Assistant Director for Communications

Job Summary

The mission of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is to advance the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. To pursue that mission, the school produces knowledge through research then translates this knowledge into evidence that can be communicated to the public, policymakers, and practitioners to advance the health of populations.

The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, a school-wide center at the Harvard Chan School (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE), puts health and equity at the center of climate actions by making climate change personal, highlighting solutions, and emphasizing the important role we all play in driving change. Harvard Chan C-CHANGE’s mission is to translate innovative research from faculty and students across the school through communications and outreach to help decision-makers understand the health consequences of our addiction to fossil fuels and shape the policies that lead to more just, sustainable, and healthier lives.

The Assistant Director for Communications brings to life the vision of the Center, conveys its distinctiveness as a leader on climate and health, and builds the reputation of the Chan School’s work on climate change, leveraging the excellence of its individual programs and the power of the collective Chan School portfolio. The Assistant Director for Communications plays a key role on the senior leadership team and is responsible for leading the Center's overall communications to key audiences both internally and externally to advance the Center’s mission. The role includes media relations, marketing, digital media, resource dissemination, and brand development, including close work with donors and partners. Internally, the Assistant Director works in close collaboration with institutional partners, such as the Office of Communications, the Center for Health Communication, and the Office of External Relations.

This position requires a creative and strategic communications professional with superior media relations skills and a fluent knowledge of the public policy issues at the core of the Center’s mission. The successful candidate will bring a proactive mind to the challenge of building the Center’s brand, along with a commitment to our mission and strong team culture. The Assistant Director for Communications will have excellent writing and relationship-building skills and be able – by example - to lead and inspire a small and talented team. The person will thrive in a fast-paced work environment and produce excellent work under pressure.

Position Description

Specific responsibilities and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop and implement multifaceted, strategic communications, media relations, and social media plans to increase awareness of the health impacts of climate change and how climate actions can improve equity by elevating the work of the leadership team, fellows, and researchers at the Center and across the Chan School; Create meaningful metrics and measure impact/progress toward those goals
• Support donor relations and fundraising efforts for the leadership and research team, as well as priority projects to increase the Center’s financial stability and visibility across the Chan School.
• Manage the communications team and work closely with the Center’s leadership team.
• Serve as the main point of contact for press requests for the Center, coordinating interviews, statements and speaking opportunities.
• Develop talking points and speechwriting as needed.
• Provide recommendations and assistance to faculty across the Chan School, helping translate science documents, research, and surveys, etc. into understandable language that can be used to highlight their work.
• Design systematic, start-to-finish processes to produce high-quality, creative, effective publications, videos, web content, social media, newsletters and more
• Plan and lead key events to extend the reach of the Center's mission and work to engage broader and more diverse audiences.
• Build relationships across the University to foster collaboration and joint communications and events planning
• Advance our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, by framing the communications produced and disseminated by the Center through a racial equity lens
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned

PLEASE NOTE: This position has a term appointment of June 30, 2023 with the strong possibility for extension.

PLEASE NOTE: The primary work location for this position is Boston, MA and in order to be on Harvard payroll, you must reside in one of the following states – MA, NH, RI, ME, CT, VT, NY, MD, or CA. We are also working primarily remotely at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Until our return to campus, this interview process and position will be conducted virtually – including virtual interviews, remote onboarding, and remote work. This position has the potential to remain primarily remote, or to shift to local, on-campus work once the School and this role return to an operational status that supports it.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience is required
• 5+ years of related experience required

Additional Qualifications and Skills

The following job-specific skills and competencies are preferred:

• Experience overseeing communications functions in a complex or decentralized setting
• Supervisory Experience
• Experience developing and implementing communications plans, managing direct and indirect reports, and overseeing communications budgets
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, creativity, responsiveness, active listening, sound judgment, persuasiveness, and the ability to convene and lead by influence respectfully and collaboratively
• Advanced digital skills and social media understanding; fluent in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint
• Strong Zoom competency
• Proven experience managing digital content strategies
• A track record of established media relations work
• Understanding of copywriting, graphic design, layout, and publishing
• Familiarity with social media platforms and email marketing
• Impeccable copywriting and copyediting abilities
• Experience and skill with Canva and WordPress strongly preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills, self-motivated, strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Experience prioritizing and managing multiple deadlines
• Experience managing projects from inception through completion
• Demonstrated experience problem solving independently
• A conviction to the Center's overarching mission preferred

The following cultural competencies are also preferred:

• Awareness of and aptitude to appropriately and effectively understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based difference within group environments
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Skills related to creating and supporting an environment that allows for inclusion, effective intercultural engagement, and personal humility and authenticity
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, backgrounds, and goals

Additional Information

Harvard University offers an outstanding benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3-4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 12+ paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: Excellent and affordable medical, dental & vision plans, with coverage beginning as of an employee's start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement Programs: $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School, discounted options through participating Harvard graduate schools, and reimbursement options for accredited schools outside of Harvard.
• Transportation: 50% discount on MBTA passes, as well as additional options (rideshare, biking, etc.) to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness & Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, hard & soft skills development, career planning, massages, nutrition, meditation, and complimentary health services. Additionally, access to Harvard athletic facilities, libraries, campus events - and many discounts for various cultural and leisure activities throughout metro Boston.

Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to support our mission of health research and education, and to be a part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the country!

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• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health does not provide visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for staff positions.
• Harvard University requires pre-employment reference checks and background screenings.
• This position has a 90 day orientation and review period.

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The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage.

Job Function

Communications

Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

CM0657 Public/Media Rltn Ofr III

Sub-Unit

-

Department

Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment

Time Status

Full-time

Salary Grade

057

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Appointment End Date

30-Jun-2023

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe that diversity is integral to the Harvard experience and our mission of improving public health education, research and policy. Diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world enriches our community and enables us to best meet the public health needs of the United States and the world. Ongoing learning and development related to diversity allows for both individual and institutional growth, and is necessary to foster and sustain a culture of inclusion. To achieve this, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School. We maintain an unwavering dedication to diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core to our institutional values and to actively counter, minimize, and address racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, gender bias, and all forms of discrimination.

Learn more about the School’s mission, objectives, and core values and our diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.