Communications Associate
Job Description
The communicator is responsible for telling the story of the VSAREC to a local, state, and international audience by writing articles and contributing to the VT news, social media, websites, CALS and VT publications, and other outlets.
Working collaboratively with VSAREC faculty and the Virginia Tech communications and marketing team, this person will produce and supply content to be used on the web and social media channels to tell the story of VSAREC researchers and actively pitch those stories to the media.
This person will also assist with updating and managing content for the VSAREC website.
Similarly, the communicator will find and report on stories that show the breadth and impact of VSAREC programs that will be used on the web, in magazines, and on social media.
The communicator will collaborate with the Virginia Tech communications and marketing team to ensure a steady stream of content is being provided for web and social media updates. This person will also collaborate with VSAREC partners and project sponsors, such as Virginia Sea Grant and the Center for Coastal Studies, to support outreach and dissemination of project deliverables and outputs.
This position will report to the Assistant Director and Director of the VSAREC and will be located at the VSAREC in Hampton, Virginia.
Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.
Required Qualifications
• Experience working in communications, public relations, journalism or related field
• A degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or equivalent experience
• Experience writing about scientific issues for non-scientific audiences
• Experience writing and producing public-facing content
• Editing experience
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working with the media to get stories before a wider audience
• Experience collaborating with a larger communications team to ensure messages are reiterated and carried across various channels
• Experience in higher education
• Working knowledge of aquaculture and fisheries
• Working knowledge of Virginia Cooperative Extension and 4-H
Pay Band
4
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
Commensurate with Experience
Review Date
November 13, 2020
Additional Information
The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jonathan van Senten at jonat86@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.