Job Description
Functional Title: CISSM/GoTech Communications and Events Coordinator
Compensation: Mid-$40s-60,000 FTE, commensurate with experience
University of Maryland School of Public Policy (PLCY)
Department/Office: Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland(CISSM) and Center for Governance of Technology and Systems (GoTech)
Application Deadline: August 14, 2023 (best consideration)
Application Link: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/110137
Position Overview: The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) and the Center for Governance of Technology and Systems (GoTech) are research, education, and outreach units of the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy (SPP). Over more than three decades, CISSM has established a strong reputation internationally and nationally for innovative policy research on complex global security challenges, broadly defined, and a set of signature activities, including the biweekly CISSM forum speaker series and the quarterly CISSM update. Several new faculty and research associates have joined CISSM in recent years, so we are looking for a communications and events coordinator who will take initiative to refine and implement our strategy for elevating and broadening CISSM’s engagement with audiences from the local to the global. GoTech is newly established as an independent research and policy engagement center that has a close working relationship with CISSM. It is looking for a communications and events coordinator who will help it forge a clear identity, raise awareness of its activities and outputs, and build a reputation for tackling complex technology governance issues in a creative, yet rigorous and practical manner. This is initially structured as a half-time position with the potential to grow into a full-time position.
Position Description: The Communications and Events Coordinator will work with CISSM and GoTech leadership to develop and execute strategies and action plans that advance the centers’ objectives, contribute to SPP’s mission, and elevate their reputations. The Communications and Events Coordinator will drive awareness and recognition of CISSM/GoTech and its associated thought leadership initiatives and research programs through strategic messaging; content creation and publishing; event planning and execution; writing and editing in a variety of styles; website management; media pitching; and more.
The Communications and Events Coordinator should be entrepreneurial and reliable. They will join dedicated, talented teams at two centers that work together on many projects. They will collaborate with a variety of internal and external constituencies in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. This position does not have direct staff reports but will have the opportunity to hire, train, and supervise temporary student workers or interns. This position requires occasional evening and weekend work.
Strategic Communications: (30%)
Develop and execute CISSM and GoTech’s communications strategies and action plans in coordination with center leadership and the SPP communications team to elevate and promote both centers’ research, initiatives, events, and educational offering to key audiences, including U.S. and foreign policymakers and experts, academics, journalists, current and prospective students, alumni, and funders. This position requires pro-active engagement with faculty to help the communicate and disseminate their research findings effectively to different audiences, including U.S. and foreign policymakers and experts, practitioners, academics, journalists, thought leaders, and interested citizens. It also involves story development and curation to highlight the continued relevance of previous research projects and activities associated with CISSM and GoTech, and to attract new students, research associates, and funders.
Design and oversee content generation and production of print and online visual communications, including but not limited to one-pagers, newsletters, presentations, policy briefs, op eds., reports, etc. Ensure creative production, high-quality copyediting and graphics, message and tone alignment with strategic objectives, and consistency of materials.
Website Management (25%)
Responsible for maintaining CISSM and GoTech’s websites including regular copy, graphic and photo updates on all pages; new page development; managing updates to the GoTech Insights blog series; other ongoing site maintenance and advancement.
Event Planning and Implementation (30%)
The coordinator will help plan and handle logistics for CISSM’s biweekly global forum seminar series, as well as CISSM and GoTech special events and workshops. They will build and maintain a potential speaker list, working with center leadership on speaker selection to ensure that a diverse range of speakers and topics are represented. They will schedule speakers, reserve rooms, publicize events, do post-event follow-up, and handle other logistics.
Relationship Management and Campus/Community Engagement (10%)
The coordinator will maintain contact management databases, to include data entry, data cleaning, reporting, engagement with affiliates, alumni, students, and external stakeholders (i.e., media, grant funders, academic partners etc.,) In addition, the coordinator will oversee CISSM and GoTech’s participation in school and campus-wide prospective and current student activities and programming.
