Senior Communication Scientist (Remote)

RTI’s Communication Practice Area seeks a Senior Communication Scientist. RTI is a non-profit, mission-driven organization that tackles critical problems in health, environment, education, justice and equity. 

RTI’s Communication Practice Area work on behalf of domestic, public sector clients to research, design, deliver and evaluate evidence-based solutions to address real-world challenges across the domains of health, education, justice and climate. Our communication scientists and strategists work across the communication lifecycle, conducting research to understand an audience’s information needs and engaging communities for whom key messages are intended. Using human-centered design and plain language principles, we develop communication messages and products that help people make everyday decisions. As leaders in evaluation, we help our clients assess the delivery and impact of communication efforts.  With expertise in all quantitative and qualitative methods, we design rigorous, comprehensive evaluations that focus on measuring key outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, and informed decision-making.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated communication research scientist to continue building a portfolio of project work, mentoring and developing staff, representing RTI externally at conferences and professional meetings, and disseminating the team’s work through peer-reviewed publications and through other mechanisms. Success in this role requires demonstrated experience successfully leading large-scale, complex proposals and projects, including designing and implementing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research studies and evaluations and working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams. This person will be a thinker and a doer, who takes initiative; values research and evidence while also embracing innovative methods, processes and approaches to solve complex problems.  This position can be based in any RTI office, hybrid or remote.

Responsibilities to include, but not be limited to:

• Leading proposals focused on communication science in the areas of public health, climate, education, justice and equity
• Serving as Project Director or Principal Investigator on projects focused on communication science  
• Mentoring and developing junior and mid-level staff
• Disseminating our work, including but not limited to publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at professional meetings and conferences.
• Communicating effectively with multidisciplinary team members (e.g., researchers, designers, developers, writers, subject matter experts) to successfully manage proposal and project activities
• Additional duties identified in collaboration with supervisor

• Bachelor's Degree and 15 years of experience, Master's degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Degree in Communication, Public Health, Education or related field.
• Proven success leading complex, large-scale proposals and securing contracts or grant funding from domestic, public sector clients, including federal agencies (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA, NSF).
• Proven success managing large-scale, complex projects and working closely with clients to ensure that contractual requirements (deliverables, timelines and budget) and client expectations are met using the highest standards of quality and collegiality.
• Experience managing project teams of senior, mid-level, and junior staff, and bringing in expert consultants and/or subcontractors as needed, to meet client expectations and contractual requirements, including the financial and administrative aspects of ongoing projects.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise reports and presentations of complex data and concepts for professional and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership in contributing to communication, behavioral science, public health or education related literature and mentoring of team members in developing scientific stature.
• Excellent oral communication skills, including negotiation, compromise and building consensus within and between groups.
• Approaches situations with a growth mindset.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require now, or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

Desired Skills or Experience (one or more):

• Intersection of communication science and strategy with responsible generative artificial intelligence (AI)
• Developing and implementing successful communication strategies for multicultural or bilingual audiences
• Contract research environment
• Please include a cover letter in your application.  You can include the cover letter and the resume in the same document. 

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For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Salary : $162,000 - $200,000