Director

UCLA School of Law

Job Posting

 

Director

Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy

 

The Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law (LMI) is seeking a highly motivated and multi-talented inaugural Director for LMI’s new Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits.  In collaboration with the Program’s Faculty Director, key law school faculty, and LMI’s Executive Director, the Director of the Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits (Program) will have major responsibilities for the vision, development and success of this new Program.  The Director will have a central role in creatively shaping the Program, as well as working with faculty, leaders at the University, and in the nonprofit sector.  The Director will be instrumental in: 

 

  • developing and overseeing the Program’s core initiatives;
  • convening conferences, symposia, and workshops;
  • working with faculty to launch research and policy projects that improve knowledge and understanding of nonprofit law and policy;
  • developing classroom and clinical opportunities for law students and an executive program for practitioners and senior managers of nonprofit organizations;
  • expanding sponsorship and support for the Program’s initiatives; and
  • conducting outreach to build a network connected to the Program.

 

The Director will also be expected to teach a course related to nonprofit law at the law school and/or in connection with the proposed executive education program for practitioners.

 

About the Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits

In 2021, Lowell Milken (’73) made a generous gift to start a new Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits under the LMI umbrella.  The world of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector are both experiencing significant changes.  There is growing emphasis on social impact giving, corporate philanthropy, new vehicles such as donor advised funds, and creative forms of legal organization.  In addition, increasing demands on nonprofit organizations, including fulfilling roles traditionally filled by government, has challenged the sector, governance models, and related regulation.  Lawyers play a critical role in guiding the change and building the future of the nonprofit sector.  With its outstanding faculty, especially in tax law, governance, and nonprofit law, UCLA Law is well-positioned to become a national resource for scholarship and public policy analysis of the nonprofit sector.  Likewise, UCLA Law can take a leadership role in the education of legal counsel, nonprofit directors, and executives to meet the challenges that will shape nonprofits. 

 

Initially, the Program will focus on three main goals:
 

  1. Become a research center that develops and shares scholarship and knowledge on issues relating to nonprofits including tax policy, governance, and the role of nonprofits in developing and promoting social policies.  This goal will provide resources to a wide range of participants in the nonprofit sector including policymakers, regulators, lawyers, and senior managers of nonprofits.
     
  2. Develop and expand education at the law school for law students, lawyers, directors, and senior managers of nonprofits on issues that are central to nonprofit operations, financial management, and governance.
     
  3.  Support thought leadership on legal issues material to nonprofits so the Program serves as an important resource for the operation and governance of nonprofits and a venue to bring together practitioners, scholars, and regulators.

 

About the Lowell Milken Institute

UCLA Law is recognized as having one of the best business law programs and tax law programs in the country.  LMI was founded in 2011 as the law school’s academic center for business law and policy. LMI’s programming complements the law school’s business law specializations in business law and tax law.  LMI’s programming complements the law school’s Business Law and Policy Specialization and Tax Law and Policy Specialization.  Law students who enroll in either of the business law specializations and who participate in LMI’s programming gain a strong foundation in business law and/or tax law.  Through its programs and events, LMI brings to campus legal scholars, government regulators, and business law practitioners who focus on business law and tax law, including securities regulation, M&A, private equity, bankruptcy, secured transactions, real estate law, intellectual property, and business litigation among other areas.  LMI designs and hosts a suite of competitions for law students to learn and practice lawyering skills including drafting, negotiation, and presentation.  LMI also serves as a regular convenor of scholars, regulators, policymakers, and practitioners to engage in the most important and cutting-edge issues in business law and tax law. More information about LMI can be found at https://lowellmilkeninstitute.law.ucla.edu/

 

The Director Position

In collaboration with the Faculty Director of the Program, key faculty, and leaders at UCLA Law, the Director will develop and articulate a strategic vision for building the Program into a leading national center for the study of philanthropy and nonprofits, develop short- and long-range plans for achieving that vision, and be responsible for their day-to-day implementation.  The Director will collaborate in, develop, and lead the execution of world-class and innovative research, programming, and initiatives that advance the mission of the Program.  The Director will build a vibrant intellectual community around the Program that includes students, faculty, regulators, policymakers, practitioners, and senior managers of nonprofits for the purposes of improving knowledge and understanding of nonprofits and their role in our society and developing innovative solutions to challenges affecting the operations and governance of nonprofits. 

 

The Director will work with faculty members to support existing courses related to nonprofit and to propose new courses, including experiential courses, to expand the law school’s offerings in this area.  They will also explore the possibility of establishing an executive education program for senior managers and directors/trustees of nonprofits.  If an executive education program appears to be feasible, they will take the steps to develop and implement such a program so that it is, at a minimum, financially self-sustaining, and ideally generates revenue for the Program.  The Director will teach at least one class per academic year to law students or in the executive education program relating to some aspect of nonprofit law, and, along with faculty members, provide individualized and career counseling to support students interested in a career in the nonprofit space.

 

Working with the Faculty Director and other faculty members, the Director will also develop, coordinate, and support a world class and innovative research program relating to philanthropy and nonprofits.  This effort will include development and supervision of strategies for publicizing and disseminating the results of the program’s research and policy work by faculty through working papers series, conferences, and other means, simultaneously building out the public profile of the Program as an important center of study into philanthropy and nonprofits.  The Director will lead this public engagement as its key representative and spokesperson with a focused media outreach.

 

The successful candidate for the position of Director of the Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits will have significant experience and extensive contacts in the nonprofit space.

 

The minimum requirements for this position include:

  • An excellent academic record;
  • A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school;
  • Membership in the California Bar or the bar of another state;
  • A minimum of five and preferably at least seven years’ experience in nonprofit law (I.e., both regulatory and tax law) with demonstrated experience in the legal, financial, and governance issues related to nonprofit operations;
  • Prior teaching experience and/or experience in mentoring and presenting to others suggesting strong promise as an instructor;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  • Budget management skills; and
  • Demonstrated management, administrative, and organizational skills.

 

This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenure track, academic position.  The salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.  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 https://www.apo.ucla.edu/policies-forms/the-call; and https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/academic-personnel-policy/index.html.)

 

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.  To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by Monday, February 28, 2022, but will be considered thereafter until the position is filled.  Please apply online at https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF06953 by submitting pdf copies of a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three professional references.  Finalists will later be expected to supply at least two letters of recommendation during the final vetting process. 

 

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender transition status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services, including protected veterans. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination &Affirmative Action Policy at https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction.