The Communications Specialist for the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory will play a critical role in planning and executing the center's external communications, with the goal of advancing meaningful improvements in ocean health through raising awareness and influencing policy. The Communications Specialist will work with the research center's leadership and researchers to develop a unified communications vision and strategy across the center's portfolio of projects, and will oversee and/or advise on all external communications channels, including news media, press releases, social media, website, and reporting.

Job Functions:

• Center-wide external communications - Leads the development, implementation, and management of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory's comprehensive external communications strategy. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of communications strategies and campaigns using media analytics, digital engagement metrics, and stakeholder feedback, and adjust communications approaches
• Project-specific communications - Providing advice to and collaborating with the center’s leadership and researchers on developing comprehensive short- and long-term project-specific communications plans
• Reporting - Drafting press releases, grant reports, and newsletters in collaboration with project researchers and assisting with other general professional writing needs
• Public relations - Leads media relations strategy for the center, cultivating relationships with national and international reporters and coordinating media outreach in collaboration with campus communications
• Event coordination - Coordinating events such as panels, workshops, seminars, and donor visits
• Intern supervision - Supervising undergraduate student interns that support the center’s social media, website, and newsletters

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in communications, journalism, environmental science, or related field
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• 1-3 years relevant professional experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in communications, journalism, environmental science, or related field
• 4-6 years relevant professional experience
• Experience distilling and translating complex scientific topics into compelling stories for a non-science audience
• Experience producing fresh, creative communications solutions that break from convention
• Experience working on a diversity of topics, particularly those related to the environment, oceans, conservation, and sustainability
• Experience collaborating with a diverse set of journalists or reporters
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders with different communication styles
• Demonstrated success delivering high quality products within budget and time constraints
• Graphic design, particularly of professional-quality deliverables, using tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva

The full job ad may be viewed here.