What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Specialist II position at Allen Institute?
Communications Specialist II - Communications (Administration)
The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science
The mission of the Allen Institute administration team is to provide support and structure to the scientific divisions. Coinciding with the team science approach, administration helps facilitate team learning and the institutes overall mission.
The Allen Institute seeks a creative and curious Communications Specialist to join the Communications team. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Communications and Media Relations, this role collaborates with stakeholders across the Institute and throughout the world of bioscience. The Communications Specialist is responsible for producing and editing a wide variety of content pieces across multiple channels, and in multiple formats, to showcase the scientific impact of the Institute, its partners, and collaborators. The ideal candidate is a versatile storyteller able to distill complex science into an accessible, lay-friendly narrative format using a full range of multimedia.
The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences, and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.
Essential Functions
- Serve as the Allen Institutes lead storyteller, enterprising and sourcing original news stories and features that highlight research discoveries, breakthroughs, trends, and milestones
- Accurately distill, translate, and communicate complex scientific studies, concepts and methods to a variety of audiences, including researchers, donors, and the general public, and in a variety of formats, including written content, video, and audio
- Research, develop, and produce multiple types of written content including press releases, news stories, fact sheets, presentations, and more
- Serve as the co-producer for the Allen Institutes podcast, Lab Notes
- Produce multimedia-first storytelling such as photo essays and multiscroll stories
- Provide input and guidance on Institute-wide editorial content
- Work with stakeholders at all levels to develop key messages and messaging frameworks for scientific studies, milestones, initiatives, program launches and other announcements
- Assist with the production of Institute publications and collaterals. Includes drafting, editing and working with stakeholders to finalize all content for newsletters, annual reports, fact sheets and other collateral
- Collaborate with colleagues on storyboarding, writing, and co-producing video content
- Engage and collaborate with external science writers
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of degree and experience
- 1 year of writing or journalism experience
- Comfort with multimedia storytelling incorporating images, video, and sound into compelling narratives
- Comfort with photography and basic video shooting and editing skills
Preferred Education, Experience, and Qualities
- 3 years of relevant experience in writing and multimedia content production
- 3 years journalism experience
- 1-2 years experience writing about science, medicine, and/or technology for a variety of audiences
- Positive, solutions-orient attitude with an ability to work well in collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments
- Strong work ethic, sense of urgency and self-motivation, with the ability to manage multiple projects and work independently and as part of a team. Strong project management skills
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud
- Proficiency in WordPress or other CMS platforms
- Experience with podcasting or audio production software, especially Logic Pro
- Versatile storytelling skills able to easily shift strategies and approaches based on content type
- Ability to oversee complex writing projects and synthesize input from multiple stakeholders
Physical Demands
- Occasional lifting to 30 pounds
- Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment; repetitive motion with lab equipment
- Standing and sitting for extended periods of time
- Push/pull up to 50 pounds (pushing a cart)
- Stooping, bending, crouching
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
- Occasional evening and weekend hours required
- This role is currently able to work in a hybrid work environment, working both remotely AND onsite (3 days a week); any remote work must be performed in Washington State.
Travel
- Travel, attendance and Allen Institute representation at relevant national and international conferences with storytelling opportunities required
- Travel as required, up to 5%
Annualized Salary Range
- $74,900 - $100,925*
* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.
Benefits
Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institutes 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institutes benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.
It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Salary : $74,900 - $100,925
