Marketing and Communications Specialist, Research & Innovation

Job description

Job Title Marketing and Communications Specialist, Research & Innovation Agency Texas A&M University System Offices Department Marketing and Communications Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate Job Location College Station, Texas Job Type Staff Job Description The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M – Fort Worth and the Texas A&M - RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond. The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance. Salary: $3,392.67 - $5,833.33 per month commensurate with experience. This position devotes approximately 50% of its time to supporting nuclear security and national security-related initiates, including translating technical and complex topics into clear, accurate, audience-centered communications about nuclear security and other complex, technical subjects. Job Description Summary: The Marketing and Communications Specialist, Research & Innovation for the Texas A&M University System supports the execution of marketing and communications activities for the Research and Innovation portfolio. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation and helps translate complex topics into clear, accurate, and audience-centered marketing and communications materials. This work includes content development, project coordination, stakeholder support, research storytelling, web and digital updates, presentation support, and other marketing and communications products that help showcase the scale, capabilities, partnerships, and real-world impact of research and innovation across the Texas A&M University System. This position has a dedicated functional support relationship with the Vice Chancellor for Nuclear Security Initiatives, with approximately 50% of the position's responsibilities focused on preparing marketing and communications materials, presentations, brochures, web copy, talking points, briefing materials, one-pagers, and other communications products in support of nuclear security priorities. This support helps advance nuclear security initiatives while ensuring messaging is clear, professional, consistent, and aligned with System priorities. Responsibilities: 50% Nuclear Security Initiatives Marketing and Communications Support - Provide and coordinate dedicated marketing and communications support for the Vice Chancellor for Nuclear Security Initiatives. - Work with the Vice Chancellor for Nuclear Security Initiatives and designated staff to understand priorities, deadlines, meetings, events, stakeholder needs, and upcoming communications requirements. - Draft, edit, and coordinate communications and marketing materials that support nuclear security initiatives, including presentations, brochures, web copy, social media, talking points, briefing materials, one-pagers, and stakeholder-facing products. - Translate complex nuclear security, research, energy, technology, workforce, partnership, and strategic initiative information into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications. - Maintain organized files, content drafts, messaging materials, presentation materials, brochures, talking points, and reusable communications resources for nuclear security initiatives. - Coordinate nuclear security-related materials with the Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation to ensure alignment with the broader Research and Innovation portfolio, System messaging, and Marketing and Communications standards. - Exercise professionalism, accuracy, and discretion when supporting sensitive or high-priority nuclear security communications. 20% Research and Innovation Portfolio Content Development - Support the Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation in developing marketing and communications materials for the broader portfolio. - Assist in translating complex research and innovation topics into clear, compelling, and accessible communications for priority audiences. - Draft and edit research stories, innovation narratives, web content, newsletter items, talking points, presentation content, one-pagers, brochures, campaign materials, and other communications products. - Help identify and organize stories, proof points, outcomes, and examples that demonstrate the System's research and innovation capabilities. - Ensure Research and Innovation materials are accurate, consistent, audience-centered, and aligned with System brand and messaging standards. 15% Project Coordination and Stakeholder Support - Coordinate assigned marketing and communications projects from intake through completion, including timelines, drafts, reviews, approvals, edits, and final delivery. - Work with the Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation to clarify project requirements, audiences, messages, deliverables, deadlines, and review processes. - Serve as a day-to-day coordination point for assigned nuclear security and research innovation communications tasks. - Coordinate with internal Marketing and Communications functions, including writing, media relations, social media, creative, video, web, digital, analytics, and executive communications, to support execution of assigned projects. - Assist with scheduling, tracking, follow-ups, stakeholder reviews, and approval processes. - Gather information from vice chancellors, executive leaders, universities, agencies, institutions, researchers, communicators, vendors, and other partners as needed. - Support coordination with external vendors, contractors, agencies, institutions, or partners involved in assigned marketing and communications projects. 10% Content Development and Channel Support - Develop and maintain nuclear security and Research and Innovation copy and content for System-owned channels. - Coordinate with website operations staff to ensure assigned content is accurate, current, accessible, and aligned with System digital standards. - Coordinate with social media and media relations staff to support timely amplification of nuclear security, research, innovation, and partnership stories. - Help adapt longer-form content into channel-appropriate formats for web, social, email, presentations, talking points, and stakeholder materials. - Monitor assigned content needs and recommend updates, improvements, or new materials based on stakeholder priorities and audience needs. 5% Measurement, Reporting, and Other Duties as Assigned - Assist with tracking marketing and communications activity, deliverables, content performance, stakeholder support, and campaign outputs related to assigned work. - Help collect examples of completed materials, web updates, social media posts, presentations, brochures, stakeholder products, and other outputs. - Support basic reporting for nuclear security and Research and Innovation communications activity. - Assist with project after-action reviews, content tracking, planning discussions, and performance summaries as needed. - Perform other duties as assigned. Education and Experience: - Bachelor’s degree. - Four years of professional experience in marketing, communications, public relations, writing, content development, digital communications, higher education communications, government communications, research communications, or a related field required. - Experience drafting and editing communications materials, including presentations, web copy, brochures, talking points, one-pagers, briefing materials, or campaign materials required. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Knowledge of marketing, communications, content development, writing, editing, and message development required. - Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills required. - Skill in developing dear, accurate, and polished communications materials, including presentations, brochures, web copy, social media, talking points, one-pagers, reports, briefing materials, and stakeholder products required. - Strong organizational skills and attention to detail required. - Ability to work independently while remaining aligned with direction from the Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation required. - Ability to support communications involving sensitive, technical, or high-priority subject matter with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment required. - Ability to work cooperatively with others in a service-oriented and deadline-driven environment required. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with Adobe tools (e.g., Acrobat, lnDesign, Illustrator, or similar) or comparable design platforms (e.g., Canva) to create and format presentations, brochures, one-pagers, and other communications materials required. - Ability to travel occasionally, as needed, to support meetings, events, stakeholder engagement, content development, or System initiatives. - Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others. Preferred Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration or a related field preferred. - Experience translating complex subject matter into clear, audience-centered communications preferred. - Experience coordinating projects, timelines, reviews, approvals, and deliverables across multiple stakeholders preferred. - Experience supporting senior leaders, executive communications, strategic initiatives, or stakeholder-facing communications preferred. - Familiarity with digital content, social media, web publishing, email communications, presentations, and basic channel planning preferred. - Familiarity with research, innovation, nuclear security, energy, national security, technology, government, or higher education communications preferred. Other Requirements: This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application. All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.