Communications Specialist, New York Sea Grant
New York Sea Grant (NYSG) seeks a dynamic and high energy individual to join our team as a full time Communications Specialist for the program.
The person in this position, who will be based at Stony Brook University, will help to effectively raise awareness of the program’s efforts and impacts across the State, and enhance access by our coastal communities and partners to information, products, and tools of relevance and importance to them.
NOTES:
• Applications must be submitted to SBU via the link below by November 15, 2023, 11:59:00 PM
• Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.
• The position will be based at Stony Brook University, but support the program across the State, which requires some travel.
• Regarding telecommuting — Consistent with SBU’s current employment and telework policies, after completion of a full year of employment and a satisfactory performance review, eligibility to participate in the SBU telework program will be available and evaluated. As per SBU’s policies, employees will be expected to have a regular in-person presence at the official work location. Employees should not expect to be approved to telecommute on a full-time or near full-time basis.
Required Qualifications (Evidenced by an attached resume):
• Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Journalism, Communications, or Science related field.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience working in a communications or public relations capacity.
• Experience writing and copy-editing feature stories or other written content that aligns with the strategic objectives of an organization.
Brief Description of Duties:
• The Communications Specialist, who will report to the New York Sea Grant’s Communications Manager, will communicate research, extension, outreach, and education projects to a variety of audiences that would be reflective of NYSG’s coastal stakeholders and partners, and be able to translate that information through a diverse set of communications platforms and products. These include writing, among other things, stories for e-newsletter, press releases for media, social media posts for the general public, deliverables such as fact sheets and website content.
• The Specialist will also assist with website maintenance, including keeping content fresh and updated, and incorporating the latest technology and other communications techniques.
• The successful candidate will have knowledge of Sea Grant (can be acquired on the job).
• They will have the ability to work independently, but within the context of being a member of an integrated and collaborative NYSG team.
• The Communications Specialist will also be responsive to general program-wide communications requirements as needed and appropriate.
Communications Duties:
Support overall NYSG communications portfolio needs across all program divisions, strategic plan focus areas, and program geographies through:
Writing (e.g. science, extension, education)
• Copy editing of content and products developed by staff in all program divisions.
• Graphic design and layout (e.g. for website, infographics, other printed products).
• End-to-end product development (e.g. brochures, one pagers, program synthesis documents, videos, newsletter).
• Program reporting materials (e.g. “Impacts and Accomplishments” for NOAA Sea Grant’s – Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Resources (PIER) system. This data, which could include content related to the program’s strategic plan, projects and funding as well as project results, can be rolled up to tell a national story).
• Assist in creation and maintenance of a living communications strategic plan with input from staff, supervision from the Communications Manager and oversight from the Director.
• Serve as a point of contact for and communication support to extension, education, and outreach staff. Coordinate and assist in communication planning (e.g. outreach, products, events, swag etc.) for events/activities.
Website / Social Media
• Assist in maintaining timely and relevant NYSG website content, including stories on individual Extension Specialist pages (requires ability to work in Content Management System platforms.
• In consultation with relevant staff, develop content, distribute, and track NYSG social media postings (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/ or YouTube).
Media Relations
• In consultation with relevant staff, develop, distribute, and track NYSG press releases, stories, and news items; Solicit and facilitate media interviews for specified NYSG projects and activities.
Administrative Liaison
• Play an active role in the Sea Grant Communicators Network, working with the Communicators in other state Sea Grant programs on issues/projects of common interest and benefit; Also, collaborate to find synergies between University-wide marketing and communications efforts.
• Participate on University-wide committees and task forces to enhance visibility and reputation throughout the University and beyond.
Other duties as assigned.
Other Work-Place Skills:
• High energy and passion for the mission and activities of New York Sea Grant, a federal-state coastal science partnership program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State University of New York and Cornell University.
• An ambitious, visionary, and creative approach to communications and advancement strategies.
• Experience working with a high degree of professionalism, integrity, tact and maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive communications with discretion.
• Experience interacting with the general public as well as successfully building consensus among a large number of diverse colleagues, senior leadership, donors and outside agencies to address and resolve issues.
