"Associate Director of Communications"

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

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (on campus a minimum of 3 days a week), subject to operational need.

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.

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.

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented communications professional writer who excels at transforming complex technical and scientific content into engaging narratives for a variety of audiences. The ideal candidate will have strong writing and multimedia skills, enabling them to create compelling articles, manage media inquiries, and produce visual content that resonates across multiple platforms. This position requires collaboration with faculty to identify storytelling opportunities rooted in research and public interest. A proactive approach to cultivating relationships and fostering communication within the academic community is essential, making this an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about showcasing knowledge and impact in a vibrant educational environment.

Your Responsibilities will include

• Collaborate with faculty to distill complex technical and scientific materials into clear, accessible content for diverse audiences, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
• Compose, revise, and obtain approvals for a diverse range of research news articles and school pieces on a monthly basis, while also working on more in-depth feature stories over a longer timeframe.
• Manage incoming media inquiries, coordinating with faculty to prepare for and schedule interviews.
• Use multimedia skills, including basic video production and data visualization, to enhance communication efforts.
• Work collaboratively with campus communicators to attend and cover events and share insights across various platforms.
• Oversee the content of the monthly newsletter, ensuring timely and relevant information is shared with stakeholders.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on monthly metrics to evaluate communication effectiveness.
• Identify compelling storytelling opportunities that align with faculty research and address public interests and current news cycles.
• Partner with the communications and marketing team to brainstorm innovative methods for showcasing the school's knowledge, impact, and community across multiple channels.
• Build and maintain trustful relationships with faculty and campus communicators to foster effective collaboration and communication.
• Oversee freelance writers and student staff.

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 eight years of relevant work experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• Proven success in writing for publication in print, web, and other platforms.
• Excellent writing, interpersonal, and oral communication skills with proven ability to present, write, edit, and organize thoughts in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner.
• Ability to understand complex materials and synthesize across multiple sources to produce materials for diverse audiences.
• Ability to adapt voice and writing style to fit a particular audience and purpose.
• Firm understanding of web technologies and applications, including social networking, social media tools, and current communication trends.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and able to interact effectively with a diverse array of people, including senior leaders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee all aspects of the writing process.
• Demonstrated advanced writing skills and the ability to synthesize materials from multiple sources.
• Extensive experience managing and coordinating complex writing projects.
• Expert level knowledge of job-required tools and applications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and apply ingenuity and creativity in solving complex problems.

In addition, our preferred qualifications include:

• Proven expertise in technical science writing, with a portfolio that demonstrates the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear and accessible content.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including researchers, engineers, and faculty, to create compelling content.
• Previous experience in writing related to the field of sustainability is a plus.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

The expected pay range for this position is $127,798 to $153,579 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 (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) 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

We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.