Careers

This position will provide leadership for college research communication efforts; including the implementation and revision of the research office communication plan. This position will serve an important role in improving external communication of research program outcomes and impacts for the College of Veterinary Medicine. This position will also interface closely with other members of the research office team on internal communication efforts as well as the CVM advancement team. This position reports to the Associate Dean for Research.

Approximately 0.75 FTE will be directed towards communication of research outcomes and impacts, providing planning, production coordination, and hands-on research, writing, and editing for various print projects in the college of veterinary medicine, including:
1. Develop content for the research section of the collegiate Profiles magazine and the research office newsletter/social media channels (i.e., research round-ups and new funding blurbs);
2. Working with faculty and CVM Development team to translate research projects and outcomes for communication with potential donors in an effort to increase non-sponsored research funding from donors and industry partners;
3. Working with research faculty to develop faculty, team and/or cluster—specific communication plans and communicate their science using research briefs, press releases, social media, website content or other venues;
4. Collaborate with the research administration specialist to design and produce a Research Annual Report for sharing with internal and external stakeholders;
5. Providing review of lay language descriptions of research including lay abstracts for external sponsors, doctoral dissertation fellowships, gran writing group participants, etc.; and
6. Hire, assign and direct work of freelance writers and/or student interns as appropriate.

Approximately 0.15 FTE will be directed towards research-related media relations and trainings; designing strategies to maximize media coverage for research and research-related events that align with the college’s priorities, including:
1. Serving as a resource for CVM faculty regarding media relations, brokering interactions, helping faulty to prepare for media interviews;
2. Preparing and delivering story pitches and networking with internal and external communication partners; and
3. Developing and providing media relations tools and trainings for CVM faculty, graduate students and other researchers.

Approximately 0.1 FTE will be directed towards development and execution of the research office communication plan and providing ongoing input into research office communication strategies, including:
1. Identifying and initiating important strategies and new media tools to promote the college through print and multimedia communications projects; and
2. Providing strategic editorial advice and planning to faculty, researchers, and the associate Dean for Research to enhance and maintain consistent and current information that will raise awareness of CVM research.


 

Required qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree (in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, English or related field, preferred) and at least four years of professional communications experience.

Preferred qualifications:
• Non-communications degreed individuals must have six years of progressive responsibility in communications.
• Strong writing skills with ability to take complicated topics and simplify them for a general audience and tell compelling stories that show impact
• Strong skills in editing with an emphasis on detail and accuracy
• Ability to solve problems and work independently
• Ability to diplomatically balance needs of various stakeholders
• Excellent leadership and training skills
• Ability to manage print and multimedia projects from start to finish on budget and on deadline
• Strategic thinking skills to propose new projects and streamline existing processes
• Media relations experience, including writing news releases and pitching stories
• Experience writing and editing fundraising materials
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Adobe Creative Suite and Web CMS systems software and willingness to learn and use other communications technologies
• Experience managing freelance writers and mentoring student writers