The Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) at William & Mary is at the forefront of transformational research and education that advances conservation efforts, solves real-world conservation challenges, and protects the environment for generations to come. By combining forces with public, private and nonprofit sectors, and leveraging William & Mary’s interdisciplinary expertise, entrepreneurial culture, and global perspective, the IIC cultivates and mobilizes an inclusive community of leaders to develop integrative solutions to global conservation challenges and to prepare the next generation of diverse, effective, and bold conservation leaders. The IIC supports multidisciplinary teams of faculty, staff, and students to address conservation issues in a multitude of ways. We take an integrative approach that leverages expertise from across disciplines and sectors, blends diverse knowledge systems, and fosters collaboration among academia, public and private sectors, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities to advance innovative and effective solutions to conservation challenges. The IIC is seeking applicants for a Senior Communications Specialist to lead and execute the full communications pipeline for conservation storytelling, from strategy and story development through production and distribution. The incumbent in this position will be integral to the strategic growth and sustainability of the IIC. The selected candidate will be an active team member focusing on further developing and implementing the IIC communication strategy, which includes targeted, action-oriented communication to our IIC constituents, improving and managing IIC communication processes, leading collaborative storytelling with the IIC team, and supporting communications for IIC advancement initiatives internally and externally. This ideal candidate is someone who can comfortably lead the IIC storytelling strategy and thrives in a dynamic, start-up-like environment and is motivated to shape and scale a growing program. This individual in this position identifies compelling stories, translates complex work into accessible narratives and ensures that content is strategically distributed across digital channels, earned media, and paid amplification. The role works collaboratively with colleagues across the IIC (including the IIC Board and IIC Advisory Council), University Marketing and Communications to position William & Mary as a leading voice on the issues shaping our world. Job Description:Required Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or a related field. Significant professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism, or strategic storytelling (typically 5 years). Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into compelling content for diverse audiences. Exceptional editing skills, with strong attention to detail, consistency, and quality control. Demonstrated experience producing and promoting content across channels (e.g., web, social media, multimedia) aligned with organizational priorities. Experience developing and executing earned media strategies and working with journalists. Strong understanding of digital communications, including website management, content distribution, and analytics. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate effectively across teams and constituents. Demonstrated experience using core digital communications and outreach platforms (e.g., Google Analytics 4, WordPress, Mailchimp, Hootsuite) to manage content, execute campaigns, and analyze performance. Commitment to the mission of the Institute for Integrative Conservation. Preferred Qualifications:Graduate degree or equivalent advanced professional experience in a relevant field. Experience in conservation, higher education, research communications, or mission-driven organizations. Experience supporting thought leadership, reputation-building, or national visibility campaigns. Familiarity with multimedia storytelling, content marketing, and integrated communications strategies. Experience in developing multiple different types of communications products, including press releases, briefs, long and short form articles, fundraising copy, and social media copy. Experience supervising staff and/or mentoring students. Experience providing strategic leadership in communications.