Internal 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.: R0001859</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 gives 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 community.<br /><br />As part of an increasing emphasis on strategic integrated communications, the Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO) is recruiting for an internal communications specialist to support the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and reporting units including Finance, HR, Administration, and Technology. The internal communications specialist will play a critical role in connecting National Academies staff with the organization&rsquo;s mission, strategy, operations and reputation. In collaboration with communications colleagues across disciplines and divisions, this position will plan and execute internal communications programs that build the culture of the National Academies, keep our professionals informed and engaged with operations activities, and align our teams behind a common vision for the strategies of the National Academies. <br /><br />In close conjunction with the manager of the OCCO executive office and other internal communications colleagues, the internal communications specialist develops and manages communications initiatives across internal communications channels and programs including the internal website, email, and Microsoft Teams, as well as executing All Staff meetings, All Staff memos, and operations leadership communications. <br /><br />The successful candidate will 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 effective and efficient operation of the internal communications function. The specialist will have strong writing skills and the listening and critical thinking skills necessary to clearly communicate on a wide range of issues.
Responsibilities: <ul> <li>Contributes to an internal communications strategy and program that keeps staff engaged and informed while strengthening the culture of the National Academies.&nbsp;</li> <li>While directly supporting the COO, ensures organizational operations-based initiatives and projects are successfully communicated to staff, and supports engagement through new communications policies, practices, and technologies. Tracks communications Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to help inform operations project management.</li> <li>Assists on planning, writing and editing clear, informative and persuasive content for a variety of communications purposes and media including All Staff messages, the internal newsletter, the AcademyNet intranet, talking points and FAQs.</li> <li>Helps establish and communicate guidelines and supports best practices for internal communications efforts. &nbsp;Ensures internal operations messages are coordinated, timely and consistent across all internal media and for different departments of the organization. &nbsp;</li> <li>Manages content on the AcademyNet internal website on specific enterprise activities and areas and makes sure content owners update their content on AcademyNet.</li> <li>Responsible for the accuracy, and overall quality of all communications under this position&rsquo;s purview.</li> <li>Helps plan and execute All Staff meetings and other executive events as needed. &nbsp;Drafts messages or talking points for senior operations executives to present in internal employee meetings.</li> <li>Works directly with the COO, CCO and Chief Program Officer (CPO), OCCO manager, and with operation unit leadership, to execute the internal communication response to crisis situations that affect staff and the National Academies&rsquo; reputation.</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><br /><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</strong>: &nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Experience on a communications team in a comparable organization, with direct responsibility for internal communications projects.</li> <li>Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills as well as journalistic story telling skills using direct, emotionally engaging language.</li> <li>Strong attention to detail and execution while making technical information approachable for non-expert audiences.</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>Comfortable with communications related to human resources, finance, information technology, and administration/facilities. &nbsp;</li> <li>Proven 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 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: </strong>&nbsp;Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field, or equivalent knowledge.</p> <p><strong>Minimum Experience: </strong>&nbsp;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: &nbsp;</strong>Reports to manager, OCCO Executive Office and Internal Communications with dotted line to the COO. &nbsp;Establishes goals and objectives alongside supervisor in response to evolving needs of the COO and related departments.&nbsp;</p>