Strategic Communications Specialist

Hiring Department

The Center for Rural Energy Security (CRES) in the Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS) in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (CAFNR).

Job Description

The Strategic Communications Specialist works to promote the Center for Rural Energy Security (CRES)’s research and policy reports with national policy audiences and to raise CRES’s profile in the national energy policy landscape. This person will work closely with researchers to translate academic work into clear, accurate, and policy-relevant products and will coordinate proactive dissemination through press releases, national and trade media outreach, responses to media inquiries, social media distribution, and targeted outreach to legislative, regulatory, and industry audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the dissemination of Center for Rural Energy Security/CRES output across target audiences and media types.
• Oversee the drafting of complex, interdisciplinary academic research into accessible policy briefs, white papers, and public reports tailored for non-academic stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries while proactively pitching op-eds and press releases.
• Supervise and mentor communications staff and students.
• Collaborate with affiliated faculty across multiple colleges.
• Cultivate relationships with external partners.
• Liaise regularly with University Government Affairs and Central Marketing & Communications teams.
• Support development efforts.