Communications & Outreach Manager (TEMP)

UCF; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) leads strategic communications and stakeholder engagement for UCF’s applied research initiatives. This role oversees content, platforms, events, and brand-aligned messaging across communications channels.

The position requires a Master’s degree and 7–10 years in strategic communications or related programs. It also involves guiding crisis communications, media inquiries, and high-level outreach while supervising priorities and deliverables.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in communications or related field with 7-10 years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, or related program communications.
• Experience in communications strategy, message architecture, editorial planning, and brand governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive communications and outreach strategies that support institutional goals, research initiatives, and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Create and maintain messaging frameworks, communication plans, editorial calendars, and brand governance standards.
• Lead executive, sponsor, public, and multi-stakeholder communications, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Oversee website content, publications, newsletters, annual reports, technical communications, and other digital and print communications resources.
• Coordinate and support workshops, conferences, advisory councils, industry engagement activities, public events, and community outreach initiatives.
• Develop communications materials that effectively translate complex research, technical, and programmatic information for diverse audiences.
• Manage communications review and approval processes to ensure quality, compliance, and alignment with institutional standards.
• Provide guidance and support for sensitive issues, media inquiries, reputational risks, and crisis communications activities.
• Monitor communication effectiveness and stakeholder engagement metrics and recommend improvements to outreach strategies.
• Collaborate with institute leadership, researchers, sponsors, university partners, government agencies, industry representatives, and external stakeholders.
• Supervise communications projects, prioritize workloads, and manage communications deliverables across multiple initiatives and deadlines.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives that enhance institutional visibility, partnerships, and research impact.

Skills

Communications strategy

Executive communications

Public relations

Stakeholder engagement

Workshops and events

Brand governance

Crisis communications

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Pegasus Research Institute:

Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) is the University of Central Florida’s applied research institute, bringing together expertise from across UCF to solve complex, real-world challenges. Through multidisciplinary collaboration among faculty, researchers, students, and industry and government partners, PRI helps move innovative ideas from research and prototyping to real-world validation and deployment. Its work spans space technologies, health and human performance, energy and sustainability, immersive experiences, and transformative technologies and national security, creating a dynamic environment where research, innovation, and operational impact intersect.

The Opportunity

This position leads the development and execution of strategic communications, outreach initiatives, and stakeholder engagement activities that advance the Research Institute's mission, visibility, and impact. This position is responsible for managing internal and external communications, overseeing content development and digital platforms, coordinating events and engagement activities, and ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment across all communications channels. The manager serves as a key advisor on communications strategy, public relations, and stakeholder engagement while supervising communications priorities and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive communications and outreach strategies that support institutional goals, research initiatives, and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Create and maintain messaging frameworks, communication plans, editorial calendars, and brand governance standards.
• Lead executive, sponsor, public, and multi-stakeholder communications, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Oversee website content, publications, newsletters, annual reports, technical communications, and other digital and print communications resources.
• Coordinate and support workshops, conferences, advisory councils, industry engagement activities, public events, and community outreach initiatives.
• Develop communications materials that effectively translate complex research, technical, and programmatic information for diverse audiences.
• Manage communications review and approval processes to ensure quality, compliance, and alignment with institutional standards.
• Provide guidance and support for sensitive issues, media inquiries, reputational risks, and crisis communications activities.
• Monitor communication effectiveness and stakeholder engagement metrics and recommend improvements to outreach strategies.
• Collaborate with institute leadership, researchers, sponsors, university partners, government agencies, industry representatives, and external stakeholders.
• Supervise communications projects, prioritize workloads, and manage communications deliverables across multiple initiatives and deadlines.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives that enhance institutional visibility, partnerships, and research impact.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited institution with 7-10 years in strategic communications, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, research communications, or related program communications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Communications strategy, message architecture, editorial planning, and brand governance.
• Executive, public, sponsor, and multi-stakeholder communications.
• Workshops, events, councils, industry outreach, and stakeholder engagement.
• Website, content, publication, and technical-communications oversight.
• Issues, approvals, sensitive-content, and crisis-communications management.
• Team leadership and workload prioritization across communications deliverables.

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $42.15 - $69.44. The final rate will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Are Benefits Important to You?

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state’s benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First. OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) - EG Operations - OPS

Hours of Work

Full time

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Type of Appointment

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hourly Rate

Negotiable

Benefits Eligibility

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state’s benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First. OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.