Research Communications Manager

The University of Alaska Anchorage Office of Research is seeking a Research Communications Manager to lead communications planning and delivery for research and public service units. This role will develop clear, engaging communications from complex scientific, technical, economic, and policy information; oversee writing, web, social media, design, video, outreach, and media activities; and ensure materials meet UAA standards for accuracy, accessibility, and brand consistency. The manager will supervise communications staff, coordinate vendors and budgets, monitor communications performance, support media and executive communications, and build strong partnerships across the university, government, industry, research, and community organizations. The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator, strong project manager, and collaborative leader who can translate complex research into compelling stories for diverse audiences.

As the Research Communications Manager, you will lead the day-to-day planning, coordination, and delivery of communications for assigned research and public service units. You will work with unit leaders, principal investigators, program managers, faculty, and staff to identify priorities, develop messaging and communications plans, and manage projects from intake through completion. You will coordinate and oversee writing, editing, web, social media, graphic design, video, outreach, and media activities; develop and review communications materials; maintain editorial calendars and workflows; and ensure projects are accurate, timely, accessible, and aligned with UAA identity and university standards. You will translate complex scientific, technical, economic, policy, and research information into clear communications for public, partner, funder, government, university, and community audiences, while providing guidance on communications best practices, digital tools, media protocols, accessibility, copyright, and sponsor requirements.

You will supervise communications staff by setting priorities, assigning and reviewing work, balancing workloads, providing coaching, and supporting professional development. You will coordinate external vendors and contractors, manage communications budgets and resources, and support procurement, contracts, grants, and proposals as needed. You will monitor communications performance through analytics, audience feedback, and project outcomes; prepare reports on reach, engagement, project status, and resource use; and recommend adjustments to strategies, tactics, and resource allocation. You will also coordinate routine media relations, support executive and outreach communications, ensure compliance with university and sponsor requirements, and build collaborative relationships across UAA, the University of Alaska, research partners, government agencies, community organizations, industry, and media.

To Thrive in this role, a successful candidate will bring a strategic and collaborative approach to communications, combining strong writing, editing, project management, and relationship-building skills with the ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible, and engaging content for diverse audiences. The ideal candidate will have experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies across digital, print, web, social media, marketing, public relations, and multimedia platforms; using research, analytics, and evaluation to inform decisions and measure impact; and managing multiple priorities, projects, budgets, timelines, and stakeholders with accuracy and sound judgment. Success also requires strong supervisory and leadership abilities, including hiring, training, coaching, delegating, and fostering an accountable and collaborative team environment. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to navigate policies, accessibility, copyright, licensing, branding, records, and sponsor requirements while exercising discretion in resolving communications challenges and knowing when to elevate complex issues. Equally important are exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to build effective partnerships across faculty, staff, administrators, researchers, community partners, media, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Media, or a related field and four years of progressively responsible professional communications experience, including experience coordinating complex communications projects, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Position Details:

This position is located in Anchorage, Alaska. This is a term-funded, full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 80, based on education and experience.

Application review will begin immediately. To ensure consideration, you must submit your application by 11:55 PM Alaska Standard Time on September 16, 2026.

This recruitment is open internally to current UA employees or those otherwise eligible to apply to internal postings

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Kelsie Kingston at [email protected].

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

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This is a term-funded position reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at [email protected].

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or [email protected] / 907-786-1214 or [email protected]. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or [email protected].

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing [email protected].