"Digital Communications Lead"

Job Details

About the Job

The Digital Communications Lead is a strategic communications leader responsible for developing, executing and measuring a comprehensive digital media strategy that advances CIDRAP’s mission. This role will elevate the center’s digital presence (including social media and website) to engage key audiences—including researchers, policymakers, public health practitioners, funders, media, and the general public—and amplify the center’s research, policy work, and impact. While in-depth public health or vaccine policy experience is desirable, the core focus is on digital communication excellence, paid/organic media strategy, and rigorous measurement of content performance and impact.

Duties and Essential functions:

1. Strategy and Planning. (50%)
   • Serve as the primary lead for social media strategy, including editorial calendar development, content scheduling, influencer or partner collaborations, and platform experimentation.
   • Develop and implement a multi-channel digital communications strategy aligned with CIDRAP’s strategic priorities, reinforcing its brand, mission, and voice.
   • Lead creation of compelling digital content across social media platforms, the center website, and other digital channels that translates complex infectious disease and policy work into engaging, accessible stories for diverse audiences.
   • Oversee paid digital media buying (e.g., social media ads, programmatic display, search engine marketing) and work with internal or external partners to plan, execute, and optimize paid campaigns.
   • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the impact of digital and social media activity (e.g., reach, engagement, conversion, website traffic, audience segmentation, sentiment, campaign ROI).
2. Performance and analysis (20%)
   • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the impact of digital and social media activity (e.g., reach, engagement, conversion, website traffic, audience segmentation, sentiment, campaign ROI).
   • Build dashboards, generate regular reports, and recommend actionable insights to senior leadership, linking communications activity to outcomes (e.g., audience growth, policy engagement, media pickups, downloads, partnerships).
3. Collaboration (15%)
   • Collaborate across the center’s teams (researchers, policy experts, operations, communications) to surface timely content opportunities (e.g., new studies, vaccine policy shifts, public health emergencies) and ensure alignment on messaging, approvals, and dissemination.
   • Ensure brand consistency, tone, voice, and quality standards across all digital outputs; coordinate with the University of Minnesota communications/marketing office as appropriate.
4. Growth opportunities and best practices (10%)
   • Stay on top of emerging digital platforms, tools, trends, and best practices, especially in paid and organic social media, and recommend new approaches to reach target audiences effectively.
   • In conjunction with CIDRAP leadership, advise on communications risks or emerging issues and provide rapid digital response as needed (e.g., during emerging disease outbreaks or policy shifts).
   • Support internal training and capacity-building across the center for digital content creation, analytics literacy, and social media best practices.
5. Perform other duties as assigned by Management (5%).
   • Flexibility to adapt to ad-hoc requests

Reporting & Supervisory Structure:
The Digital Communications Strategist will report to the Director of Public Affairs and Media Relations and will collaborate with the Center Director and other senior leaders.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, digital media, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in digital communications, social media strategy, paid media campaigns, and analytics in a complex organization (higher education, research institute, non-profit, or analogous).
• Demonstrated experience managing paid digital media buying, measuring campaign performance and optimizing media spend.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to define KPIs, use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, social media insights, ad platforms) and generate actionable insights.
• Excellent written, visual, and verbal communication skills, with an ability to translate complex, technical content into clear, engaging messages for scientific and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to develop and execute digital content strategies, manage multiple channels, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively across functions.
• A growth mindset, creative problem-solving ability, strong attention to detail, and a data-driven approach.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working in public health, infectious disease research, vaccine policy, or science/health communications.
• Familiarity with research or policy organizations, including translation of scientific work into public-facing formats.
• Experience with content production (video, podcast, animation) and familiarity with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, editing software, and social media management platforms.
• Experience with accessibility best practices, SEO/SEM, email marketing automation platforms and CRM systems.
• Experience managing crisis or issues-based communications in a digital environment.

About the Department

The mission of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), which is part of the Research and Innovation Office (RIO), is to prevent illness and death from targeted infectious disease threats through research and the translation of scientific information into real-world, practical applications, policies, and solutions. CIDRAP addresses a variety of international and national public health policy issues related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases through various projects, including vaccine-related issues; emerging infectious disease threats; development of R&D roadmaps for coronavirus, influenza, Ebola/Marburg, Nipah, Lassa, and Zika virus vaccines; antimicrobial resistance and stewardship; chronic wasting disease; and bioterrorism/pandemic/emergency preparedness. CIDRAP has a strong Web and communication presence through the CIDRAP website, CIDRAP daily newsletters, podcasts, and webinars. National and international experts alike turn to CIDRAP for the latest information on COVID-19, influenza, and other crucial emerging infectious diseases.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $98,000-$115,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Time Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).