Posting Details

Posting Information

Posting Number
PG194854EP

Internal Recruitment
Yes

Working Title
Director of Research Communications

Anticipated Hiring Range
Commensurate with education and experience

Work Schedule
Core Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; hours will vary based on business need.

Job Location
Raleigh, NC

Department
University Communications and Marketing

Essential Job Duties

This is an internal posting for current NC State permanent and temporary employees, and candidates with RIF priority.

The University Communications team is seeking a skilled research communicator and collaborative leader to shape how the university's research and innovation enterprise is understood, valued, and shared. This position leads enterprise-wide research communications that translate complex discoveries, expertise, and innovation into clear, compelling narratives for the audiences who influence NC State's reputation, resources, and impact-including news media, policymakers, peer institutions, donors, partners, prospective students, faculty, and the public.

In this role, you will serve as the university's strategic communications partner to the research enterprise, working across University Communications and Marketing and closely with the Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. You will shape research storytelling and national and trade media visibility, connect research communicators across the university, and help position NC State's discoveries and expertise in conversations that matter beyond campus. Your ability to move comfortably between the laboratory and the newsroom will be essential-you will build trust with researchers, identify the stories behind their work, and make complex research meaningful to audiences who may never read the original paper.

Key responsibilities fall within the following functional areas:

Research Storytelling and Content Strategy:

• Shape the university's research narrative and content strategy, identifying and elevating compelling stories across fundamental discovery, translational science, interdisciplinary research, and community-engaged scholarship for audiences and platforms that extend NC State's reach and influence.
• Translate complex scientific and technical work into compelling, accessible narratives that maintain research rigor while connecting discovery to the people, questions, and real-world impact behind the work.
• Develop enterprise research communications strategy in alignment with the division's integrated communications strategy and NC State's "Think and Do" brand, message pillars, and visual standards.

Earned Media and National Visibility for Research:

• Expand NC State's national and industry visibility as a research and innovation leader through proactive media strategy and outreach that increases share of voice and positions faculty as trusted experts on issues of consequence.
• Orchestrate communications around high-impact research moments, including major discoveries, awards, rankings, funding, and other milestones, in partnership with the division's media relations function.
• Cultivate relationships with science, research, trade, and industry journalists while strengthening faculty readiness to serve as credible, compelling expert sources.

Campus Research Communications Network:

• Lead and strengthen a university-wide research communications network spanning colleges, centers, institutes, and the Office of Research and Innovation, creating greater alignment, visibility, and strategic value while respecting decentralized ownership.
• Connect communicators, research leadership, faculty, and University Communications and Marketing around shared priorities, creating coordinated pathways for identifying, developing, and amplifying research stories across university channels.
• Establish shared standards, story pipelines, and collaborative practices that increase the consistency, efficiency, and reach of research communications across the enterprise.

Issues and Sensitive Research Communications

• Provide strategic counsel on emerging and sensitive research-related issues, helping ensure accurate, timely, and coordinated communications in partnership with university leadership and the division's issues and crisis communications function.
• Navigate and translate an evolving federal research funding and policy environment, helping internal and external audiences understand implications for NC State's research enterprise in coordination with the Office of Research and Innovation, legal counsel, and divisional partners.
• Guide coordinated research communications during periods of disruption or heightened scrutiny, including funding changes, policy transitions, leadership changes, and other issues affecting the university's research mission and reputation.

Collaboration, Culture, and Operations

• Leverage the division's existing digital, editorial, marketing, and communications infrastructure to strengthen the reach and effectiveness of research storytelling across web, marketing, and other strategic channels.
• Lead and develop assigned communications staff, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture grounded in professional growth, strong execution, and shared accountability.
• Use audience insight, analytics, and performance measures to strengthen communications strategy, continuously refining storytelling, channels, and engagement based on what advances organizational goals.
• Oversee external partners, vendors, and project delivery for research communications initiatives, ensuring resources and timelines support strategic priorities.

If you are a strategic communicator who can move seamlessly between scientific discovery, institutional strategy, and compelling storytelling, we encourage you to apply and help shape how NC State's research and innovation are understood, valued, and shared with the world.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there will be opportunities to represent the division through engagement with internal and external constituents, including university and research leadership, faculty, communicators across the university, representatives from peer institutions, media, partners, and members of the public.

These opportunities will be assigned in collaboration with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Integrated Strategic Communications and Vice Chancellor in support of evolving departmental and institutional priorities.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Post-baccalaureate degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, a scientific or technical discipline, or a related field; or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent broad-based independent experience in research, science, or strategic communications. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, science or research communications, or a related field, including translating complex or technical subject matter for non-specialist audiences.
• Advanced research storytelling, writing, editing, and multimedia skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific or technical information into clear, accurate, compelling narratives tailored to varied audiences and channels.
• Media relations and earned media skills, including cultivating journalist relationships and securing high-impact coverage that elevates research, institutional expertise, or organizational priorities.
• Senior-level advising and collaborative leadership skills, including building trust with leaders and subject-matter experts and aligning cross-functional teams or decentralized stakeholders around shared communications goals.
• Sound judgment and discretion in high-stakes communications, with experience assessing sensitive or emerging issues and developing timely, accurate, and coordinated communications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience communicating within a research-intensive environment, such as an R1 university, academic medical center, federal agency, or science- or technology-focused organization.
• Knowledge of the higher education research ecosystem, including federal research funding agencies, academic research processes, and the research lifecycle.
• People leadership and talent development skills, with experience supervising professional staff and/or student employees and developing communications talent.
• Master's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, a scientific or technical discipline, or a related field.
• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or an equivalent professional credential.
• Media monitoring and analytics skills, with the ability to interpret media and audience data to inform communications strategy and assess impact.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required
No

Commercial Driver's License required
No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date
09/02/2026

Anticipated Close Date
9/15/2026, if posting is active we are still accepting and reviewing applications

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three professional references.

Position Details

Position Number
00112286

Position Type
EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)
1.0

Appointment
12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather
Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events
Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID
281001 - Payroll