Communications Manager

Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF)

Full-time | Remote in MA | Statewide Travel Required

The Organization

MSEF supports middle and high school students engaged in independent science and engineering research. These STEM learning projects help students think independently and critically as well as innovate around local and global challenges. Students experience the excitement of pursuing their interests and passions and the pride of showcasing their work. Through the science fair program, students experience the professional practices of working scientists and engineers.

The Opportunity

The Communications Manager will support the organization’s efforts to increase organizational visibility for the purpose of program and funding growth. This work will focus on refining our core messaging, building consistent communications with our various stakeholders, identifying opportunities for thought leadership, and recognizing our network stakeholders. This role blends strategic communications planning with hands-on content creation and execution.

Each year, thousands of Massachusetts students explore original research questions — from climate science to biomedical engineering — through science fair projects. The Communications Manager will help share these stories of curiosity, discovery, and innovation, helping more schools, partners, and communities understand the impact of student-led research.

As a small organization that operates a remote-only office, all members of the team work collaboratively - both supporting and learning from each other. Candidates must be based in Massachusetts.

Here’s Some of What You Will Be Doing

Message building

• Helping refine MSEF’s core messaging framework (“why we exist”)
• Ensure consistent messaging across grants, website, newsletters, social, and board materials
• Develop clear value propositions for our varied stakeholder groups:
  • Funders
  • Schools
  • Teachers
  • Volunteers
  • Corporate partners
  • Alumni

Support existing Communications in collaboration with Development and Program functions

• Newsletters – both general and educator
• Impact report
• Funder recognition during fair season
• School recruitment/retention tools: Posters, social assets, or short videos designed for school announcements.

Support strategic opportunities for thought leadership and advocacy

• Support publication of op-eds or blog posts on the importance of science fair
• Share data and stories that highlight MSEF’s overlay with the state’s innovation ecosystem.
• Help prepare staff for relevant convenings – both schools and broader educational events
• Make connections to raise visibility e.g. organize bringing public representatives into classrooms or alert to local student accomplishment

This is what success will look like:

• Development of an organizational strategic communications calendar
• Supporting increased sponsor retention as well as school and teacher retention year over year
• Support of new school onboarding increasing, with multi-year support plans in place
• Formalization of judge recruitment campaign, including regional fairs
• Development of a legislative visibility plan
• Actionable insights from data (e.g., quarterly trend briefs that drive changes)

Are you a good fit?

• You are a strong relationship builder who enjoys working with diverse stakeholders
• You believe that anyone can find a place for themselves in STEM
• You don’t mind working alone, but get excited when you can work with a team
• You’re a dot-connector
• You love a good plan and list action items and you’re comfortable creating systems to keep things organized
• You’re comfortable with experimentation and being flexible
• You are a creative problem‑solver who likes improving systems and experiences
• You thrive in a fast‑paced environment with multiple priorities
• You are a proactive problem‑solver who looks for ways to improve processes
• You are energized by mission‑driven work and collaborative teamwork

What’s needed to succeed

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and communicate effectively with colleagues, partners, and external contributors
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail and openness to feedback
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and changing priorities
• Experience or familiarity supporting social media, email newsletters, and websites using platforms like Constant Contact, WordPress, and/or Hootsuite.
• Experience in creating visual and digital content
  • Excellent listening skills and strong writing skills
  • Experience working with students historically underrepresented in STEM
  • Driver’s license and clean driving record
  • Willingness to travel in-State
  • Ability to work remotely as part of a team
  • Willingness to assist with assorted tasks that inevitably arise with a small organization
  • Facility with Microsoft Office software, Google, and other digital tools and experience with databases and organizational systems

We realize that one candidate may not have all the skills listed here, so please apply if you believe your experience and skills fit most of the job requirements.

MSEF is a small non-profit with a rich history and strong links to education, industry and academia. This position will be one of 6 staff. MSEF does not have an office and operates as a remote organization. All candidates must be amenable to working remotely. Given local events, meetings, and relationship building, candidates must be based in Massachusetts.

MSEF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse, equitable, and inclusive team. We encourage applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply.

Please see application requirements below, which include a writing sample. This should answer one of the following questions (no longer than 500 words):

• Tell us about a time you built a communications strategy from scratch. What problem were you solving, what was your strategy built around, and how did you measure success?
• Give an example of a time you had to adjust your messaging after realizing it wasn’t resonating with the audience. What happened and how did you pivot?
• Describe your process for transforming complex information into content for a non‑expert audience.

The position includes partial health insurance reimbursement, and the opportunity to contribute to a retirement plan with a match (after 1 year). MSEF will provide and/or reimburse for technology needed to support a remote work environment.