Outreach & Communication Lead, Illinois Nutrient Stewardship Alliance

Outreach & Communication Lead, Illinois Nutrient Stewardship Alliance

Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, iSEE

This position may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement dependent with unit operational needs.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

The University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system and was founded in 1867. The university serves the people of Illinois through a shared commitment to excellence in teaching, research, public engagement, economic development and health care. Faculty, staff and students share their knowledge, expertise and resources with residents in every corner of the state through public service and outreach programs.

Job Summary

This position will manage communication and outreach activities, support the program coordination and deliverables, produce communication materials for outreach, aid in research-to-practice content development, conduct in-field outreach activities, and maintain strong relationships with farmers, partners, and stakeholders across Illinois.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Communication Materials
  • Develop clear, accessible outreach materials such as summaries of nutrient management research and recommendations, newsletters, and website and social media content.
  • Translate technical or scientific content into formats for diverse audiences, with particular emphasis on farmers and crop advisors.
  • Produce short, easily digestible video clips for web, presentations, and social media platforms.
  • Prepare meeting materials, agendas, minutes, and follow-up actions.
  • Work closely with iSEE communication and Extension staff to ensure smooth distribution of communication materials.
  • Collaborate with web developers to maintain an accessible online presence.
  • Prepare and deliver public speaking presentations.
• Engagement & Outreach
  • Cultivate existing and initiate new relationships with commodity groups, grower associations, Illinois Extension, industry partners, and conservation organizations.
  • Facilitate communication between stakeholders, the advisory committee, and the co-leads to ensure INSA remains farmer-focused.
  • Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of outreach efforts, including workshops and field days.
  • Represent INSA at events to strengthen visibility and engagement with the agricultural community.
• Coordination & Operations
  • Support the Executive Manager in day-to-day program operations of INSA.
  • Coordinate schedules, meetings, and communications among research teams, partner organizations, and the INSA Advisory Board.
  • Assist the Executive Manager in preparing progress reports and tracking program evaluation metrics.
• Organizational Requirements
  • Perform other duties that contribute to the mission of INSA programming, as assigned.
  • Local, regional, statewide, and (limited) interstate travel required.

Additional Physical Demands

To perform the essential functions of this position, work will occur in both office settings and community-based environments. The role requires the ability to travel between locations in a timely manner; reliable transportation is necessary. This position may require occasional evening and/or weekend work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, radio/television broadcasting, web/digital media, or a related field.
• One (1) year (12 months) of professional work experience in public relations, journalism, social media communications, newspaper reporting, radio/television broadcasting with emphasis on production, or web/digital media.
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural research, agricultural outreach and/or agricultural extension.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS degree in agricultural sciences, agricultural communications or marketing, agricultural business, agricultural engineering, environmental studies or sustainability, environmental engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with on-farm research and/or outreach on nutrient management and agronomy.
• Experience with planning educational events (e.g., field days, workshops).
• Experience with graphic design and video editing programs, including webinar skills.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and delivering research presentations to non-scientific audiences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Familiarity with US Midwest agricultural systems and stakeholder organizations.
• Fami