Communications & Writing Specialist, Computing and Data Sciences

strategic outreach. They will be passionate about promoting interdisciplinary research and the real-world impact of data science across various fields, and will play a central role in elevating CDS to national visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and publish high-quality content showcasing CDS faculty research, student achievements, programs, and events across news, profiles, newsletters, social, ads, one-pagers, and reports.
• Collaborate with faculty and program leaders to interpret and communicate complex scientific and data-science concepts accurately for diverse audiences.
• Proactively seek media opportunities, serve as primary media contact, and identify emerging data-science trends to keep communications timely and relevant.
• Develop and execute communications strategies and collateral to promote events, conferences, speaker series, and special initiatives; support outreach and awareness campaigns for CDS and BU programs (e.g., BU Spark!, Bioinformatics).
• Lead cross-cutting communications tasks across CDS teams—coordinate event promotion, recruitment/onboarding materials, industry and alumni partnership outreach, and campus/building initiatives.
• Supervise and develop student employees, part-time staff, and freelancers: assign work, provide feedback, handle hiring and evaluations, approve hours, and maintain process documentation.
• Consult and mentor faculty and program staff on messaging and brand guidelines to elevate program visibility and align communications with institutional goals.
• Support special projects and campus partnerships as needed to foster community engagement and advance CDS strategic priorities.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in communication, journalism, data science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years experience in communication or journalism, preferably in higher education or a comparable sector.
• Proven experience writing about science, ideally with a focus on data science, technology, or related disciplines.
• Strong ability to translate technical, scientific, and data-driven information into clear, engaging content for non-expert audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with digital communications platforms and social media.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with academic researchers and administrators.

A cover letter is required for consideration.