Senior Communication Scientist - Social Sciences Research

Overview

RTI’s Communication Practice Area seeks a Senior Communication Science Researcher Scientist with experience researching, designing, delivering and evaluating communication messages, interventions, programs, or campaigns.

RTI is a non-profit, mission-driven organization that tackles critical problems in health, environment, education, justice and equity.

RTI’s Communication Practice Area work on behalf of domestic, public sector clients to research, design, deliver and evaluate evidence-based solutions to address real-world challenges across the domains of health, education, justice and climate.

Our communication scientists and strategists works across the communication lifecycle, conducting research to understand an audience’s information needs and engaging communities for whom key messages are intended.

Using human-centered design and plain language principles, we develop communication messages and products that help people make everyday decisions.

As leaders in evaluation, we help our clients assess the delivery and impact of communication efforts. With expertise in all quantitative and qualitative methods, we design rigorous, comprehensive evaluations that focus on measuring key outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, and informed decision-making.

Our communication scientists and strategists work on behalf of domestic, public sector clients to research, design, deliver and evaluate evidence-based solutions to address real-world challenges across the domains of health, education, justice and climate.

Responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced and motivated communication research scientist to continue building a portfolio of project work, mentoring and developing staff, representing RTI externally at conferences and professional meetings, and disseminating the team’s work through peer-reviewed publications, presenting at professional conferences and through other mechanisms.

Success in this role requires demonstrated experience successfully leading large-scale, complex proposals and projects for domestic, public sector clients;

including designing and implementing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research studies and evaluations; and working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.

This person will be a thinker and a doer, who takes initiative; values research and evidence while also embracing innovative methods, processes and approaches to solve complex problems;

and perseveres in delivering the promise of science for global good.

This position is open to individuals interested in working from our headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, or Atlanta, Georgia, Washington, D.

C., or Waltham, Massachusettone of RTI’s regional offices. Remote workers will also be considered, but must be in the eastern time zone some travel is likely.

Responsibilities to include, but not be limited to :

• Leading large-scale, complex proposals focused on communication science and strategy in the areas of public health, climate, education, justice and equity for domestic, public sector clients.
• Serving as Project Director or Principal Investigator on large-scale projects focused on communication science and strategy for domestic public sector clients.
• Mentoring and developing staffjunior and mid-level staff on proposal and project teams.
• Disseminating our work, including but not limited to publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at professional meetings and conferences.
• Communicating effectively with multidisciplinary team members (e.g., researchers, designers, developers, writers, subject matter experts) to successfully manage proposal and project activities.
• Additional duties identified in collaboration with supervisor.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 15 years of experience, Master's degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Degree in a Social Science, Communication, Public Health or related field.
• Proven success leading complex, large-scale proposals and securing contracts or grant funding from domestic, public sector clients, including federal agencies (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA).
• Proven success managing large-scale, complex projects and working closely with clients to ensure that contractual requirements (deliverables, timelines and budget) and client expectations are met using the highest standards of quality and collegiality.
• Proven successExperience managing multiple project teams of senior, mid-level, and junior staff, and bringing in expert consultants and / or subcontractors as needed, to meet client expectations and contractual requirements, including the financial and administrative aspects of ongoing projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in researching audiences and engaging diverse community members for the purpose of segmenting and identifying key insights to inform communication message, product, intervention or campaign development.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise reports and presentations of complex data and concepts for professional and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership in contributing to communication, behavioral science, or public health literature and mentoring of team members in developing scientific stature.
• Excellent oral communication skills, including negotiation, compromise and building consensus within and between groups.
• Approaches situations with a growth mindset.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require now, or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa Skills or Experience (one or more)

Desired Skills or Experience (one or more)

• Experience with cClimate change communication
• Experience with the iIntersection of communication science and strategy with responsible generative artificial intelligence (AI)
• Experience dDeveloping and implementing successful communication strategies for multicultural or bilingual audiences
• Experience in a cContract research environment
13 days ago