Head of EMBO Communications

at  European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Administration
EMBL Heidelberg
EMBO is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. We fund talented researchers at all career stages, facilitate scientific exchanges through high-quality academic publishing, conferences, and lectures, and foster a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.
Our diverse international team of approximately 60 members hails from various countries, personal backgrounds, and professional fields, collaborating closely to further our mission. EMBO is located on the international EMBL life sciences research campus in Heidelberg, Germany.
Your role
You will lead the EMBO Communications team and be responsible for the development and execution of the EMBO communications strategy. You will work closely with the EMBO Programmes and teams, as well as EMBO Press (publishing) and EMBO Solutions (training) to advise and support them in their communications and marketing activities. Your target audiences will include life science researchers at various career levels in Europe and beyond, as well as life science funders and policymakers.
You will report to the EMBO Director and have line management responsibility for a small professional team of writers, designers, website developers and freelancers. We are looking for an experienced colleague who is driven, results-oriented and highly skilled at managing and driving communications-

You have

• Proven expertise in communications and reputation management, ideally in the communications or PR department of an (international) scientific institute, scientific academy, research funder, or other science-adjacent organization;
• A successful track record of both leading and working in a team;
• Proven expertise in deploying modern communications tools and strategies, including websites, blogs, podcasts, and social media;
• Demonstrable capacity to plan, manage and execute a complex range of activities and projects to tight deadlines in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment while keeping track of the overall picture and being able to delegate responsibilities;
• Native-level written and oral English language skills.

You might also have

• A degree in the life sciences, potentially at PhD level, and broad understanding of the field;
• Additional language skills in German.

Why join us
Promote the life sciences
At EMBO, you can contribute significantly to the advancement of life sciences in Europe and beyond. Your work will enable talented scientists to do great research and create an environment that enables their success.
Join a professional working environment
EMBO values diversity and is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer. We cultivate a work environment where employees are valued and empowered to excel professionally.
Our offices are located on the EMBL campus in Heidelberg, Germany, which is home to over 1,000 employees from around the world. The campus has an on-site nursery, subsidized canteen and cafeteria, as well as clubs for social activities and sports.
Heidelberg, with a population of around 160,000 people, is an international university city and research hub. It is attractively located between the Rhine River and the Odenwald, a low mountain range that offers a wide range of outdoor activities. The city has good national and international travel connections.
Enjoy attractive employee benefits

EMBO provides competitive compensation and benefits suitable for an international research organization, including:

• Competitive salary with transparent annual reviews
• Family and child allowances
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for you and your immediate family
• Retirement benefits, accident insurance, death benefits, and unemployment insurance
• Flexible work arrangements, including hybrid options
• 30 days of paid annual leave plus public holidays
• Opportunities for professional development and training, as well as subsidized language courses for integration purposes (depending on eligibility criteria)
• Depending on eligibility criteria: non-resident allowance, education grant, home leave, travel grant, and relocation package, including installation grant.

What else you need to know
Contract duration
EMBO offers a fixed-term contract of five years for this position, issued through the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Contracts can be extended up to a maximum of nine years in total, subject to circumstances at the time of the review.
International applicants
EMBO and EMBL welcome applications from candidates worldwide. Due to EMBL’s intergovernmental status, a working visa is not required. However, depending on your nationality, an entry visa may be necessary. Once in Germany, we will assist you with registration and documentation processes, and you will receive a special permit (Sonderausweis), allowing you to work at EMBO, live in Germany and travel within the Schengen area. Family members accompanying you will also receive necessary permits.
How to apply
Please apply online through www.embl.org/jobs. Your application should include a cover letter, CV/resume, two to three examples of your latest work (which can be any communications output) and contact details of two or three referees. Candidates selected for interviews will usually be notified within two weeks of the closing date. The interview process includes an online pre-interview and an in-person panel assessment day for shortlisted candidates.
Pre-interviews for this role will be carried out on a rolling basis during and shortly after the advertising period, with in-person interviews tentatively set for either the week commencing 9 July or 22 July.
EMBO is committed to implementing best practices in research assessment, as reflected in our recruitment processes. We are a founding member of DORA and a member of CoARA, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment

Please refer the Job description for details