Director, Communications

Job Description Summary

The Director of Communications for RELLIS leads day-to-day communications efforts that support awareness, visibility, stakeholder engagement, and information sharing across the RELLIS ecosystem. This position serves as the central communications coordination point for RELLIS administration and works collaboratively with agencies, institutions, communicators, and System stakeholders located at or connected to RELLIS to help communicate campus activity, partnerships, research initiatives, workforce development efforts, events, and strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Communications and Content Development (30%): Develop, write, edit, and distribute communications materials including press releases, feature stories, newsletters, media announcements, talking points, stakeholder communications, and other written content supporting RELLIS initiatives and activities. Identify and develop stories that highlight RELLIS activity across five priority content focus areas: transportation and logistics; national security and defense; energy production and reliability; quantum and digital infrastructure; and education and workforce development. Maintain an editorial calendar that ensures regular coverage of RELLIS's five content focus areas while also supporting timely announcements, events, partnerships, and leadership priorities. Support executive communications and messaging needs for RELLIS leadership, as appropriate. Maintain recurring communications products and processes, including monthly newsletters, announcements, and editorial calendars.

• Digital and Social Media Communications (25%): Manage and update RELLIS digital communications channels including website content, social media platforms, and other digital communications tools. Develop and publish social media content that increases awareness and visibility of RELLIS activities and initiatives. Coordinate digital content updates, monitor communications activity, and recommend improvements to strengthen audience engagement and visibility. Support photography, video, and multimedia coordination efforts as needed.

• Stakeholder Coordination and Relationship Management (25%): Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with agencies, institutions, communicators, and stakeholders across the RELLIS ecosystem. Establish recurring communications coordination processes to gather updates, announcements, events, and story opportunities from organizations operating at RELLIS. Help improve information flow, coordination, and communications visibility across agencies and stakeholders connected to the campus. Coordinate with System Office communications staff and external partners as appropriate to support communications alignment and amplification.

• Strategic Communications Support (15%): Support communications efforts that help increase awareness and understanding of RELLIS capabilities, initiatives, partnerships, and strategic priorities. Assist with communications planning and support for campus events, announcements, visits, and special initiatives. Help ensure communications activities support a consistent and professional representation of RELLIS.

• Other Duties as Assigned (5%): Support additional communications, stakeholder engagement, administrative, event support, or special project activities as assigned to support RELLIS operations and priorities. Assist with emerging communications needs, leadership requests, campus initiatives, and time-sensitive projects in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, English, or a related field.

• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing communications, digital communications, or related fields.

• Experience developing communications content for websites, newsletters, press releases, social media, or stakeholder communications.

• Experience coordinating communications activities across multiple stakeholders, departments, organizations, or teams.

• Experience managing digital communications platforms, websites, or social media channels.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple communications formats and platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and execute projects with minimal oversight.

• Knowledge of communications, public relations, media relations, digital communications, and content development principles.

• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, technical experts, communicators, external stakeholders, and diverse audiences.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, project management, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to identify communications opportunities and proactively develop content and messaging solutions.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.

• Ability to work collaboratively across organizations while maintaining initiative and independent execution.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion in communications activities.

• Ability to multi-task and cooperatively work with others.