Director, Communications and Research Amplification

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead ESRI's communications plan, tied to ESRI's research priorities and research calendar, with a primary focus on knowledge transfer: translating ESRI research into content, programs, and engagement that industry, regulators, first responders, standards bodies and fellow researchers can apply.
• Build the processes, approvals and governance that keep ESRI communications accurate, timely and consistent with ULRI brand standards, including working with research experts to understand and confirm technical accuracy and ensure high-quality communications deliverables are delivered to the market.
• Collaborate with central communications on ULRI's measurement framework; track and report ESRI's knowledge-transfer outcomes, such as research uptake, stakeholder engagement, and new collaborations, to guide ongoing optimization of ESRI's channels and programs.
• Provide expert communications counsel to the VP & Executive Director and ESRI's research leaders and develop the ESRI leader's visibility and thought-leadership plan in partnership with ULRI Corporate Communications.
• Direct ESRI's technical and editorial content for practitioner, industry, and research audiences, including research summaries, technical briefs, ESRI's section of UL.org and ESRI's social channels. Partner with ULRI's Integrated Content & Storytelling team to bring ESRI science into ULRI stories and campaigns.
• Own ESRI's stakeholder engagement strategy, including relationships with industry associations, regulators, first-responder organizations and standards bodies, in partnership with ESRI's technical leaders, and the pipeline of ESRI researchers speaking at technical conferences.
• Direct ESRI's portfolio of convenings, conference presence, and strategic sponsorships, set annually against research priorities, with clear objectives and outcome reporting for each.
• Serve as ESRI's primary liaison to ULRI's central communications teams, routing creative, web, digital, marketing operations, and media needs through central intake and planning major research announcements with central teams.
• Partner with ULRI Corporate Communications on issues and crisis communications affecting ESRI, providing technical context and coordinating ESRI's response.
• Lead, develop and coach the ESRI communications team, and direct staffing, budget planning and allocation, and vendor and agency management in line with ULRI communications guidelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, science communication or a related field; a background in science or engineering is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in communications, marketing or a related field, including four or more years of management or leadership experience.
• Experience in an academic, research laboratory, or government environment is preferred.
• Experience communicating scientific or technical research to professional, industry or policy audiences is required.

Preferred

• Media relations experience is preferred.
• Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint, and knowledge of analytical tools and databases is preferred.
• Experience in a research, scientific, engineering or other technical organization is preferred.

Benefits

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation.
• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay.
• Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment.
• Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager.
• We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.