Communications Manager
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US, 23214
Duration: Full Time
Communications Manager
Benefits of working at VCU
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits here.
Job Code
13234
Recruitment Pool
All Applicants
Posting Number
req8082
Unit
VP Research MBU
Department
Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation - CCTR
Department Website Link
https://cctr.vcu.edu/
Location
VCU
Address
907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
Duties & Responsibilities
VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
VCU is a public research university UNLIKE any other. We're dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients and our passionate community isn't afraid to tackle difficult challenges others can't, or won't. We're home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities.
VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) invites all interested candidates to apply for our exciting Communications Manager position. CCTR accelerates the science that promotes healthy communities. It provides the commonwealth with infrastructure and resources that promote interdisciplinary human health research. As the first federally funded clinical and translational research center in Virginia, the Wright Center fosters research collaborations across the state and accelerates the translation of scientific discoveries to patient care.
All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/
Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities:
The Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research at VCU seeks a skilled Communications Manager to serve as its lead storyteller and strategic communicator. As the sole communications professional in the Center, this role will lead efforts to communicate the Wright Center'sscientific discoveries, community engagement, and translational research in ways that resonate with externalaudiences-especially policymakers, funders, and the general public. The Communications Manager will use Wright Center communication assets for storytelling, supported by strategic use of social media, newsletters, blog, and the website.
Core Responsibilities and Duties:
Strategic Communications and Impact Storytelling- 3S%Identify and write compelling stories that showcase the Wright Center's contributions to public health, scientific discovery, and translational science.
Publish blogcontent tailored to internal and external audiences, especially
policymakers and funders.
Translate technical/scientific content into accessible, engaging narratives.
Content Development and Editorial Oversight- 25%
Serve as the primary writer and editor for blog posts, newsletters, social media, and print materials.
Maintain an editorial calendar aligned with grant milestones, institutional campaigns, and key events.
Draft executive-level communications for Wright Center leadership.
Digital Media and Online Engagement- 20%Manage and update the Wright Center website and ensure content reflects current initiatives and programs.
Oversee social media presence (Facebook and LinkedIn), including strategy, posting, and engagement tracking.
Ensure compliance with accessibility, branding, and usability standards.
Newsletter and Outreach Campaigns-10%
Produce and distribute the Wright Center's bi-weekly newsletter.
Use social media and email to drive engagement with blog content and the website.
Monitor performance metrics to refine outreach strategies.
Cross-Institutional Collaboration and Media Relations -10%
Coordinate with OVPRI and VCU University Relations to align messaging and strategy.
Pitch content to internal and external media channels.
Support visibility efforts related to grant impact and public outreach.
Work Environment and ScheduleThis is a full-time,12-month position based at the MCV Campus with hybrid work flexibility. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support events or meet communications deadlines. Some in-state travel may be necessary for interviews or coverage of outreach activities.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, public health, or a related field.
At least 3 years of professional experience in science, health, or public-facing communications.
Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into accessible content.
Experience managing blogs, websites, newsletters, and social media
platforms.
Strong editorial judgment, project management, and organizational skills
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering anenvironment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population offaculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or acommitment to do so as a faculty/staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in science communication, public policy, or a health-related field.
5+ years of communications experience in higher education, research, nonprofit, or public service sectors.
Experience communicating about NIH-funded research or translational science.
Proficiency in WordPress,Constant Contact, Canva, Google Analytics or similarapplications.
Familiarity with federal research policy and legislative communications.
FLSA
University Employee
Job FTE
1.0
Exemption Status
Exempt
Restricted Position
Yes
E-Class
UF - University Employee FT
Job Category
University Employee
ORP Eligible
No
Salary Range
65,000 - 85,000 based on experience
Compensation Type
Salaried
Target Hire Date
10/1/2025
Contact Information for Candidates
Documents Needed to Apply
resume and letter of interest
Benefits of working at VCU
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits here.
Job Code
13234
Recruitment Pool
All Applicants
Posting Number
req8082
Unit
VP Research MBU
Department
Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation - CCTR
Department Website Link
https://cctr.vcu.edu/
Location
VCU
Address
907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
Duties & Responsibilities
VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
VCU is a public research university UNLIKE any other. We're dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients and our passionate community isn't afraid to tackle difficult challenges others can't, or won't. We're home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities.
VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) invites all interested candidates to apply for our exciting Communications Manager position. CCTR accelerates the science that promotes healthy communities. It provides the commonwealth with infrastructure and resources that promote interdisciplinary human health research. As the first federally funded clinical and translational research center in Virginia, the Wright Center fosters research collaborations across the state and accelerates the translation of scientific discoveries to patient care.
All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/
Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities:
The Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research at VCU seeks a skilled Communications Manager to serve as its lead storyteller and strategic communicator. As the sole communications professional in the Center, this role will lead efforts to communicate the Wright Center'sscientific discoveries, community engagement, and translational research in ways that resonate with externalaudiences-especially policymakers, funders, and the general public. The Communications Manager will use Wright Center communication assets for storytelling, supported by strategic use of social media, newsletters, blog, and the website.
Core Responsibilities and Duties:
Strategic Communications and Impact Storytelling- 3S%Identify and write compelling stories that showcase the Wright Center's contributions to public health, scientific discovery, and translational science.
Publish blogcontent tailored to internal and external audiences, especially
policymakers and funders.
Translate technical/scientific content into accessible, engaging narratives.
Content Development and Editorial Oversight- 25%
Serve as the primary writer and editor for blog posts, newsletters, social media, and print materials.
Maintain an editorial calendar aligned with grant milestones, institutional campaigns, and key events.
Draft executive-level communications for Wright Center leadership.
Digital Media and Online Engagement- 20%Manage and update the Wright Center website and ensure content reflects current initiatives and programs.
Oversee social media presence (Facebook and LinkedIn), including strategy, posting, and engagement tracking.
Ensure compliance with accessibility, branding, and usability standards.
Newsletter and Outreach Campaigns-10%
Produce and distribute the Wright Center's bi-weekly newsletter.
Use social media and email to drive engagement with blog content and the website.
Monitor performance metrics to refine outreach strategies.
Cross-Institutional Collaboration and Media Relations -10%
Coordinate with OVPRI and VCU University Relations to align messaging and strategy.
Pitch content to internal and external media channels.
Support visibility efforts related to grant impact and public outreach.
Work Environment and ScheduleThis is a full-time,12-month position based at the MCV Campus with hybrid work flexibility. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support events or meet communications deadlines. Some in-state travel may be necessary for interviews or coverage of outreach activities.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, public health, or a related field.
At least 3 years of professional experience in science, health, or public-facing communications.
Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into accessible content.
Experience managing blogs, websites, newsletters, and social media
platforms.
Strong editorial judgment, project management, and organizational skills
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering anenvironment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population offaculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or acommitment to do so as a faculty/staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in science communication, public policy, or a health-related field.
5+ years of communications experience in higher education, research, nonprofit, or public service sectors.
Experience communicating about NIH-funded research or translational science.
Proficiency in WordPress,Constant Contact, Canva, Google Analytics or similarapplications.
Familiarity with federal research policy and legislative communications.
FLSA
University Employee
Job FTE
1.0
Exemption Status
Exempt
Restricted Position
Yes
E-Class
UF - University Employee FT
Job Category
University Employee
ORP Eligible
No
Salary Range
65,000 - 85,000 based on experience
Compensation Type
Salaried
Target Hire Date
10/1/2025
Contact Information for Candidates
Documents Needed to Apply
resume and letter of interest