Deputy Director, Annenberg Public Policy Center

Job Description Summary

About APPC: A premier communication policy center founded in 1993 by Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, APPC’s mission is producing cutting-edge communication science and increasing the impact of communication scholarship to improve public well-being. APPC generates and translates research to advance public understanding and policy at the local, state, and national levels through research divisions and institutes in: communication science; institutions of democracy; climate communication; science of science communication; civics; and health and risk; as well as APPC’s FactCheck.org project and the Annenberg Center for Advanced Study in Communication (ACASC).

Working closely with the incoming APPC Director (to whom this position will report), the Deputy Director will support and assist with implementation of APPC’s strategic priorities and vision within and outside of Penn. The Deputy Director will monitor, report, and present APPC’s progress to stakeholders, potential partners, and internal and external audiences, and be responsible for the development of strategic partnerships both across and outside of the University to further the strategic goals of APPC. The Deputy Director will work to maintain the impact of APPC’s current research and will also help launch and lead the APPC’s Director’s initiatives, including management of a new internal grant program and organizing conferences and other events. The Deputy Director will also work to diversify, expand, and support APPC’s development/fundraising and grant-getting activities and coordinate the activity of an advisory board and a policy board.

Job Responsibilities

• Articulate and implement the APPC Director’s work in collaboration with core and affiliated APPC faculty and staff. Ensure the reach and impact of APPC’s activities.
• Work with the APPC Director to launch initiatives and administer programs to foster innovative research, including publicizing grant opportunities, managing review and selection of grant proposals, administering awarded grants, and publicizing grant deliverables and results.
• Support the establishment and work of a new APPC executive advisory and policy group, including recruitment and leading meetings of and communications to and from that group.
• Build and sustain transdisciplinary partnerships to promote APPC’s mission at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. Effectively communicate with a wide audience of interdisciplinary faculty researchers, practitioners, administrators, policy makers, and community stakeholders, including writing APPC activity reports and preparing and delivering presentations about APPC activities for diverse audiences.
• Routinely meet with new and affiliated faculty, students, post-docs, practitioners, university and government leaders, and policymakers to introduce APPC to new audiences. Build and mobilize a community of students, scholars, industry and government leaders, and community partners around APPC’s goals and priorities.
• Help run the day-to-day activities of the center, including budgets, reports, and infrastructure.
• Facilitate communication, coordination, and collaboration across various divisions and areas within APPC. Work to enhance APPC’s research infrastructure to support data sharing and collaborative research projects.
• Support APPC PIs with identification of new grant funding opportunities and writing and submission of grant proposals.
• Represent APPC at scientific meetings, convenings, and other events to promote APPC’s mission and work and build its network.
• Develop new fundraising efforts.
• Supervise an administrative assistant to provide support to APPC, APPC’s Director, and APPC communications and events teams.
• As time and opportunity allow, contribute directly to APPC research studies and projects.
• Develop metrics and track the success of all initiatives.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 to 10 years of experience, or a Master’s degree and 5 to 7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. A PhD in a field related to the work of APPC is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a research university, an understanding of academic scientific administration, and a proven track record of successful leadership in this setting desirable.
• Excellent public speaking and verbal communication skills, able to communicate well and at varying levels of technical/academic detail with diverse audiences, including students, staff, faculty, post-docs, community, industry, and government stakeholders, and the public.
• Excellent writing skills, including ability to translate academic research and writing for lay audiences, and acute attention to detail are essential.
• Grant-seeking, grant-writing, and development/fundraising experience helpful.
• A track record of raising the visibility/public profile of an organization will be a strong indicator of success in the role.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing more junior staff is desirable

Position term – This is a term-limited position with an initial 5-year term ending June 30, 2031. Extension is contingent on funding and other factors.

Application Instructions

Please submit the following documents via Workday. Multiple attachments are permitted.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Writing sample, preferably a research paper or grant proposal. Multiple writing samples permitted.