Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $68,500 - Midpoint: $89,100 (Salaried E11)

Department/Organization: 750501 - Alabama Water Institute (AWI)

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Job Summary: The Director of Research Institute Communications provides visionary leadership and strategic and creative direction for all communication efforts and activities within the institute in accordance with University guidelines. Collaborates with members of the institute to ensure consistent, coordinated, timely, and integrated messaging in all communication pieces and websites. Leads communications team in the development and distribution of communication and marketing materials utilizing various arrays of platforms and initiatives.

Additional Department Summary: This position will be within the Alabama Water Institute (AWI). The Alabama Water Institute (AWI) is one of The University of Alabama's five research institutes. AWI, and its three research entities, serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration across the University's various colleges, uniting engineers, computer scientists, biologists, social scientists, economists, and more to tackle the pressing water challenges faced by Alabama, the United States, and the world. AWI's staff and affiliated researchers specialize in water security and quality, remote sensing, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, biological variabilityand watershed management, and more.


The Director, Research Institute Communications is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication and marketing strategies and products to enhance the Alabama Water Institute's reputation, visibility, and brand awareness. Core responsibilities include:


1. Strategic Communication Development,
2. Content Creation and Management,
3. Collaboration and Partnership Development,
4. Team and Office Leadership, and
5. Resource Management.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and six (6) years of journalism, public relations, marketing, or communications experience; OR master's degree and four (4) years of journalism, public relations, marketing, or communications experience.

Skills and Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of communications and storytelling strategies, design, and execution. Proven ability to create persuasive written and visual content for print, digital, web, and social media. Proven ability to create strategic communications/marketing campaigns. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent copywriting and copyediting skills.
Organized, attention to detail, deadline driven, and able to make quick pivots to accomplish goals. Energetic brainstormer and critical thinker who can analyze complex and technical scientific content and own strategies for conveying and presenting it in digestible and engaging forms. Experience in team management and leadership. Strong coordination and project management skills. Excellent relationship-building skills. Expected to effectively and professionally coordinate efforts with representatives of federal agencies, including NOAA, DOD, NSF, USGS and others, to jointly communicate technical and/or scientific information.

Preferred Qualifications: Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Communications, Journalism or other applicable areas. Professional experience at an academic, environmental, or scientific organization and understanding of issues related to the environment. Experience in tracking and responding to media requests, stakeholder questions, inquiries and development of media relationships. Understanding of advocacy and political communications.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" Poster