Communications Manager

The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) serves as the data, communication, and collaboration coordinating center for the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRC) Program. NACC is home to one of the largest, oldest, and most powerful Alzheimer’s datasets, built in collaboration with more than 42 ADRCs throughout the US over the past 20+ years. We are on a mission to modernize data collection, integration, and sharing to advance Alzheimer’s research. NACC is part of the Department of Epidemiology within UW’s School of Public Health.  

POSITION PURPOSE

The Communications Manager (Public Information Specialist) will provide a full spectrum of communications, public relations, marketing, and design resources to support the mission and growth of NACC. The position formulates and strategically oversees an annual communications plan, assessing opportunities and evaluating NACC’s communications needs. Activities include advising internal and external communications of the center; maintaining a strong brand for the center, including impactful publications, print/digital collateral, and website assets; coordinating media and public relations activities to promote NACC to external audiences; managing center’s website and digital presence; and providing leadership, direction and support to communications team staff. 

The Communications Manager must have excellent communication and diplomacy skills. The position is the primary liaison between NACC and external partners, the ADRC program, and other UW communications representatives, media, and marketing personnel. Working closely with NACC leadership, the individual in this position develops the core communication strategy and standards for NACC and ensures consistency in branding, production of communications materials, building relationships, leading specific initiatives, creating alignment and stakeholder buy-in, and promoting innovative communications solutions to advance NACC’s overall strategic goals. This position must also understand research and database complexities that will come into play when generating NACC publications. In addition, the individual must have the capacity to work professionally and diplomatically interface with a variety of external constituencies involved in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) research. This position will manage a team of two, with the potential to add more communication team members in the future.

NACC is currently funded by a $36M grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and is home to one of the largest (45,000+ participants), oldest, and most powerful Alzheimer’s datasets. Our extensive database of rich, longitudinal, standardized clinical and neuropathological data was built in collaboration with more than 42 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the US over the past 20+ years. NACC facilitates impactful research by serving as the data, communication, and collaboration coordinating center for the ADRC Program. NACC is in the process of driving major innovations that will modernize data collection, integration, storage, and sharing to transform and advance Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) research. NACC is expanding its database to integrate electronic health records, Medicare claims, digital biomarkers, and digital neuropathology data, as well as additional genetic, biospecimen, and standard imaging (MRI and PET) metadata. Additionally, NACC is developing a novel data search and visualization portal to make all these data streams readily searchable and accessible to the international research community. This work will open the door to new discoveries in Alzheimer’s, improve our understanding of the disease, and enable the development of earlier disease detection technologies and more impactful therapeutics.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications Administration and Advancement

Formulate and oversee an annual communications plan and budget. Monitor and measure the impact of communications efforts to evaluate needs and opportunities.

Provide strategic communications counsel to NACC Leadership and Team on emerging issues.

Identify and implement strategies to integrate various NACC communications streams to maximize impact.

Maintain a thorough understanding of emerging communications trends and integrate these practices into strategic initiatives. Participate in School of Public Health (SPH) and UW Web and Marketing forums to ensure NACC remains up to date with best practices.

Build and maintain relationships with press and community to stay abreast of relevant developments and engagement opportunities that aid in the promotion and dissemination of NACC news and reports and to enhance the visibility of NACC’s data and role in coordinating data across the ADRC program.

Provide crisis communication counsel on issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the center’s commitment to anti-racism.

Supervise and mentor 1.0 FTE Public Information Specialist and hourly employee responsible for social media. May supervise additional personnel as NACC continues to develop the Communications Team in response to funding additional funding awards and expansion of media services.  

Writing and Producing Content

Develop training materials for special projects to support the deployment of critical NACC initiatives. 

With communications team support, oversee the drafting and distribution of news stories, press releases, profiles, and research features designed to increase brand awareness.

Develop content and associated graphics for NACC presentations.

Manage the development and distribution of a Monthly NACC Newsletter.

Build capacity for media engagement, liaise with UW News and SPH Communications Director on media relations, and monitor press related to NACC in order to maximize opportunities for positive PR. 

Develop and manage content calendar, ensuring consistency and quality of content production and messaging across channels.

Provide writing, editing, and creative support, as needed, for NACC Leadership Team communications team.

Consult and collaborate with NACC project leaders, external partners and stakeholders to develop strategic communications plans for NACC projects with concrete timelines, goals, and workplans.

Prepare annual reports for NACC grants; this will require coordinating the compilation of results from all the teams at NACC.

Develop written content to address crisis communication situations that arise.

Design, Marketing and Branding

Oversee the design, creation, and ordering of NACC publications and promotional materials. Create visual assets for sharing across digital channels. 

Determine event content, event promotional strategy, contract negotiation for services, decorations, technical support, post-event communications, and other duties as needed for NACC events and conferences. 

Produce promotional materials for NACC-sponsored seminars, academic programs, advancement events, and recruitment initiatives. 

Maintain and revise, as needed, NACC branding guidelines; understand and incorporate SPH and UW branding guidelines in conjunction with NACC branding guidelines.

Manage the education and adoption of the communication and marketing guidelines to promote consistency, quality and efficiency in marketing and communications with NACC team members, external partners and stakeholders across the ADRC program. 

Collaborate with NACC team to ensure NACC content (reports, articles, grants, etc.) is consistent with marketing strategies and branding guidelines. 

Web Development and Maintenance

Implement improvements in design, content, and usability. Lead special web projects working cross-functionally with partners and stakeholders. 

Serve as website branding coordinator. Coordinate with web development partners on UI/UX improvements that may also address technical website issues and ongoing maintenance processes.

Coordinate the continual evolvement of NACC website user interface, design, and integration of communications streams to advance marketing strategies and initiatives.

Measure website metrics and other analytics against communications goals to guide priorities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, public health or related field.

At least 4 years' experience in marketing strategy development, project management or coordination, content management systems, and social media community management.

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.