Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs

The BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona is seeking an experienced Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs who will be responsible for advancing the brand impact of an interdisciplinary, translational research institute with almost 400 members spanning 75 departments, centers, and institutes across the university. Reporting directly to the BIO5 Institute Director, this person will lead efforts to successfully amplify BIO5's research, innovation, education, outreach, and engagement missions to a variety of stakeholder groups. The ideal candidate will have experience leading a diverse team of professionals and developing and managing a comprehensive internal and external marketing communications and engagement strategy that will translate to the elevation of BIO5's brand, people, initiatives, and impact.

The BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona brings together world-class researchers and innovators from five core disciplines - agriculture, engineering, medicine, pharmacy and science - to collaborate for the purpose of solving today's most complex and critical problems, including:
How to prevent, treat and ultimately cure diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. How to address the growing environmental concerns threatening our planet. How to ensure food security and nourish an expanding global population.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

Leadership:

• Serve as BIO5's chief communications officer and lead spokesperson. Provide strategic counsel to the director/executive leadership. Liaison to advisory boards.
• Actively contribute to the executive leadership team to ensure cross-unit alignment, informed decision-making, and a unified culture of excellence.
• Lead a cross-functional team of professionals and student staff, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and operational oversight in communications, marketing, creative services, events, and community engagement.
• Provide visionary leadership by building strong relationships, developing strategy, driving execution, and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Develop and elevate the BIO5 brand to educate, advocate, build trust, increase visibility/funding, influence public policy and support interdisciplinary research.
• Develop and implement large-scale, brand-aligned programming that strengthens ties with the communities we serve, including speaking engagements, public/VIP tours, conferences/workshops, public engagement events, presentations, and internship/training programs.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders across the university and beyond, including campus leaders, faculty, media, government and industry partners, donors, and advisory board members.
• Review and advise on annual operational budgets, payroll planning, and resource allocation to align with communications and engagement priorities.

Communications and Marketing:

• Develop & successfully execute comprehensive marketing/communications plans with specific goals, strategies and tactics that align with U of A, ORP and BIO5.
• Oversee efforts to articulate and disseminate the value, impact, and translational outcomes of scientific research to diverse audiences through tailored messaging.
• Lead efforts to communicate the value and impact of scientific research to policymakers, funders, and taxpayers, while highlighting societal benefits and ROI.
• Direct the creation of content across multiple platforms, including executive communications, speeches, publications, reports, campaigns and storytelling.
• Define and write content needed for presentations, scripts, talking points, articles, reports, marketing/promotion collateral, and executive communications.

Strategic Engagement:

• Nurture relationships with internal/external stakeholders, including BIO5 faculty, press, community & economic development leaders, industry statewide, through participation in boards, committees and other strategic engagements.
• Work with the appropriate U of A central offices to promote BIO5 to federal and state representatives through government relations.
• Promote BIO5's strategic partnerships and community awareness of events and programs. Foster community relations.

Additional duties may be assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Superior writing, editing, communication, and presentation skills
• Broad and substantive knowledge of internal/external marketing/communications strategies and practical approaches to execution
• Expertise in cohesive and layered branding, design, and messaging
• Proven success in establishing and effectively managing key relationships
• Demonstrated ability to write and translate complex scientific concepts into understandable communications across multi-channel platforms (news, web, digital, print, social, presentation, etc)
• Working knowledge of how target audiences consume content today and nuances of different distribution platforms
• Capability to manage multiple projects, processes, and deadlines simultaneously
• Knowledge of social, digital, email, and web communications best practices and trends for successfully engaging online audiences
• Ability to balance user interest with organizational goals
• Ability to work collaboratively and enthusiastically as a member of a diverse, professional team, fulfilling obligations to other team members, being positive and supportive of others, and complying with policies, procedures, and goals of the team
• Track record of personal and professional integrity with a work style that promotes creativity, teamwork, and strategic thinking
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and embrace ambiguity and flexibility, a culture of results-driven high performance, continuous improvement, and commitment to quality
• Advanced knowledge and expertise of theories, concepts, principles, and practices in a multi-faceted professional discipline and team leadership.
• Proven leadership skills in higher education, scientific, corporate, industry, or science non-profit settings
• Requires advanced knowledge and expertise of theories, concepts, principles, and practices in a multi-faceted professional discipline and team leadership.
• Highly articulate and engaging communicator, both verbal and written, with experience in writing clear, compelling, inclusive content.
• Intuitive understanding of the complexity, challenges, and opportunities of an academic research environment
• Familiarity and/or comfort interpreting complex technical/scientific language and translating to a public audience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• 7 years of related work experience, including 3 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Management and supervisory experience.
• Experience working in a setting with changing priorities and an evolving list of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in building relationships and communicating with stakeholders at all levels of an organization.
• Advanced degree in communications, business, science, engineering, or related field.
• Experience in leading organizational strategic marketing communications.
• Experience in responding quickly and effectively to challenges, crises, and dynamic environments.