The ICTD program has an outstanding opportunity for a Communications Specialist to join our growing team. This individual will be responsible for the development, production, and dissemination of all ICTD communications, including online media, press releases, journal submissions, research reports and summaries, presentations, and videos. They will devise a communication strategy for all aspects of ICTD communications (internal and external) and will devise standards, templates, and processes to ensure quality and consistency. They will write and edit as needed, and hire and manage any additional staff required, such as graphic designers, editors, media relations specialists, and web development experts.

The audiences for ICTD communications includes prospective and current sponsors, the University of Washington community,  the information and society community, research partners, and prospective employees. The ICTD Communications Specialist will work with ICTD researchers to understand and respond to target audience needs.

ICTD envisions a communications strategy that relies heavily on online media, and specifically on an attractive and usable web site that informs visitors about the ICTD program, provides project status updates, and promotes research findings to a global audience. We envision creating a knowledge-sharing platform and virtual community — spaces for researchers from around the world to exchange ideas, discuss findings, and learn from one another. The Communications Specialist will be responsible for selecting a content management system and managing the development of a user interface and information architecture that create a strong online presence, increase the number of visitors, and promote active contributions and participation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ICTD internal and external communications strategy
• Write and edit communications materials, in close collaboration with program researchers
• Ensure quality and consistency of all ICTD communications
• Work with researchers to understand the characteristics and needs of the various audiences; ensure that communications activities support both department goals and audience needs
• Produce and maintain a usable, attractive website and vibrant online community
• Manage any additional staff required, such as graphic designers, editors, media relations specialists, and web development experts
• Work with the Director to set expectations and create a web publishing plan that ensures that all ICTD team members regularly — and autonomously — produce and publish content 
• Work with technical expert  to establish web metrics and provide monthly analysis to guide online communications efforts
• Establish a system to consolidate, archive, and tag multimedia assets from all ICTD team members (with a focus on images, using Flickr, Ning, or similar)
• Manage the production of video clips for ICTD web site and presentations
• Track and share innovative communications technologies and best practices
• Assist with the production of ICTD events

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Communication, Journalism or related field
• Experience developing, implementing, and tracking strategic communications programs
• Experience producing user-friendly web sites that promote projects,  ideas, and facilitate collaboration
• Experience with constituent/customer relationship management systems (CRM) and web content management Systems (CMS)
• Solid understanding of usability and information architecture best practices
• Ability to synthesize and communicate technical/specialized content and make complex issues accessible to a range of audiences; must excel at helping researchers and experts promote their ideas, findings, and policy recommendations
• Excellent writing, editing, speaking, facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage projects and interdisciplinary teams
• Ability to mentor colleagues to improve their communication skills and help them become more comfortable producing online content and acting as community leaders and facilitators
• Familiarity with web 2.0 tools such as del.icio.us, flickr, blogs, and social networking platforms
• A passion for harnessing the web and creating community
• Ability to work with and motivate diverse student populations
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Must have initiative and be a self-starter who is able to quickly and creatively solve problems
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize projects

Desired

• Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations
• Solid understanding of graphic design and multimedia production processes
• Experience building online communities and managing high-impact online communications programs
• Experience within higher education web environments
• Excellent information and communication technology skills, particularly as applied to development and social change projects
• Prior experience and interest working in information science, other social science and/or applied research environment
• Prior experience or interest in international development

To learn more about the ICTD program and our research areas, please visit us at http://www.cis.washington.edu/ictd.

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