External Affairs Manager, Capstone Programs

About the role

The External Affairs Manager serves as the primary operational support for all external-facing functions of the UCLA Anderson Capstone Programs Office under the direct supervision of the Director of External Affairs. This role manages the day-to-day coordination of corporate partner relationships, mentor recruitment and engagement, and external stakeholder communications across the Business Creation Capstone (BCC), Applied Integrated Research (AIR), and Advanced Topics in Management Capstone and Management Practicum (MP).

The External Affairs Manager works closely with the Director of External Affairs to support faculty engagement with external partners and ensure corporate clients, mentors, and sponsors receive consistent, professional, and timely communications throughout the academic year. While primarily aligned to the external affairs function, the role provides light operational backup to Program Managers on the academic programs team as needed, ensuring continuity of student-facing program support during peak periods or staff transitions.

The role involves working with approximately 1,000 students per academic year across all four tracks and serving as the operational contact for students and MBA program units. It requires a high degree of independent judgment, the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, and demonstrated proficiency with technology platforms used to administer program workflows and student communications.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day operations of corporate partner relationships, mentor recruitment, and external stakeholder communications.
• Support faculty engagement with external partners to ensure consistent, professional, and timely communications.
• Provide operational backup to Program Managers on the academic programs team during peak periods or staff transitions.
• Serve as the operational contact for students and MBA program units, managing workflows and communications for approximately 1,000 students annually.
• Analyze processes and recommend improvements based on experience.

Requirements

• Effective communication skills with the ability to convey complicated instructions clearly and concisely. (Required)
• Ability to work independently, prioritize projects and tasks, and deliver results in a timely manner. (Required)
• Willingness to analyze processes and recommend improvements. (Required)
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization. (Required)
• Willingness and enthusiasm to learn new technologies and processes on an ongoing basis. (Required)
• Experienced with Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Access, Word, and Outlook, or similar software. (Required)
• Ability to multi-task with shifting priorities. (Required)
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and non-standard work weeks (e.g., Mon-Fri and/or Tues-Sat). (Required)
• Knowledge of experiential learning program models, including applied research, field study, or capstone-style programming, and best practices in student experience design and program assessment. (Required)
• Three years' experience working with students in a higher education environment. (Required)
• Working knowledge of University policy and procedures. (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible for hire.

Schedule

Standard hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evenings and weekends required.

Pay

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure, and certifications, among other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.

Benefits

Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and the UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.