Head of Communications&PR

Our client is a unique and innovative nonprofit that operates as a research institute outside the usual constraints of markets or academia, and is itself an experiment in how research organizations can move faster, take smarter risks, and produce lasting public goods. It focuses on backing high-leverage science and technology projects that don't have a natural home in traditional research or industry settings.

It supports research across AI and life sciences, alongside a program that fully funds exceptional scientists, covering salary and team budget to accelerate work that wouldn't get supported elsewhere.

The thread connecting these efforts is a deliberate bet on risk tolerance and speed. The organization holds a substantial endowment it intends to deploy boldly rather than preserve, and runs with a small team more like a startup than a foundation.

This organization is looking for a Project Manager to lead its Events and Communications functions, building its external presence and internal culture from the ground up. You'll own event strategy and execution, from small gatherings to larger symposiums, plus external communications across web, written content, and social channels.

This is a newly created, highly visible role reporting into senior operations leadership, with real potential to grow as the organization scales. Priorities shift quickly in this startup environment, and the role itself will evolve. Build repeatable systems, including playbooks, vendor relationships, and budgets, that let programming scale

Partner with leadership on the moments that bring a community together, including informal ones

Communications (~40%)

Shape and execute external communications strategy across audiences and channels

Own the website, blog, and social presence, including writing, editing, and coordinating updates

Manage a roster of external contractors, such as writers, designers, and PR, knowing when to draft something yourself versus bring in a specialist

General Operations (~20%)

Flex to support cross-functional needs as they come up in a young, fast-moving organization

A demonstrated ability to design and execute high-quality symposiums end to end, including the logistics that determine whether they work

Strong writing ability, with the range to draft in an appropriate voice and give substantive editorial direction on everything else

Comfort directing comms work and managing external contracts across modalities (writing, design, web, video, social), with the judgment to know when to draft something yourself versus bring in a specialist

Experience building the systems, playbooks, vendor relationships, and budgets that let programming scale without losing quality