The posting
Communications & Engagement Specialist III - Communications & Impact
The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.
The mission of the Administration team is to enable the people and science of the Allen Institute. We connect teams, steward resources, and build strong systems that give our accelerators the stability and flexibility to pursue ambitious questions, collaborate across disciplines, and share their work openly. Reporting to the Associate Director, Communications & Impact, the Engagement Specialist III translates the Allen Institute’s external engagement strategy into coordinated plans, processes, communications, and experiences that support relationship and partnership cultivation and stewardship. This role will develop and execute strategies that strengthen engagement across the Institute's various communities of supporters, partners, and stakeholders.
This role brings together input from scientists, Institute leaders, relationship managers, and Communications colleagues to create timely, relevant, and engaging content. The ideal candidate is a strong writer, strategic thinker, and highly organized project manager who can bring clarity to complex, cross-functional work and move initiatives from approved strategy through coordinated execution and follow-up.
At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.
We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.
Essential Functions
Engagement Planning & Operations
- Develop detailed engagement plans that drive the Institute’s engagement priorities and portfolio strategies
- Scope engagement opportunities and recommend priorities based on audience, objectives, strategic alignment, timing, capacity, and risk
- Drive engagement planning and portfolio reviews with relationship managers and internal partners, defining stakeholder journeys, coordinated touchpoints, internal roles, decision points, communications needs, milestones, and measures of success
- Maintain an integrated engagement calendar across stakeholder communications and events, and follow-up; monitor deadlines, dependencies, approvals, capacity, and resource needs
Stakeholder Communications & Engagement
- Lead planning and production of stakeholder communications and engagement materials across print and digital platforms, including e-newsletters, curated updates, impact reports, proposals, presentations, leadership communications, event collateral, and web content
- Write and edit clear and engaging content that translates scientific milestones, institutional priorities, partnership activity, and open science outputs for defined stakeholder audiences
- Review available audience segmentation, communications performance, engagement data, and stakeholder feedback to recommend improvements to content, cadence, channels, and future communications
Convenings & Event Activation
- Lead the activation of stakeholder meetings, site visits, convenings, partnership programs, and special events
- Serve as the internal project lead for assigned engagement activities, coordinating work across the Impact Team, Events Team, Communications department, science teams, executive leaders, and other internal partners
- Develop and maintain agendas, invitations, presentations, participant materials, leadership preparation, event communications, run-of-show documents, and other elements required for successful activation
Measurement, Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Use stakeholder research, audience segmentation, portfolio insights, and reporting provided by Research & Stewardship and CRM colleagues to inform engagement plans, communications, and activations
- Record engagement activity, decisions, commitments, and next steps accurately and consistently in the Institute’s approved tools and CRM
- Prepare regular summaries and updates for team leadership and contribute to the ongoing refinement of engagement practices and operating processes that strengthen consistency, support effective collaboration, and help the Impact Team scale its work
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, nonprofit management, business, project or program management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, external affairs, program or project management, events, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience independently managing complex, cross-functional projects, programs, or events from planning through execution and follow-up
- Strong writing and editing skills, including experience developing audience-specific communications, e-newsletters, or editorial plans
- Experience translating strategy into workplans, workflows, timelines, roles, deliverables, and approval processes
- Ability to translate complex scientific, technical, or institutional information into clear, accessible content for varied audiences
- Strong facilitation, interpersonal, and collaboration skills, including the ability to coordinate work involving senior leaders and multiple internal teams
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and dependencies
- Experience using customer relationship management, email marketing, and project-management tools as a business user
- Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to anticipate risks, resolve operational issues, and elevate decisions appropriately
Preferred Education and Experience
- Experience in a nonprofit, research, life sciences, civic, or other mission-driven organization
- Experience planning and activating convenings, stakeholder visits, or other external engagement experiences
- Experience coordinating executive or senior-leadership participation in external meetings and events
- Experience using engagement metrics, communications performance, or participant feedback to improve programs and processes
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and familiarity with CRM, email marketing, and project-management platforms
Physical Demands
- Occasional lifting to 30 pounds
- Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment
- Push/pull up to 50 pounds
- Stooping, bending, and crouching
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
- Occasional evening and weekend hours required
- This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.
Annualized Salary Range
- $93,650 - $127,380*
* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.
Benefits
Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.
It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities
