University of Maryland
Research Communications and Media Outreach Specialist
🇺🇸 College Park, MD
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $60K - $65K
💻 Communications
🗓️ October 16th, 2025
Canva
Edtech.com's Summary
University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) is hiring a Research Communications and Media Outreach Specialist. The specialist will create engaging multimedia content, manage social media campaigns, develop relationships with media and policy stakeholders, and enhance outreach efforts to raise public awareness on federal science and health funding impacts. This role supports interdisciplinary communication strategies and press coordination to promote sustained science investment.
Highlights
- Create engaging text, images, and data-driven multimedia content for social media, website, and outreach materials.
- Develop and manage social media campaigns including content calendars, advertising budgets, and performance analysis.
- Serve as primary contact for press inquiries and proactively generate data-driven stories for local and national media.
- Expand accessibility and impact of SCIMaP products through outreach with stakeholders at local, state, and national levels.
- Use design software proficiency, such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva, for graphic and visual communication.
- Require Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and potential for managing academic or research programs.
- Prefer 1+ year experience in media relations, outreach, journalism, or communications roles.
- Essential skills include excellent written/verbal communication, science and/or policy communication experience, and social media management.
- Salary range offered is $60,000 - $65,000.
- Position reports to the CMNS-Biology department, with a one-year initial appointment and potential for renewal.
Research Communications and Media Outreach Specialist Full Description
Job Description Summary
Organization's Summary Statement:
The Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project (SCIMaP: https://scienceimpacts.org/) is committed to visualizing and communicating the local and national impacts of ongoing cuts to federal funding for science and health-related research. We use dynamic maps and other interactive tools to illustrate the economic and societal consequences of funding cuts, particularly to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on communities across the United States. By making this information accessible and understandable to the public, policymakers, and the media, we aim to highlight the critical role of sustained investment in science for our nation's health, economy, and future. SCIMaP is a collaborative effort involving an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software engineers from multiple institutions across the U.S., jointly led by co-founders Prof. Joshua Weitz at the University of Maryland, College Park and Dr. Alyssa Sinclair at the University of Pennsylvania.
We are seeking a creative and driven Communications and Media Outreach Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be a passionate and skilled communicator who can support communication efforts across domains, including designing and overseeing social media campaigns, connecting with science policy groups, sharing resources with policymakers, developing data communication strategies and kits, and coordinating press outreach with local and national news outlets. This role is central to our mission of raising awareness and fostering public engagement related to federal investment in science and health. The initial appointment is for one year, with potential for renewal.
Responsibilities include:
-Content Creation: Design and create engaging text, images, and data-driven multimedia content for social media platforms, our website, and other outreach materials.
-Social Media Management: Develop and manage social media campaigns to connect with our audience and increase engagement. This includes planning content calendars, managing advertising budgets, and monitoring and analyzing campaign performance.
-Media Relations: Act as the primary point of contact for press inquiries, and proactively develop data-driven stories for a broad range of media outlets.
-Outreach and Engagement: Enhance the accessibility of SCIMaP products and expand the scope and impact of the project with stakeholders at local, state, and national levels.
Physical Demands: Not Applicable
Minimum Qualifications:
The appointee shall hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area and show potential for excellence in the administration and/or management of academic or research programs.
Preferences:
-1+ years of professional/internship experience in a media relations, outreach, journalism, or communications role.
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience with science communication and/or policy communication would be a strength.
-Experience with managing social media accounts and running social media campaigns.
-Graphic design and visual communication skills, with proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).
-Experience with cultivating partner relationships.
-Enthusiasm for working with an interdisciplinary and collaborative academic team working at the intersection of science, society, and public policy.
-Ability to develop data-intensive multimedia content in a fast-moving environment.
Licenses/ Certifications: Not Applicable
The Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project (SCIMaP: https://scienceimpacts.org/) is committed to visualizing and communicating the local and national impacts of ongoing cuts to federal funding for science and health-related research. We use dynamic maps and other interactive tools to illustrate the economic and societal consequences of funding cuts, particularly to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on communities across the United States. By making this information accessible and understandable to the public, policymakers, and the media, we aim to highlight the critical role of sustained investment in science for our nation's health, economy, and future. SCIMaP is a collaborative effort involving an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software engineers from multiple institutions across the U.S., jointly led by co-founders Prof. Joshua Weitz at the University of Maryland, College Park and Dr. Alyssa Sinclair at the University of Pennsylvania.
We are seeking a creative and driven Communications and Media Outreach Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be a passionate and skilled communicator who can support communication efforts across domains, including designing and overseeing social media campaigns, connecting with science policy groups, sharing resources with policymakers, developing data communication strategies and kits, and coordinating press outreach with local and national news outlets. This role is central to our mission of raising awareness and fostering public engagement related to federal investment in science and health. The initial appointment is for one year, with potential for renewal.
Responsibilities include:
-Content Creation: Design and create engaging text, images, and data-driven multimedia content for social media platforms, our website, and other outreach materials.
-Social Media Management: Develop and manage social media campaigns to connect with our audience and increase engagement. This includes planning content calendars, managing advertising budgets, and monitoring and analyzing campaign performance.
-Media Relations: Act as the primary point of contact for press inquiries, and proactively develop data-driven stories for a broad range of media outlets.
-Outreach and Engagement: Enhance the accessibility of SCIMaP products and expand the scope and impact of the project with stakeholders at local, state, and national levels.
Physical Demands: Not Applicable
Minimum Qualifications:
The appointee shall hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area and show potential for excellence in the administration and/or management of academic or research programs.
Preferences:
-1+ years of professional/internship experience in a media relations, outreach, journalism, or communications role.
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience with science communication and/or policy communication would be a strength.
-Experience with managing social media accounts and running social media campaigns.
-Graphic design and visual communication skills, with proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).
-Experience with cultivating partner relationships.
-Enthusiasm for working with an interdisciplinary and collaborative academic team working at the intersection of science, society, and public policy.
-Ability to develop data-intensive multimedia content in a fast-moving environment.
Licenses/ Certifications: Not Applicable
Additional Job Details
Required Application Materials: Please submit a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in the position (1 pages) and your resume (2 pages maximum). We may request additional materials, such as examples of your communication work, following initial review of applications.
Best Consideration Date: 10/10/25
Posting Close Date: Open until Filled
Open Until Filled: Yes
Financial Disclosure Required
No
For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.
For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.
Department
CMNS-Biology
Worker Sub-Type
Faculty Regular
Salary Range
$60,000 - $65,000
Benefits Summary
For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.
Employment Eligibility
The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.
EEO Statement
The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University's Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.
Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice
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