The University of California’s Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) seeks a visionary and collaborative Director to lead the CITRIS Tech Policy Initiative. This initiative advances responsible technology governance by connecting cutting-edge research, public policy, and education to address urgent societal challenges at the intersection of technology, democracy, equity and safety.
Working with the CITRIS Executive Director, the Faculty Director will provide strategic leadership for a growing portfolio of activities that include policy-focused research translation, convenings with government leaders, engagement with civil society and industry, and innovative educational programming. Current activities include hosting high-level policy dialogues and showcases, producing policy-relevant analyses and reports, and integrating real-world policy challenges into student learning through courses, capstone projects, and experiential opportunities. The Faculty Director will play a central role in shaping the initiative’s future direction, expanding its impact at the state, national, and global levels.
Key responsibilities include setting and advancing a clear vision for the initiative; building and managing partnerships with policymakers, faculty, students, funders, and external organizations; and representing CITRIS in public forums related to technology and public interest policy. The Director will work closely with UC faculty across disciplines to surface research insights relevant to policy debates, facilitate collaboration across campuses, and ensure that academic work informs practical governance solutions.
A core priority of the role is professional training and workforce development. The Faculty Director will oversee and grow programs that equip students with the skills to design, evaluate, and implement responsible tech policy, including curriculum development, mentorship, and opportunities for direct engagement with policymakers.
The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of technology policy, as shown through academic publications, policy briefs or government advisory positions; demonstrated success in collaborative leadership and convening; and a commitment to public interest outcomes. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of tech policy governance while educating the next generation of leaders.
Eligibility
Candidates must hold senate faculty titles at UC Berkeley, Davis, Merced or Santa Cruz.
Responsibilities
- Faculty engagement:
- Meaningfully engage faculty across all 4 CITRIS campuses, including inviting select participation in an initiative advisory council, to include both faculty and tech policy practitioners. The scope of the council’s responsibilities is to be developed but will include soliciting input and developing a vision for the Tech Policy Initiative, advising on relevant and timely legislative activities, providing connections to potential partners and funders.
- Recruit new faculty to join as CITRIS PIs.
- Student engagement:
- With CITRIS ED and student research assistant, create a plan for engaging students on tech policy. This could include courses, workshops, working groups, events.
- External relation, policy liaison, fundraising:
- Create a plan for how the initiative can engage with lawmakers on tech policy issues
- Explore opportunities for engagement with external experts: e.g. as Visiting Scholars, Fellows
- Actively participate in fundraising to support the initiative; with director of development, lead grant writing, cultivation and stewardship
- Communications
- Generate relevant material for CITRIS communications as appropriate (summaries, blog posts, social media)
- Ensure that the publications coming from the Initiative properly acknowledge support from CITRIS and the Initiative
- Include your affiliation as CITRIS Tech Policy Director in publications and other communications, as appropriate
- Internal alignment:
- Meet regularly with CITRIS Executive Director to review activities and progress
- Participate, to the extent possible, in CITRIS activities (workshops, advisory board meetings, events, presentations)
- Represent CITRIS Tech Policy Initiative to the broader Berkeley tech policy community
Resources
CITRIS in-kind support
- Gift and grant administration (in collaboration with PI’s Research Analyst)
- Personnel: assistance with recruitment and management of postdocs and Visiting Scholars, Students and Fellows
- Fundraising and membership: prospect research, pre-award and grant-writing support, logistical support for meetings with prospective funders/sponsors
- Events: logistical and technical support for public events
- Facilities: access to meeting rooms, classrooms, and event space in Sutardja Dai Hall for Initiative-related events and meetings
- Communications: inclusion of Initiative programs in CITRIS communications (website, newsletters, social media, print materials), support for production of Initiative-specific materials (depending on staff time and resources available, this will be provided either in-house gratis, on a re-charge basis, or by referral to outside contractors)
Annual CITRIS financial support
- Annual budget support of ~ $55,000 for stipend, course release, staffing or other programmatic needs.
- Discretionary funds as available and by mutual agreement with CITRIS leadership for travel, supplies, event support, etc.
Reporting
The Initiative Faculty Director is appointed by the CITRIS Director and is expected to contribute toward reporting on activities that address progress toward goals listed above.
Term
Three year renewable appointment, [dates TBD]
To apply:
Please send CV and expression of interest including a vision statement to CITRIS Director and Search Chair Alex Bayen (bayen@berkeley.edu) and CITRIS Executive Director ccrittenden@berkeley.edu by October 15, 2026.