Communications and Community Manager

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

145d • Hybrid

About The Position

At the Institutional Data Initiative (IDI), we are focused on expanding access to and understanding of the data that underpins Artificial Intelligence (AI). By collaborating with library, government, and academic institutions to publish their knowledge collections as AI training sets, IDI aims to empower these institutions and their represented cultures, build a foundational pipeline for academic inquiry of AI, and advance the state of the art for AI system builders. Our initial release, Institutional Books, includes nearly 1 million public domain books scanned through Harvard Library.

The Communications and Community Manager will serve as IDI’s primary convener, connector, and storyteller. This role will own a communications and events strategy that spans IDI’s website, social media, press coverage, community channels, and both in-person and virtual events. The objective is to grow IDI’s profile and network across three key areas: the knowledge institutions we partner with, the researchers and developers who engage with our data or similar projects, and the funders who support our operations. Success in this role hinges on collaboration, as each audience connects to an IDI colleague’s portfolio. The Manager will foster this multi-faceted community by leading the formation and tracking of a network of technologists, academics, students, cultural stakeholders, and others who enhance IDI’s capabilities, capacity, and perspectives. A deep understanding of IDI’s work and the needs of its diverse stakeholder communities, coupled with prior experience representing organizations at a high level, will be essential.

IDI’s impact is often amplified by the unique intersections between our partner knowledge institutions, data users and researchers, and funding communities. IDI operates within Harvard and in conjunction with the Library Innovation Lab, the Berkman Klein Center, and the Applied Social Media Lab. Engaging these communities, among others, is vital to fulfilling our mission. As IDI’s initial point of contact in many channels, the individual in this role must possess a strong grasp of AI technologies and IDI’s workflows to effectively direct inquiries from community members to the appropriate resources.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of experience in communications, management or public relations and multi-media.
• An interest in developing a high-level understanding of AI and a desire to guide AI toward the public interest.
• Experience setting and executing communications strategy, and an interest in organizational storytelling across multiple media platforms.
• Experience developing and executing an events strategy.
• Experience fostering and managing a collaborative community including technical, arts, or literary communities and especially open source software projects.
• Broad knowledge of AI scholarly research, public policy and legislation, and industry developments as well as an ability to effectively communicate that knowledge to diverse public and private audiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, ethical standards, discretion, and tact.

Nice To Haves

• A network of personal connections to media professionals is a plus.
• A track record of shipping projects, especially in high-velocity organizations.

Responsibilities

• Own, from development to execution, IDI’s communications and community strategy. Create a multifaceted, multichannel approach to raising IDI’s profile and amplifying our impact among key audiences.
• Develop and execute successful outreach strategies to press and target audiences.
• Create and communicate a coherent set of narratives to bring our projects to internal and external audiences.
• Represent IDI at external conferences and workshops.
• Build connections among communities that could benefit from or amplify IDI’s work.
• Manage the production of news stories, blog posts, reports, website content, social media content, print materials, newsletters, and other forms of digital and multimedia content.
• Maintain IDI’s brand and design guidelines.
• Develop and execute workshops, conferences, and other convenings where IDI may gather our stakeholder community and advance specific targets. Examples include onsite council meetings, collaborative workshops with the Berkman Klein Center that consider related policy questions, and partner symposia.
• Create and manage accounts on platforms (Slack, X, HuggingFace, et al) where IDI may gather and engage with the community.
• Foster collaboration with and amplify communications through sibling organizations including the Library Innovation Lab, Berkman Klein Center, Applied Social Media Lab, and Harvard at large.
• Formally and informally advise IDI staff on communications best practices both within the IDI ecosystem and in general.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level