Social Innovation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.
At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.
We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Pla n, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.
Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.
Departmental Overview
The Blum Center leverages the talent, energy, and innovations of the University of California, Berkeley to address the difficult challenges in low-resource communities in California and across the world. Our interdisciplinary problem-solving approach draws on students and faculty from over 70 disciplines, including engineering, social sciences, and business, to develop, test, and scale technologies and scalable solutions for economic development and to improve lives.
The Director of Innovation & Social Impact is responsible for all aspects of the Blum Center's entrepreneurship ecosystem, anchored by Big Ideas@Berkeley, the campus' flagship student innovation contest. Since its launch in 2006, Big Ideas has become UC Berkeley's premier platform for turning bold student vision into real-world impact and starting first-time innovators on the path to becoming entrepreneurs.
Big Ideas serves as a launching pad for students across all disciplines who are tackling society's most pressing challenges - from energy and sustainability to healthcare and artificial intelligence for economic development. The return on investment has been extraordinary: for every $1 awarded in Big Ideas seed funding, student teams have gone on to secure an additional $385 in follow-on funding and investment. Beyond the numbers, that leverage reflects something even more powerful - the results of Big Ideas' rigorous mentorship, hands-on training, and a community that equips students not just to win competitions, but to build enduring ventures.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: August 6, 2026 - Open until filled
Responsibilities
30% Manages, plans, and administers the Blum Center's social innovation programs, including the Big Ideas Contest, the Mastercard Foundation Impact Fund, the Civic Innovation Challenge, and other programs as appropriate. Coordinates and engages with campus, researchers, entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders, government officials, and industry to support student success. Develops and participates in extensive outreach to encourage participation.
15% Manages all social impact program operations to envision and build a robust system of competition and post-competition student resources; develops additional student opportunities to enhance an ecosystem that assists students in pursuing their innovations. Conceptualizes, coordinates, and continually improves virtual and in-person opportunities, including information sessions, writing & budgeting workshops, practitioner-in-residence engagements, partnership networking, pitch sessions, and celebration events.
10% Prepares short- and long-range planning for operations and improvements to processes. Identifies, directs, and actively pursues new opportunities to secure sponsorships and funding.
10% Represents the Center on innovation issues to the campus and broader university community. Responsible for comprehensive and proactive network management. Initiates and manages efforts to engage faculty and professionals to serve as mentors, judges, sponsors and partners, and ensures productive and collaborative relationships. Leads efforts at maintaining relationships with alumni, judges, mentors, and other partners, and provides opportunities for them to participate in Center activities.
10% Closely collaborates with Blum Center team members to integrate Big Ideas and related innovation programs with Blum Center education and research initiatives to maximize student opportunities and resource sharing. Supports professional development of all Blum Center students interested in social impact, innovation for low-resource settings, and entrepreneurial pursuits.
5% Ensures administrative operations adhere to the annual budget.
5% Provides analysis for highly complex projects. Develops, maintains, and continuously refines operational documentation, program toolkits, and implementation guides to support continuity, knowledge transfer, and long-term program sustainability.
5% Oversees social innovation program websites and social media. Responsible for leveraging Big Ideas' CoLab facilities in Blum Hall East to support student innovators and Blum Center initiatives.
5% Selects, trains, and manages students serving in administrative and outreach roles.
5% Applies advanced concepts to perform analysis to determine future directions. Participates in periodic strategic reviews of program goals, structure, offerings, and operations .
Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of University rules and regulations, processes, protocols, and procedures for supporting students and collaborating with partners outside the University.
• Advanced interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness, collaboration, and advising skills.
• Advanced knowledge of a variety of administrative operational activities such as planning in advance, event management, fundraising processes, risk management planning, website design, and social media.
• Advanced knowledge of methodologies to foster innovation.
• Advanced experience with supporting student entrepreneurs.
• Advanced skills in short- and long-term strategic planning, analysis, problem-solving, and partnership building.
• Advanced knowledge of university, industry, nonprofit, and civil society collaboration strategies.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
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.
Classification: ADMIN OFCR 4 CX
Anticipated hiring range: $ 107,490 to $131,042
UCB salary range: $107,490 - $159,732
The salary offer to the final candidate will take into consideration their experience and salary equity with current UC Berkeley employees working in similar roles.
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 Disclosure
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.