• Ability to be adaptive and nimble to an ever-evolving program as well as the communications landscape.
• Experience effectively multi-tasking in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment with a high degree of accuracy and organization. Experience managing complex projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to a culture of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience successfully promoting a working environment that encourages creativity, efficiency, and receptivity to change.
• Experience building long-term relationships based on trust, predictability, and communication.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication and presentation skills with a service-oriented attitude.
• Experience in communications or media relations in a higher education or a non-profit organization.
• Experience with digital communications strategies and other new media for communications.
• Experience working with researchers or in some kind of science communication capacity (e.g. Biology, Coastal Science, Marine Science, Environmental or Aquatic-related field).
• Experience using Content Management Systems or similar to assist with the update of existing and development of new web structures, pages and content.
• Understanding of effective graphic design, branding principles and marketing.
Job Number: 2303226
Official Job Title: Editor II
Job Field: Administrative & Professional (non-Clinical)
Primary Location: US-NY-Stony Brook
Department/Hiring Area: Sea Grant
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Shift Shift Hours: 8:30- 5:00
Posting Start Date: Aug 23, 2023
Posting End Date: November 15, 2023
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000
Appointment Type: Regular
Salary Grade: E4
Essential Duties
40% Communications:
• Support overall NYSG communications portfolio needs across all program divisions, strategic plan focus areas, and program geographies through:
• Writing (e.g. science, extension, education)
• Copy editing of content and products developed by staff in all program divisions
• Graphic design and layout (e.g. for website, infographics, other printed products)
• End-to-end product development (e.g. brochures, one pagers, program synthesis documents, videos, newsletter)
• Program reporting materials (e.g. “Impacts and Accomplishments” for NOAA Sea Grant’s – Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Resources (PIER) system. This data, which could include content related to the program’s strategic plan, projects and funding as well as project results, can be rolled up to tell a national story.)
• Assist in creation and maintenance of a living communications strategic plan with input from staff, supervision from the Communications Manager and oversight from the Director.
• Serve as a point of contact for and communication support to extension, education, and outreach staff. Coordinate and assist in communication planning (e.g. outreach, products, events, swag etc.) for events/activities.
35% Website / Social Media:
• Assist in maintaining timely and relevant NYSG website content, including stories on individual Extension Specialist pages (via a Content Management System-based platform).
• In consultation with relevant staff, develop content, distribute, and track NYSG social media postings (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/ or YouTube).
15% Media Relations:
• In consultation with relevant staff, develop, distribute, and track NYSG press releases, stories, and news items; Solicit and facilitate media interviews for specified NYSG projects and activities.
5% Administrative Liaison:
• Play an active role in the Sea Grant Communicators Network, working with the Communicators in other state Sea Grant programs on issues/projects of common interest and benefit; Also, collaborate to find synergies between University-wide marketing and communications efforts. Participate on University-wide committees and task forces to enhance visibility and reputation throughout the University and beyond.
NE 5% Other duties as assigned.
More Info: New York Sea Grant
New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.
Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.
Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.
The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State’s marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.
For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.
- Job Type: Staff
- Application deadline: 11/15/2023
- Organization: New York Sea Grant (NYSG)
- Qualifications: Required Qualifications (Evidenced by an attached resume): • Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Journalism, Communications, or Science related field. • Three (3) years of full-time experience working in a communications or public relations capacity. • Experience writing and copy-editing feature stories or other written content that aligns with the strategic objectives of an organization. Preferred Qualifications: • Master’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Journalism, Communications, or Science related field. • Experience with writing/editing for magazine and newsletter (paper and electronic) publications. • Experience in assisting with website and social media content. Experience with design, image and video editing software.
- How to apply: Apply on website: https://stonybrooku.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=2303226&tz=GMT-0400&tzname=AmericaNew_York
- Location: Stony Brook, NY
- Web address: https://seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/t/job-announcement-communications-specialist-news
Contact Information
Paul Focazio
paul.focazio@stonybrook.edu
nahar.16@osu.edu