Organizational Context: NCA's mission is to advance communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media, and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific, and aesthetic inquiry. The NCA serves the scholars, teachers, and practitioners who are its members by enabling and supporting their professional interests in research and teaching. Dedicated to fostering and promoting free and ethical communication, the NCA promotes the widespread appreciation of the importance of communication in public and private life, the application of competent communication to improve the quality of human life and relationships, and the use of knowledge about communication to solve social problems. NCA's national office has a staff of fifteen and is located in Washington, D.C.
Reporting Structure: The Director of Public Affairs and Public Information reports to the Executive Director and jointly supervises the Communications Associate with the Director of Publications.
Job Classification: Exempt
Essential Functions:
• Develop and manage the association's media relations strategy to improve public understanding of communication research
o Develop and implement a proactive media outreach plan including, among other things, press releases, media advisories, journalist visits to NCA's annual convention, and editorial writing
o Respond to media inquiries quickly and effectively
o Foster a culture among communication scholars of talking to the press about communication research
o Develop relationships with key journalists who focus on communication issues
• Develop and implement public programs to improve public understanding of communication research
• Increase the translation of communication research for policy-making purposes
o Increase advocacy for disciplinary research support in the appropriations process
o Engage in other advocacy efforts designed to support the work of our members as scholars and educators in the humanities and social sciences
o Pursue opportunities to provide communication expertise to national policymakers to inform their decisions
o Cultivate relationships for productive purpose with policymakers, public policy organizations, lobbyists, and other relevant parties
o Collaborate with related advocacy organizations, such as the Consortium of Social Science Associations and the National Humanities Alliance
• Manage the section of the association's website that is for audiences external to the discipline, including the public, the media, and public policy makers (note: new website with this section will be launching December 2011)
• Manage NCA's social media strategy
• Manage a substantial departmental operating budget
• Respond to a variety of relevant requests for assistance from NCA members
• Collaborate with relevant organizational committees and other volunteer leadership groups in the interest of supporting NCA's activities related to external representation of the discipline
• Co-supervise the Communications Associate
• Foster and model civil discourse and open and ethical communication
• Serve as a member of the association's senior leadership team and manage additional related responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director
Preferred Qualifications:
• BA or advanced degree in a related field such as communications, journalism, or public policy
• Ten or more years of professional experience in media and/or government relations
• Knowledge of the social sciences and humanities; familiarity with scholarly research
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing
• Ability to make complicated ideas understandable by diverse audiences
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience. A full benefits package is provided to all NCA staff members.
To apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Nancy Kidd, Ph.D., Executive Director, at nkidd@natcom.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until someone has been hired.
NCA is an equal opportunity employer.
SOURCE: PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL 11/14/11
