Reporting to the Director of Communications and Digital Media, the Assistant Director of Social Media and Content is responsible for developing compelling content and stories to be delivered through social media platforms and the website. The Assistant Director of Social Media and Content will work with a dynamic team supporting strategic communications for the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University SIPA.
The Assistant Director of Social Media and Content will serve a critical role in transforming the Center???s research and expert analysis into digestible content for a wide range of different audiences. A particular focus for the organization is deepening understanding of the impacts of racism, environmental justice, gender equality, and inclusion on our energy system. The Assistant Director of Social Media and Content will support and contribute to culturally diverse and inclusive communications, reflected across CGEP???s scholarship, work environment, and partnerships.
Responsibilities
Social Media and Content
Lead and develop digital and social media strategies designed to increase understanding and engagement in complex policy, science, technology energy and climate change issues.
Lead digital and social media technologies, including desktop publishing, graphic design and presentation software.
Lead, design and produce public facing materials, including website pages and features, print materials, newsletters, social media content, op-eds, podcasts and other communications and marketing collateral.
Research, write and edit news stories, briefs, features, and press releases, on topics and discoveries across a broad spectrum of clinical and science-related disciplines for multiple audiences, particularly consumers, through a variety of digital communications platforms.
Provide editorial and writing support for research papers and other content output from CGEP.
Interview researchers and scholars for news features and blog posts to create compelling content.
Collaborate with internal and external partners for multimedia content, including video, graphics, and photography.
Promote, attend and cover CGEP events through web stories and social media.
Develop robust and mutually beneficial relationships with CGEP scholars to stay abreast of their ongoing work and newsworthy projects and publications.
Enhance established collaborative relationships across the University???s communications and public affairs teams.
Strategic Communication
Lead a portfolio of research initiatives, projects and issues; develop, implement, and manage the communication strategies and campaigns.
Support the development and implementation of integrated strategic communications plans to support CGEP's communications and engagement objectives, including communication and content creation, message development, digital and social media, congressional and external affairs, media relations, and event support.
Incorporate strategic communications as a core function across all aspects of Center operations, ensuring consistency across all CGEP materials and communications.
Explore and develop new ways to strengthen CGEP's brand identity and engagement with key stakeholder audiences.
Use political awareness and judgment to determine which opportunities are appropriate for CGEP???s brand.
Build relationships and work collaboratively with communications peers at SIPA and other University units, including the Earth Institute, Climate School, Law School, Business School, Engineering School and President's Office, and cross-functionally within CGEP.
Congressional and External Affairs
Monitor legislative developments, identify opportunities for engagement, and ensure CGEP???s expertise and analysis is brought to bear on making key policy choices.
Analyze legislative proposals, examine their likely impact on the economy, security, and environment, and improve the effectiveness of federal, state and local energy and climate policy.
Serve as liaison with various Congressional and government offices, and contribute to creating effective outreach strategies with international, federal, state and local elected officials, city agencies, and other local leaders.
Develop relevant materials including policy briefs and other content suitable for policymakers.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in communication, public relations, public administration or related field and 3 to 5 years of professional related experience.
Experience planning, writing, editing, and producing newsletters, press releases, reports, briefing memos, marketing collateral, and other print materials.
Understanding of energy and climate and awareness of current local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; awareness of organizations??? impacts on the external environment and related risk management.
Strong project management skills. Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines, prioritize, multi-task, be self-reliant but also know when to ask questions.
Ability to work independently, with initiative, creativity, and attention to detail and confidentiality. Ability to rapidly adapt to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
Ability to foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
Ability and willingness to work across global time zones, early morning or evening hours and some weekends.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced Degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Information Management or related field that blends communications or art with technical skills.
Established relationships with top-tier national and international media covering the energy, environment and climate, economy and national security beats.
Strong presentation skills.
Strong interpersonal and coordination skills.
Professional experience in the climate or energy sectors.
Other Requirements
Type other requirements and/or special indicators if CUIMC
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.
