Communications Manager, Biological Systems - Research & Innovation

Join Our Journey

Research & Innovation at Cornell encompasses multiple entities - facilities, laboratories, institutes, and centers (FLICs) - for interdisciplinary research in various scientific clusters: Biological Systems, Physical Systems, and Societal Systems. The fields of study within the Biological Systems Cluster include immunology, cell and molecular biology, plant systems and agriculture, genomics, and proteomics.

We seek a curious and creative professional to lead communications and marketing efforts across Biological Systems as part of a reorganized Research & Innovation Communications team.

Your Mission

As Communications Manager for Biological Systems, your primary focus and responsibility will be representing and supporting the Biological Systems Cluster of facilities, laboratories, institutes, and centers. Reporting to the Executive Director of Research & Innovation Communications, you will work closely with other R&I communications leads (Physical Systems, Societal Systems, Internal Communications, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise, and Creative Content) to support and strengthen messaging, news, and stories about Research & Innovation at Cornell.

This is an exceptional opportunity to help reshape Research & Innovation communications and support the pioneering work of our interdisciplinary researchers.

Your Portfolio
As Communications Manager, you will design and implement communications strategies that amplify the mission, opportunities, and accomplishments of the Biological Systems Cluster to internal and external audiences. Biological Systems includes Center for Innovative Proteomics; Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems; Center for Structural Biology; Center for Vertebrate Genomics; Cornell Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Research; Cornell Center for Immunology; Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture; Cornell Reproductive Sciences Center; Cornell Stem Cell Program; Institute for Biotechnology; Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Collaborative Center; Point of Care Technologies Center; and Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology.

Your core responsibilities will include:

Strategic Communications

• Designing and implementing communications strategies that connect the missions, goals, priorities, and accomplishments of affiliated facilities, labs, institutes, and centers to external audiences.
• Collaborating closely with cluster leadership and faculty to develop, implement, and evaluate communications and marketing strategies.
• Working as a team with other R&I Communications Managers to align objectives and oversee communications resources and shared assets.
• Working with the R&I Communications Executive Director to implement the annual strategic communications plan and creating annual goals, objectives, tactics, and metrics for the Biological Systems Cluster.
• Serving as a communications expert for cluster colleagues, working with the Executive Director and University Relations partners, as needed.
• Fostering relationships with faculty, senior leadership, staff, and students to keep current on key issues, projects, and accomplishments across Biological Systems.

Content Production

• Developing and managing communications and marketing projects, including scope, requirements, budget, and timeline.
• Overseeing the production of consistent communications (stories, multimedia projects, newsletters, event promotions, announcements) for diverse audiences.
• Sourcing stories and other content through sustained presence and relationships across the cluster and talking frequently with faculty, staff, and students about their work.
• Collaborating with the R&I Creative Content Manager to develop and manage an annual editorial calendar.
• Collaborating with the Executive Director to establish key performance indicators and track KPIs for audience engagement, impact, and revenue or philanthropic support.

Management

• Supervising communications staff in the Biological Systems Cluster, managing assignments to meet shifting priorities.
• Evaluating staff performance, providing guidance and mentorship, and supporting professional development.
• In partnership with Research & Innovation HR, recruiting staff and onboarding new hires.

What We Need
Send us a cover letter and resume outlining your interest in this position and explaining how your experience and qualifications match the position requirements. We will review applications as received. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

• Bachelor's degree with 5 -7 years of related experience in communications, including experience serving multiple internal and external audiences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong writing skills.
• Comfortable and effective with public speaking.
• Experience communicating effectively across multiple platforms (print, web, social media, and multimedia).
• Open, participatory, and team-oriented management style, and ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven and changing environment.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Curiosity and interest in research and higher education.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and emerging challenges.
• Comfortable interacting with faculty, administrators, students, staff, and external stakeholders and confident working independently and as part of a team.

Additionally, we would like to see evidence of:

• Experience in a research-intensive organization.
• Experience with creating content related to discovery and translation in biological sciences.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.