DEI Communications Specialist

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine value diversity in our members, volunteers, and staff and strive for a culture of inclusion in our workplace and activities. Convening a diverse community to exchange ideas and perspectives enhances the quality of our work and increases our relevance as advisers to the nation about the most complex issues facing the nation and the world.

Keck Center

National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine

<br /><br />The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provide independent, objective advice to inform policy with evidence, spark progress and innovation, and confront challenging issues for the benefit of society. We marshal knowledge and expertise across disciplines to study complex and sometimes contentious issues, reach consensus based on the evidence, and identify the best path forward. https://www.nationalacademies.org/

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Full time

Overview: <strong>Req. No.: R0001615</strong><br /><br />The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (the National Academies) is the nation&rsquo;s leading independent voice on many crucial issues facing society, including COVID-19, climate change, education, science policy, and diversity, equity and inclusion. The National Academies give government leaders and the nation the highest quality advice on a growing range of pressing scientific, engineering and health care issues. Over 1,000 professionals help lead the work of over 5,000 volunteers to coalesce the best thinking of the American scientific, engineering and medical communities.<br /><br />As part of an increasing emphasis on strategic integrated communications, the Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO) is recruiting for a diversity, equity, and inclusion communications specialist to support the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO). The successful candidate will play a critical role in connecting National Academies staff, members, and volunteers with the organization&rsquo;s DEI strategy and goals. In collaboration with the ODI and communications colleagues across disciplines, divisions, this position will plan and execute internal and external communications programs that build the culture of the National Academies, embed DEI strategies in our communications, keep our professionals informed and engaged, and align our teams behind a common vision for the strategies of the National Academies. <br /><br />Together with the manager of the OCCO executive office and the ODI, this role manages communications channels and programs including the internal website and some external DEI website content, the ODI annual report and DEI newsletter, as well as a number of other communications. <br /><br />The successful candidate must have a deep understanding of DEI issues and content expertise and apply strong communications principles to independently identify opportunities and problems and create new solutions that contribute to organizational success. The specialist will help establish processes and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient creation and disseminations of DEI content. They will have strong writing skills and the listening and critical thinking skills necessary to clearly communicate on a wide range of DEI issues.
Responsibilities: <p><strong>ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES</strong></p> <ul> <li>Contributes to an internal and external communications strategy and program that keeps staff, members, and volunteers engaged and informed while strengthening the culture of the National Academies around DEI.&nbsp;</li> <li>Ensures DEI initiatives and projects are successfully communicated to staff, members, and volunteers as appropriate, and supports engagement through new communications policies, practices, and technologies. Tracks communications Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to help inform transformation project management.</li> <li>Assists on planning, writing and editing clear, informative and persuasive content for a variety of communications purposes and media including DEI related All Staff messages and messages about the DEI Speaker Series and other events, writing DEI content for the weekly internal newsletter, the external DEI newsletter, and the DEI AcademyNet intranet and the external internet site, researching and compiling resources and writing about heritage months, assistance with writing of DEI toolkits and other resources, the ODI annual report, regularly updating the National Academies Inclusive Language Guide, and drafting DEI related presentations, talking points, social media posts, recruitment ads, editorials and statements.&nbsp;</li> <li>Helps establish and communicate guidelines and supports best practices for internal communications efforts while applying a DEI lens. Ensures messages are coordinated, timely, consistent, and inclusive across all media and for different departments of the organization and or members and volunteers. &nbsp;</li> <li>Manages the DEI content on the AcademyNet internal website.&nbsp;</li> <li>Supports other communications and program staff to understand and apply DEI best practices in overall National Academies communications</li> <li>Responsible for the accuracy, and overall quality of all communications under this position&rsquo;s purview.</li> <li>Helps plan and execute DEI All Staff meetings and other executive events as needed. &nbsp;Coordinates messages, presentations, or talking points for senior executives to present in internal employee meetings.</li> <li>Coordinates DEI messages, presentations, background materials, or talking points for Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) to present to meetings with National Academies&rsquo; groups, sponsors, and other stakeholders.</li> <li>Works directly with the CDIO, CCO, CPO, and COO and the manager of the OCCO executive office and with external communications, to execute any DEI internal communication response.&nbsp;</li> <li>Builds relationships and networks across all levels of the organization including external communications colleagues to identify communications opportunities and stories to increase engagement for National Academies professionals.</li> <li>Maintains an appropriate standard of confidentiality. &nbsp;When handling secure, privileged, sensitive, or confidential information and matters, maintains strict confidence and exercises care to prevent disclosure to others. &nbsp;Accesses confidential information for work-related reasons only following the policies and procedures of the organization. Ensures that any privileged, sensitive, or confidential information is securely stored, disposed of, and transmitted according to the Institutional guidance. &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>NONESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES</strong></p> <ul> <li>Related duties and special projects as assigned.</li> </ul>
Requirements: <p><strong>Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: &nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Experience on a communications team in a comparable organization, with direct responsibility for communications projects.</li> <li>Strong knowledge and understanding of DEI issues and experience working in this area. &nbsp;</li> <li>Familiarity with STEMM fields and/or experience working in a STEMM related organization.</li> <li>Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills as well as journalistic story telling skills using clear, direct, inclusive, emotionally engaging language.</li> <li>Experience in capturing the distinctive voice of senior executives within the context of an overall house style of language.</li> <li>Strong project management skills and training, detail oriented and timely.&nbsp;</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to execute communication strategies and programs that are engaging and effective.&nbsp; <ul> <li>Team-oriented, comfortable working with strong expert personalities and able to contribute through persuasion, executional skills, and quality of work. &nbsp;</li> <li>Ability to serve as a resource to others in the resolution of complex problems and issues.&nbsp;</li> <li>Interest in working in complex environments with a high degree of organizational effectiveness.&nbsp;</li> <li>Appreciation of a mission-driven organization and core values of transparency, excellence, integrity, and evidence-based decision making. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</li> </ul> </li> <li>Discretion and judgment when handling sensitive information, and skilled at understanding how and what to communicate in delicate crisis or reputational situations.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Education/Training Requirements: &nbsp;</strong>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field, or equivalent knowledge.</p> <p><strong>Minimum Experience: &nbsp;</strong>Three years of related professional experience. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Physical Capabilities: &nbsp;</strong>Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.</p> <p><strong>Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: </strong>&nbsp;None.</p> <p><strong>Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls: </strong>&nbsp;Reports to manager of the OCCO executive office but also report to the CDIO and is part of the ODI team. &nbsp;</p>