Executive Director, Research Communications

Occupational Summary

 

The executive director of research and innovation communications is the senior touchpoint for all university-related research and innovation communications. This individual will develop a cohesive communications strategy related to the full cycle of research within Duke, from discovery to application , which also highlights Duke’s interdisciplinary work, climate commitment, and presidential priorities. This individual reports to the assistant vice president of strategic communications and editorial strategy within the central marketing and communications team, with a connection to the vice president of research.

 

Editorial Oversight

Serve as chief editor and reviewer of research, innovation, and scholarship story projects and press releases. Work with the vice provost for interdisciplinary office to identify research stories that cross departments and tell the bigger Duke research story with ties to presidential priorities and community. Convene partners from across Duke to determine stories that best fit the Duke brand story and demonstrate our excellence in interdisciplinary work. Develop stories and media packages through a variety of methods, including video, audio, visual, articles, infographics, and social. Supervise the research comms team. Provide editorial guidance and oversight that ensures stories deliver brand journalism in support of Duke. Manage writers, multimedia, and expectations for various projects. 40%

 

Strategic Planning

Develop an overarching strategy and editorial calendar to convene all research and researchers, practitioners, investors, government, think-tanks, and the media. Determine strategies for elevating and amplifying the importance research work throughout channels at Duke. Partner with colleagues in Marcomms and across the university for determining broader communications and marketing strategies. Develop a reporting method for determining engagement with research content strategies using a variety of methods including analytics, metrics/data sets and insights. 10%

 

Collaboration and Engagement

Oversee research and innovation communications across entire university from central marketing/ communications perspective. Serve as central consultant for 10+ research communicators across campus through a hub-and-spokes model to help emphasize and brand faculty research. Work closely with vice president of research on communications priorities. Serve as liaison between research department and MarComms. Lead and build relationships and coordinate efforts with several groups across campus and with Duke-Kunshan University and Duke-National University of Singapore. Establish relationships with Alumni Engagement & Development and with Government Relations. Mentor and develop the skills of the research communications team, as well as faculty, through regular meetings, training programs, workshops, and other programs. 20%

Coordinate with climate communications team and priorities for Duke’s climate efforts. 20%

 

Measurement and Impact

Work closely with media team to promote research news to outside media. Develop media plan and relationships with key players in media and influencer space for pitching research, innovation, and scholarship impact stories outside of traditional science news processes. Identify subject matter experts and train them for media. Work with social media team to boost research on Duke’s own social channels. Examine and adjust strategy according to analytics. 10%

 

Experience:

• At least 8 years’ experience as a writer and editor with clips demonstrating an ability to write material on diverse research and innovation topics in various news and feature styles.
• Experience working with digital storytelling and multimedia
• Proficiency with working within a content management system and with analytics tools
• Have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in research communications
• At least three years’ experience in a university or research institution preferred.

 

Education

Completion of a Bachelor's