practices.
• Exercises tact, diplomacy, political acumen, and sound judgment when communicating with individuals regarding sensitive or complex matters. Determines when issues should be handled directly, referred to an appropriate office or individual, or escalated to the Dean or other senior leadership.
• Drafts and prepares responses to urgent and divisional requests. Prepares confidential reports and other material for senior staff, campus officials, systemwide officials, and other authorized recipients.

Research, Analysis and Executive Coordination

• Conducts assigned and independent research to support the Dean's work and the operations of the Dean's Office. This may include compiling, organizing, analyzing and summarizing information in order to provide briefings and background directly to the Dean in preparation for meetings, calls, events, etc.
• Anticipates potential scheduling, operational, communication, and logistical issues and conflicts. Recommends appropriate actions to the Dean, such as adjustments to schedules, priorities, meetings, or follow-up activities as circumstances change.
• Independently recognizes when additional research or information is warranted and proactively follows up with appropriate individuals and offices to ensure they have gathered as much relevant information as possible. Coordinates and follows up with others in the Law School to collect, review, and organize talking points, briefing material, prepared remarks, background information, etc.
• Makes high level internal and external contacts involving sensitive, confidential, or potentially complex matters and represents the Dean's Office with discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Maintains strict confidentiality on all matters, including sensitive topics such as personnel and employee-related information, financial information, legal or administrative matters, executive communications, and other confidential and sensitive information.
• Appropriately investigates and follows up on issues and problems that arise. Gathers relevant information to facilitate timely resolution or escalation.

Meeting and Project Coordination

• Tracks deadlines, actions items, and the status of various projects and assignments involving the Dean and Dean's Office. Develops and maintains systems to ensure that information, correspondence, records, meeting materials, and follow-up activities are organized, current, and readily accessible.
• Coordinates the logistics and implementation of the Dean's standing and ad hoc committee meetings.
• Coordinates the logistics and implementation of standing meetings involving senior administrators, campus officials, faculty, departments, students and student leaders, direct reports, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Organizes and supports ad hoc committees appointed by the Dean on a broad range of issues. Coordinates information and follow-up among participants and tracks assignments and outcomes as appropriate.
• Provides accurate and timely information to the Dean and handles the details of a broad range of matters on behalf of the Dean.

General Executive Support

• Provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Dean on a broad range of matters and responds to emerging priorities as they arise. Anticipates needs, identifies and resolves issues when possible, and coordinates with appropriate individuals and offices to address matters that require additional expertise or authority.
• Depending on the Dean's needs and priorities, this could include work supporting and related to teaching, research, advocacy, or other work.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of executive office administration principles and practices, including scheduling, correspondence, meeting coordination, records management, and administrative workflow.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to learn UC Office of the President (UCOP), University, and Berkeley Law policies, procedures, and practices relevant to executive administration, or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to learn organizational and administrative policies and procedures sufficient to interpret requirements, implement business processes, and appropriately advise others regarding established practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment within established policies, procedures, and professional parameters and to appropriately escalate matters beyond the scope of the position's authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate information, identify issues, anticipate potential challenges, and determine appropriate solutions or courses of action.
• Ability to demonstrate political acumen and sensitivity to differing perspectives, priorities, and organizational dynamics, with the ability to exercise discretion and diplomacy when interacting with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong service orientation, with the ability to provide responsive, professional, and high-quality support to internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft, edit, and prepare clear, concise, accurate, and appropriately tailored correspondence, reports, briefing materials, and other communications on behalf of an executive.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, campus officials, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in an environment with constant interruption.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple, competing priorities, deadlines, assignments, and changing demands while maintaining accuracy and quality.
• Ability to use high-level discretion and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to identify and anticipate potential issues, challenges and conflicts and proactively identify, develop, and coordinate appropriate solutions.
• Strong project and meeting coordination skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with common office productivity and communication technologies, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, calendar, database, and related applications, with the ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies.
• Knowledge and/or ability to learn California laws pertaining to the privacy rights of students and access to student information, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
• Must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and/or ability to learn UC administrative policies, procedures, systems and organizational structures.
• Knowledge of or experience working in a higher education environment.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. (Required)
• Experience providing executive-level administrative support in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment. (Required)

Salary & Benefits

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 annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $89,710.37 (Step 5) - $99,032.12 (Step 10). The full salary range for this classification is $82,877.46 (Step 1) - $133,309.85 (Step 25).

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is based onsite and is not eligible for a hybrid or flexible remote work arrangement.
• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Clerical & Allied Services Unit (CX) between the University of California and Teamsters Local 2010. The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/cx/index.html

Conviction History Background

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.

Misconduct

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

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=88585&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=21&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant