Communications Manager

The NSF Center for Community Empowering Pandemic Prediction and Prevention from Atoms to Societies (COMPASS Center) at Virginia Tech has an aspirational vision: a world where we can accurately foresee pandemics and minimize their impact. The Center invites applications for a Communications Manager. Reporting to the Director of the COMPASS Center, the Communications Manager will plan, execute, and evaluate a variety of communications initiatives, projects, and platforms on behalf of the center that strategically align with the broader goals of the University. The manager will develop an annual work plan in consultation with the supervisor and in close collaboration with the Project Manager of the COMPASS Center and the Director of Communications and Marketing for the College of Engineering. This plan will include a communications strategy for the closely related Pandemic Prediction and Prevention Destination Area (PPP DA). The candidate will be evaluated on the success of this plan.

The Communications Manager must have a strong background in digital communications strategies, excellent writing and editing skills, and be familiar with basic graphic design. They must also have demonstrated experience in other communications skillsets, including working with subject matter experts to identify and develop stories about the center’s research, writing for a variety of platforms and occasions, social media management, website development and maintenance, videography and photography and/or media relations. The manager should also be able to navigate multiple competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Specific work responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, serving as producer and editor of newsletters and stories that highlight Compass Center and PPP DA research and other activities; participating in Center and DA activities; directing, executing, and evaluating the Center’s and DA’s social media and website strategy; overseeing other digital and print forms of communication (including photography and videography); and participating in events and activities at the center and DA level, and in some cases, at the department and college level.

This position is in-person, with the option to discuss remote work flexibility opportunities after 6 months.

This individual’s efforts must be strategically aligned to support the goals and priorities of the COMPASS Center, the PPP DA, and the university. The Communications Manager must follow established brand guidelines, university policies and procedures, and accessibility standards.

● Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.

● Strong written communication skills, including editing and copywriting.

● Experience interviewing and eliciting information from subject matter experts to support strategic organizational communication.

● Experience working with communication platforms in a professional setting.

● Experience meeting deadlines and navigating multiple projects simultaneously.

● Ability to work occasionally in the evening or at a weekend event.

● Ability to travel occasionally.

● Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.

● Demonstrated organizational/interpersonal skills, creativity, flexibility, self-motivation, and the ability to thrive in a team setting.

● Proven history of work with digital content strategy and management, including content management systems and other web platforms as well as professional/organizational social media management.

● Experience with developing promotional materials.

● Experience with visual communication mediums, such as photography, videography, and/or graphic design.

● Experience in a higher education, independent school, or non-profit environment.

5

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Restricted

Hourly Rate: $27-$30

Less than 29h/wk. average

December 3, 2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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