Virginia Sea Grant Communicator: Deadline March 16, 2009

Virginia Sea Grant Communicator

Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) is seeking a communications professional to help us provide expert science- based information about coastal and marine issues and promote the sustainable management of marine resources. VASG is located at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), the Commonwealth’s marine-resource advisor and home to the College of William & Mary’s School of Marine Science. VASG advances the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources by funding research, conducting extension and education activities, and producing communication materials. As a critical member of the VASG team, the communicator will complement existing strengths in writing and editing, publication design and production, and web-based communication, while filling gaps in media relations, use of interactive online strategies (e.g. blogs, social networking), photography, and/or other communication fields. The communicator will work with other staff to implement an effective and professionally recognized communications program for VASG and to provide science-based information to a diverse audience in government, non-profit and private sectors, and the general public. More information about VASG is available at http://www.vims.edu/seagrant.

Duties: Candidates must have strong organizational and communication skills, evaluation and monitoring capabilities, and strategic thinking skills. The communicator will assist in the development and implementation of a communication strategy and will perform a wide range of communication functions, including:
• Developing program-wide and project-specific communication strategies, including innovative communication initiatives
• Assisting in program-wide strategic planning
• Planning and implementing a media relations strategy
• Designing and implementing a comprehensive web communication initiative
• Writing, editing and producing communication products, including magazines, proposals, reports, and other materials
• Developing and implementing evaluation and monitoring activities to assess the effectiveness of VASG communication
• Managing a publication library, databases, publications distribution, and helping to administer a communication center that serves the VASG researchers, staff, and leaders.

Qualifications: An understanding of coastal and marine sciences. Ability to communicate with scientists, managers, industry, and lay people. Ability to write and edit communications products designed for public information and education. Demonstrated initiative, creative thinking, and follow- through. Experience in science communication, journalism, media relations, public relations, and/or other communication-related field. Undergraduate degree required; masters preferred.

How to apply: An on-line application will be required through the College of William & Mary’s website: https://jobs.wm.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1234991857019 (Apply for Position No. 00177V, under Staff Positions). The position will be open until filled; review of applications will begin on March 16, 2009. For more information, contact Tom Murray (tjm@vims.edu or 804-684-7190).