Science and Research Public Relations Specialist

at  Virginia Commonwealth University

SUMMARY

The VCU’s Enterprise Marketing and Communications Division seeks a Public Relations Specialist (Research and Science) for the Monroe Park Campus.
The public relations specialist for research and science supports managing the reputation of and elevating national awareness for Virginia Commonwealth University. The position is located on VCU ’s Monroe Park Campus and specifically works with academic colleges, schools, and units across the enterprise.
VCU’s Enterprise Marketing and Communications and VCU ’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) are co-funding this position. While the public relations specialist will officially be a member of the Enterprise Marketing and Communications Public Relations D epartment, they will regularly support the OVPRI with science and research content generation and media relations.
T he public relations specialist (research and science) leads external communications about research conducted by VCU faculty and students to raise the institution’s national reputation as a place where important research is taking place.
Identifying, writing, and pitching stories to traditional, digital, and trade media outlets are key functions of this role.
The specialist identifies and tells stories of strategic relevance to the VCU enterprise on owned channels and through media outreach and develops strategic communications plans. The position also contributes to OVPRI’s strategic communications about research and discovery.
The public relations specialist establishes and maintains communication partnerships with senior leadership, researchers, and the communication directors at each school or college and OVPRI. The specialist will work closely with the MCV Campus Publ ic Relations Specialist (Research and Science). As their main point of contact to the university’s central public relations department, the role provides strategic communications counsel and identifies research news most likely to advance the institution’s national visibility for its research excellence.
As VCU’s integrated communications and marketing office, the Division of Enterprise Marketing and Public Relations is energized by diversity and inclusion and thrives on collaboration and innovation. We reflect the culture of the university and health system community in our work. We leverage the power of our institutional knowledge to deliver results, foster an equitable and supportive work environment to empower our talent and work hard to tell impactful stories about VCU and VCU Health.

Public Relations Specialist (Research and Science) responsibilities:

• Writes stories for the VCU news center about research and science activities
• Leads media outreach to local, regional, and national target outlets; responds to media inquiries and reporter inquiries
• Curates and maintains targeted media lists for news releases, pitches, and media advisories
• Proactively monitors news to identify media coverage opportunities
• Provides coverage for VCU Research and Innovation’s signature events and enterprise-level announcements, including VCU Research Weeks, the State of the Research address, and national rankings.
• Collaborates with video production, photography, design, and social media teams to produce integrated content packages for earned and owned channels
• Cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders, members of the media, researchers, VCU’s schools and colleges, campus partners and administration
• Translates complex research and science topics into easily accessible public relations materials, stories, and media pitches that engage and excite audiences
• Provides public relations guidance, strategic communications recommendations, and topical instruction to a variety of audiences, including researchers
• Analyzes the impact of our public relations strategy and makes adjustments where necessary

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer

• Writes stories for the VCU news center about research and science activities
• Leads media outreach to local, regional, and national target outlets; responds to media inquiries and reporter inquiries
• Curates and maintains targeted media lists for news releases, pitches, and media advisories
• Proactively monitors news to identify media coverage opportunities
• Provides coverage for VCU Research and Innovation’s signature events and enterprise-level announcements, including VCU Research Weeks, the State of the Research address, and national rankings.
• Collaborates with video production, photography, design, and social media teams to produce integrated content packages for earned and owned channels
• Cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders, members of the media, researchers, VCU’s schools and colleges, campus partners and administration
• Translates complex research and science topics into easily accessible public relations materials, stories, and media pitches that engage and excite audiences
• Provides public relations guidance, strategic communications recommendations, and topical instruction to a variety of audiences, including researchers
• Analyzes the impact of our public relations strategy and makes adjustments where necessar