Head of Communications

Summary

Join Convergent Research, a non-profit science studio, as their Head of Communications. You will be responsible for crafting and executing a communications strategy that resonates with various audiences, including funders, researchers, and journalists. A significant portion of your role will involve coaching executive teams at our Focused Research Organizations (FROs) on communication skills. This position requires a deep understanding of science communication and the ability to translate complex technical information into compelling narratives. Convergent offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the world of scientific research.

Requirements

• Have a deep belief that science and technology can be used to build a better future and know that our ability to tell the stories of that impact is key to making sure it happens
• Be a source of trust and authority - You’ve done the full cycle of PR and communications several times through. This might mean you are an experienced manager with experience leading a strategic communications function and developing team members
• Be a gifted storyteller in terms of writing and thought leadership. You can craft a compelling narrative about our mission and shape our brand for years to come
• Be able to help us develop our voice and brand - everyone on our executive team writes differently (you’ll have to guess who wrote this.) But none of it is in “Convergent’s voice.” Work with us to determine how we describe our work and our impact, and help teach others to use that voice
• Be experienced in communicating about science - you know the difference between the audiences who read Nature, The Atlantic, Science Fridays and Asimov Press
• Be sufficiently comfortable with science to be able to extract stories from technical founders - you can ask the questions that turn figures into impactful narratives

Responsibilities

• Work with the Convergent Research executive team to develop an overall Convergent Research brand. You’ll take the lead in defining our audiences, our narratives and our strategy
• Be a coach - We’re unique in that we’re actually running a series of small start-ups. That means that we have 10 (and soon more) executive teams who need to learn how to do communications. Everything from “how do we talk about what we do” to “what is a press release” to “how do we talk to journalists” to “is this a reasonable cost?”
• Own our overall communications strategy. You’ll create and maintain a comprehensive communications strategy, including our brand, our messaging, important audiences, risk management, and potentially fundraising. You’ll be a strategic thought partner at the highest levels of the organization, and take ownership for steering our organization’s communications strategy through a time of ongoing growth and increasing visibility - you’ll help each of the FROs develop this too
• Lead content publication strategy. You’ll act as a trusted thought partner to our senior leadership. You will also amplify the impact of our work through exceptional content publication and manage our existing portfolio, including the website, fundraising materials, and newsletters
• Develop and enhance our communications + PR arsenal. We may not be ready for any internal hires (yet) - but you’re definitely going to need to build our network of designers, writers, PR teams, journalists, and other external partners to leverage
• Help develop a team approach to events marketing and communications - from materials and event planning, to data launch events - to accompany the success of our major milestones

Benefits

• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields
• Competitive salary with up to a 6% 401k match (base salary range: $150-250k, equitably benchmarked based on experience and adjusted for location)
• Excellent medical insurance options: 10-20 plans to choose from across major national and local carriers. Employee and family premiums for most plans are fully covered by the Company contribution
• Excellent dental and vision insurance options. Employee and family premiums for most plans are fully covered by the Company contribution
• Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, long- and short-term disability insurance, as well as voluntary supplemental insurance options
• 19 holidays (including the week off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day)
• 3 weeks PTO with tenure increases, with separate allotments for sick and parental leave
• Generous fertility benefits and childcare reimbursement
• Education and professional development benefits
• Wellness allowance for fitness and wellness activities
• Quarterly offsite team retreats and additional opportunities to meet your teammates in person