"Associate Director of Communications - Center for Ocean Solutions and Sustainability Accelerator"

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

This is a fixed-term position ending 8/31/26, with the possibility of renewal dependent on programmatic need and budgetary availability.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Job Summary

• DATE POSTED: 21 hours ago
• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 4263
• Employee Status: Fixed-Term
• Grade: I
• Requisition ID: 107953
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. The Woods Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) catalyzes research innovation and action to improve the health of the oceans for the people who depend on them the most. The Sustainability Accelerator serves as a launchpad for sustainability solutions, turning innovative ideas into transformative and scalable technologies and policies that will substantially improve the quality of human life and our planet.

The Associate Director of Communications - Center for Ocean Solutions and Sustainability Accelerator will play a pivotal role in supporting and enhancing all aspects of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) and the Sustainability Accelerator's communications efforts. This role requires a strategic thinker with a passion for storytelling and the ability to craft compelling narratives across various platforms, including print, web, video, and social media. The Associate Director of Communications - Center for Ocean Solutions and Sustainability Accelerator will report to the Director and collaborate with COS and Accelerator leadership to develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy.

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Build on existing work to a comprehensive communications strategy in collaboration with Accelerator leadership and SDSS Communications.
• Create, curate, and manage content for The Accelerator’s website, ensuring it is up-to-date, engaging, and aligned with our branding.
• Produce compelling stories and case studies that highlight the success and impact of our programs and projects.
• Oversee the production of high-quality videos that showcase Accelerator's initiatives, events, and success stories.
• Develop and execute social media strategies to increase brand awareness, engagement, and reach across various platforms.
• Work with the Accelerator team, and SDSS and Stanford University Communications to ensure consistent and cohesive messaging.
• Design and implement overall COS communications strategy including identification of audiences, key overall messaging for the Center and each initiative.
• Ensure engagement strategies for key projects align with the Center's communications strategy.
• Hire and oversee vendors to create programmatic communication deliverables and develop strategic communication plans for distributing those deliverables to key audiences.
• Supervise routine content creation (e.g., website updates, social media, quarterly newsletter).
• Design and implement social media and web strategies, including identifying benchmarks and formulating social-specific messages.
• Develop and execute stories (e.g., news releases, feature and multimedia stories, and social media packages) about COS research and partnerships.
• Provide public relations support to researchers and develop media relations strategies around key events or major publications.
• Collaborate with communications teams at the Woods Institute and the Doerr School to coordinate Center media strategies and distribute stories across institute and school channels.

* - The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.*

To be successful in this position, you will need:

• Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Excellent written communication skills, reporting skills, and advanced skills in conceptual editing, copy editing, and proof reading.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal communications groups across campus.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working with a variety of people.
• Capacity to write and synthesize materials and communicate information in a manner easily understood.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.*

Pay Range

The expected pay range for this position is $118,806 to $134,486 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

How to Apply

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