Scientific Communications & Engagement Partner - Immunology

Allen Institute; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Allen Institute in Seattle, WA, seeks a Scientific Communications & Engagement Partner to amplify the Immunology accelerator's discoveries, datasets, and initiatives. You will translate complex immunology into accessible communication for scientific, institutional, and public audiences, collaborating with Immunology leadership and the Institute's Communications team.

You will design visuals and narratives, develop guides for external use of Immunology data, and help onboard new team members

Qualifications

• PhD in life sciences or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years translating complex science into clear, engaging communication for diverse audiences.
• Strong visual storytelling skills for talks, figures, and diagrams.
• Experience managing scientific content for social media or digital channels.
• Excellent writing across formats, from manuscripts to public-facing summaries.
• Ability to partner with scientific leadership, communications teams, and external communities.
• Portfolio of scientific communication work including slides, figures, articles, or videos.

Responsibilities

• External Voice & Scientific Communication: represent Immunology externally and develop social content in coordination with Communications.
• Visual & Narrative Scientific Storytelling: design slides, figures, and graphical summaries for leadership presentations and publications.
• Data & Tool Dissemination: create guides, tutorials, and documentation for Immunology datasets and tools; engage the community.
• Educational Programming & Onboarding: coordinate seminars, onboarding, and cross-disciplinary courses.

Skills

Scientific communication

Visual storytelling

Social media management

Technical writing

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

PhD in life sciences

Tools

PowerPoint

Graphic design software

Job description

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The goal of the Immunology accelerator is to create a deep, high-resolution reference for the human immune system in both health and disease, ultimately providing the data that will accelerate the development of diagnostics and therapies and serve as a hypothesis-generating sandbox for the entire scientific community.

We are searching for a Scientific Communications & Engagement Partner to expand the reach and impact of the accelerator's discoveries, datasets, and initiatives. This person will translate complex immunology into communication that scientific, institutional, and public audiences can use. The role works closely with Immunology's scientific leadership and with the Institute's Communications team, acting as storyteller, external voice, and community engagement lead so that the field, and the broader public, understand what the Immunology accelerator is discovering.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly. We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

External Voice & Scientific Communication (25%)

• Serve as Immunology's external voice on relevant scientific news, both Allen Institute findings and broader developments in the field
• Develop and maintain social media content and cadence to promote immunological discoveries and ongoing Allen activities highlighting discoveries, publications, and milestones, in partnership with the Communications team's policy and process
• Support external website updates relevant to Immunology in coordination with Communications
• Suggest immunology relevant topics and commentary for channels owned by the central Communications team
• Support with nomination letters and materials

Visual & Narrative Scientific Storytelling (30%)

• Design slides and visual narratives for leadership presentations
• Develop figures, diagrams, and graphical summaries that communicate complex science clearly
• Assist with manuscript figures and graphical abstracts, and improve clarity and storytelling in publications

Data & Tool Dissemination (25%)

• Develop guides, tutorials, and documentation to support external use of Immunology datasets and tools
• Engage the broader immunology community to widen reach, visibility, and adoption of Institute tools and data
• Collect and act on user feedback to improve tool usability and the overall user experience

Educational Programming and Onboarding (20%)

• Coordinate seminar series, invited speakers, journal clubs, and technical workshops
• Coordinate onboarding programming for new team members
• Partner with scientific leadership and outside instructors to schedule and organize courses on neuroimmunology, AI, and emerging technologies

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions. It does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

• Please include a cover letter with your submission.

Required Experience

• PhD in life sciences (immunology, neuroimmunology, or related field), or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 years of experience post PhD translating complex science into clear, engaging communication for varied audiences (scientific, institutional, public)
• Strong visual storytelling skills: experience creating presentation slides, figures, and diagrams that communicate science effectively
• Experience managing scientific content for social media or other digital engagement channels
• Excellent writing skills across formats, from manuscript support to public facing summaries
• Ability to partner effectively with scientific leadership, communications teams, and external community members
• Demonstrated portfolio of scientific communication work, including examples of presentations, figures, articles, videos, educational materials, or other relevant content that showcases the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
• Provide a portfolio of work (slides, written articles, videos of presentation or instruction, etc)

Preferred Experience

• Experience at a major research institute or similarly high output scientific environment
• Formal training in science communication, science journalism, or a related field
• Experience developing or supporting adoption of scientific datasets, tools, or software
• Experience developing or implementing a social media policy in partnership with an institutional communications team
• Familiarity with manuscript and publication workflows (figures, graphical abstracts, journal submission)

Physical Demands

• Fine motor movements in fingers and hands to operate computers and other office equipment

Work Environment

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel or reach
• Primarily office based, with occasional presence in laboratory or event spaces for content development

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of the working hours. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.

Travel

• The successful candidate may be invited to attend occasional national and international conferences

Additional Comments

• Please note, this opportunity does not offer relocation assistance
• Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorship

Annualized Salary Range

• $119,650 – 149,550
• Final salary depends on required education for the role, experience, and level of skills relevant to the role, along with work location, where applicable.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute's Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute's 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institute's Benefits Guide.

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.