Open Position – Communications coordinator for the USAID Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab program
This position will serve as communications coordinator of the unit’s Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab program (IPM-IL), including all print communications and electronic communications. As the IPM-IL communications coordinator, you will work alongside the IPM team and the unit’s communication director to raise awareness of the program through online and offline channels. Specifically, you will:
- Ensure that program communications conform to donor branding and marking;
- Aligning program communication efforts with Virginia Tech’s public relations strategies and communication procedures;
- Identify and develop relationships with media personnel and program partners and agencies to promote IPM-IL objectives, services, outputs and events;
- Serve as the program media contact;
- Organize and oversee promotional events;
- Write, edit and publish website, blog, email newsletter and other communications content;
- Maintain program presence on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook;
- Consult and provide advice on graphic design; and
- Measure and report on the effectiveness of communications program activities.
This position will report to the Director of the IPM Innovation Lab and will work closely with the OIRED Communication’s Director, as well as the OIA communications team, to fulfill strategies and tactics to raise the profile of IPM-IL with the press, the public, program partners, the donors and the university community. Such tasks include editing reports; writing press releases and success stories; creating flyers, brochures, and posters; writing web content; managing social media; and creating PowerPoint presentations and re-purposing stories of broader public interest by revising and submitting them to VT News. Assist in proposal preparations, departmental project communications as requested, coordinate report preparation, assist in arranging meetings and conferences, travel to IPM Innovation Lab sites in foreign countries, take and prepare minutes of meetings, and likely interact with a wide array of foreign nationals.
The candidate will function as an integral member of the OIA communicator team, which meets monthly to coordinate communications work and meet the vice president’s goals outlined in the vice president’s communications plan.