Other duties as assigned (5%)
The Communications and Events Coordinator is part of a growing team, with ambitious goals over the next five years. The coordinator will partner with the center leadership, supporting other CISSM and GoTech efforts as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Experience
● Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public policy, international relations or related field
● At least 2 years of relevant professional experience
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
● Demonstrated strategic thinking and excellent project management skills to build and manage cohesive and integrative programs and communications
● Superb writing, editing and proofreading skills, as well as strong verbal communication skills (including public speaking and presentation skills)
● Ability to communicate complex and technical research in terms and formats useful to policy practitioners and accessible to general audiences.
● Proficient digital media management skills and track record, including website and social media management
● Demonstrated ability to work independently and set priorities across multiple assignments, as well as to work cooperatively and strategically in a team environment
● Excellent time management skills and ability to complete assignments on schedule.
● Possess sound judgment, tact and diplomacy in working with a variety of personalities and constituencies internally, across SPP and UMD, and externally including international partners.
● Commitment to expanding multicultural knowledge, awareness and skills as evidenced through demonstrating self-awareness; understanding and valuing others; showing sensitivity to social inequalities; interacting effectively with a diversity of people; and fostering equity and inclusion.
Preferred Qualifications
● Interest in international security, foreign policy, and/or technology governance issues
● Familiarity with academic research centers and educational operations
● Experience with project management and digital software and systems (such as Hootsuite or Buffer, Drupal, Google Analytics, Google Workspace)
● Knowledge of and experience with HTML mark-up language
● Experience with email and contact management systems (such as Constant Contact and Squarespace)
● Experience in graphic design software and systems (Canva)
Compensation: The full-time salary for this position would be in the mid-$40s-60,000, commensurate with experience. This position would begin as a half-time job with benefits. It has the potential to become full-time as the two centers’ needs and resources continue to grow.
Work arrangements: The job can be done fully in person or hybrid, but not fully remote. It involves occasional evening and weekend work. Working hours are generally flexible, so long as the coordinator can meet deadlines consistently and be present for scheduled events.
University of Maryland: The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. Proximity to federal departments and agencies, business and technology leaders, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations creates countless opportunities. The University is a diverse and inclusive community that is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time. It is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature and impact. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit umd.edu.
School of Public Policy: The University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy is a highly ranked program with a faculty of scholars and distinguished practitioners who contribute to research, education, and impact across all public policy disciplines and collaborate with faculty at many other departments and units across campus. The School currently houses research centers covering international security, governance of technology, sustainability, non-profit management, civic engagement, and leadership. It has highly ranked graduate programs, a relatively new undergraduate major, and multiple undergraduate minor programs, and Executive education offerings. For more information, go to https://spp.umd.edu/.
The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) conducts research, informs policy debates, and helps current and future leaders find creative solutions to complex global challenges. CISSM includes full-time faculty and staff, research associates, postdoctoral fellows, graduate research assistants, and short-term visitors. Current projects include shaping great power politics; nuclear risk reduction efforts with Russia, China, Iran, and other countries; how advances in cyber, space, and other emerging technologies impact strategic stability; dynamics of civil violence, insurgency, and countering violent extremism; security and governance in the Horn of Africa; forecasting acute malnutrition for humanitarian action, and global health security during covid-19. CISSM researchers publish in academic and policy-oriented outlets, write op-eds, brief policymakers, and participate in conferences and public events. CISSM also publishes in-house research reports, working papers, and policy briefs, organizes workshops, and hosts the CISSM Global Forum, a bi-weekly lunchtime speaker series.
The Center for Governance of Technology and Systems (GoTech) is building an expansive community of educators, researchers, private practitioners, and policy-makers to explore the development, governance, and sustainment of complex critical infrastructure technologies and networks through rigorous interdisciplinary research; help advance a holistic approaches to governance through effective engagement between the public and private sector; and develop interdisciplinary educational programs.
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. It does not discriminate in any aspect of admission, employment, or educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment.
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