Communications Associate- Economic Growth Center (EGC)

Communications Associate

For more than sixty years, the Economic Growth Center (EGC) at Yale University has been one of the world's premier centers for research in development economics. EGC's faculty affiliates have shaped how economists, governments, and international institutions understand growth and poverty in low- and middle-income countries. Together with Inclusion Economics at Yale University (YIE), EGC works at the frontier of questions that will define the next generation of global development.

The Economic Growth Center (EGC) and Inclusion Economics at Yale University (YIE) seek a Communications Associate to advance strategic communications that bring policy-relevant research to the audiences positioned to act on it: policymakers, funders, journalists, external research colleagues, and the Yale campus community. The ideal candidate is a communications generalist eager to engage with international development: managing our website, supporting design for social media, policy briefs, newsletters, and presentations, helping deliver events, and coordinating economics communications projects from conception to completion. A background in economics, international development, or a related field such as global affairs or policy is a distinct asset.

Below we list all the activities this job supports. We don't expect candidates to have experience in all of these areas, but it is important to want to learn them and to be interested in our work. If you think you could be successful, we encourage you to apply.

External Communications

• Manage and update website content to showcase new development economics research – working papers, publications, policy briefs, and study findings.
• Build and redesign webpages across existing platforms to support new studies, publications, events and personnel.
• Draft, edit, and publish social media content, including through affiliated organizations, that highlights our research on growth, poverty, and inclusion and its policy and real-world relevance in low- and middle-income countries, coordinating with team members on content input.
• Edit short videos of events and interviews for the website and social media.
• Manage social media feeds across platforms (currently LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Facebook), including tracking and reporting metrics.
• Manage mailing lists and newsletters reaching researcher, policy, and funder audiences.
• With input and guidance from research and communications teams, develop and design online and print communications materials, brochures, presentations, newsletters, annual reports, and other collateral and presentation materials; make artistic layouts independently under general supervision and within brand guidelines; create and maintain electronic library of photos, data visualizations and other communications-related elements and templates.
• Support the organization of in-person, hybrid, and online events and conferences – including flagship convenings that are major moments for the development economics field and draw leading scholars and policymakers, Nobel laureates among them – in collaboration with team members: coordinating speakers and guests, developing and disseminating communications material, advertising across social media and other channels, and arranging video and recording logistics.
• Manage communications for activities such as webinars and public lectures, including liaising with speakers and developing and promoting content through strategic communication channels, with a focus on presenting research at the nexus of development economics and policy.
• Manage the internal database of communications resources and materials such as the photo library.
• Draft and disseminate newsletters.
• Assist in developing communications guidelines – overseeing the team's use of branding materials such as organizational logos, and ensuring continuity across platforms and materials.
• Liaise with website developers and consultants such as hired photographers and videographers.
• Contribute to communications-related trainings for staff at Yale and affiliated hub organizations to ensure guidelines and best practices are followed across initiatives.
• Provide tracking and project management of ongoing communications and event support efforts (including relationship management of contractors).
• Other responsibilities related to communications and policy dissemination.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; ability to communicate complex economics research methods and insights clearly and succinctly for a general interest audience. Background or knowledge of development economics preferred.

2. Graphic design and/or website design experience (in platforms such as Drupal, Adobe, or Canva) strongly preferred.

3. Strong project management skills required, with experience using tools such as Asana is an asset.

4. Strong interpersonal skills and a willingness to interact with a wide range of individuals ranging from Research Associates to academics, donors, research institutions, etc.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Masters or higher degree in a related field plus two years of experience in a communications-focused role, ideally focused on development economics research or development policy.

2. Experience in a university, research organization, or non-profit communications environment preferred.