Assistant Director of Communications and Outreach

$61,046 - $68,000/Yr

University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

Philadelphia, PA

Educational Services

About the position

The Assistant Director of Communications and Outreach at the University of Pennsylvania will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the communications and outreach strategies for the Department of Genetics and the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence. This position requires proactive leadership to develop and implement comprehensive communication policies and practices that align with the mission of the department and the program. The Assistant Director will report directly to the Chief of Staff of Penn Genetics and the Director of the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, providing a unique opportunity to influence the visibility and engagement of the department's initiatives through various media and public relations strategies. In this role, the Assistant Director will be responsible for creating and executing a communication strategy that utilizes both traditional and new media to achieve specific communication objectives. This includes directing the implementation of a communications plan aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of the research and activities conducted by the department's faculty, students, and research centers. The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure the successful achievement of these goals. The position also involves designing, developing, and publishing a range of internal and external publications, including digital content for social media, newsletters, press releases, and promotional materials. The Assistant Director will oversee various communications, marketing, and branding initiatives, managing the department's website and optimizing social media engagement. Analyzing data analytics and performance metrics will be crucial for adjusting content strategies and tracking the effectiveness of outreach efforts. Additionally, the Assistant Director will organize community outreach initiatives, liaise with autism support organizations, and spearhead recruitment campaigns for genetic studies. Proactive media outreach will be essential for establishing relationships with news media at various levels. The role also includes assisting in the organization of conferences, symposiums, and community events, as well as managing internal communications and program-related documents. Overall, the Assistant Director will be expected to perform a variety of responsibilities that contribute to the department's mission and outreach efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a communication strategy employing traditional and new media to meet identified communications objectives.
• Direct the implementation of a communications plan designed to deepen awareness and understanding of the research and other work produced by the Department's and Center's faculty, students, research centers, and working groups.
• Design, develop, write, and/or publish various internal and external publications, including digital content, press releases, promotional materials, and infographics.
• Oversee and direct various communications, marketing, and branding initiatives, managing the Department's and Center's website and optimizing social media use.
• Assess data analytics and overall performance, adjust content plans with trends as needed, and track website metrics/traffic.
• Organize significant community outreach initiatives and liaise with autism support-related organizations and media outlets.
• Spearhead multi-media human recruitment for the genetic study of autism through targeted advertisements and manage submissions in research study pools.
• Develop innovative marketing and recruitment campaigns to enhance stakeholder engagement through compelling narratives.
• Perform proactive media outreach to arrange interviews and publish articles, developing relationships with news media.
• Assist in organizing conferences, symposiums, community events, and recruitment events, managing meetings and materials as needed.
• Prepare and manage internal program-related communications and documents, maintaining essential program records.
• Perform other responsibilities and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience are required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with faculty needs and concerns.
• One to two years of experience in creating and managing website content.
• Interest in developing web pages.
• Prior use of WordPress is preferred.
• Interest or experience in higher education.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in public relations or communications within an academic setting.
• Familiarity with autism-related research and outreach initiatives.
• Strong writing and editing skills for diverse audiences.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous retirement plans including Basic, Matching, and Supplemental options.
• Substantial time away from work for personal needs.
• Long-term care insurance options for faculty and staff.
• Wellness and work-life resources to support health and balance.
• Professional and personal development resources.
• Access to a wide range of University resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts on various goods and services for faculty and staff.
• Flexible work options to promote work-life balance.
• Adoption assistance for eligible employees.