Strategic Communications & External Affairs Lead

Giant Magellan Telescope; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Dental Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

The Giant Magellan Telescope seeks a Communications and External Affairs Manager to advance strategic communications, executive messaging, media relations, and government affairs for the observatory. Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications and Outreach, this role coordinates messaging with policymakers, agencies, and partners while developing materials across platforms.

The position develops digital content, manages external contractors, supports rapid-response communications, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, Marketing, Public Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, government relations, or strategic communications.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of digital communications strategies, platforms, analytics, and industry best practices.
• Experience producing executive communications and briefing materials.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Experience managing contractors, consultants, and external vendors.
• Ability to synthesize technical or scientific information into compelling communications.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Willingness to travel domestically, including Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities

• Develop and edit press releases, speeches, newsletters, presentations, talking points, briefing materials, fact sheets, reports, website content, articles, and digital communications.
• Translate complex scientific, technical, and policy information into clear communications.
• Coordinate messaging across communications, executive leadership, development, education and outreach, and government affairs.
• Support rapid-response communications and issue management.
• Coordinate Washington, D.C. engagement activities supporting federal relations and advocacy initiatives.
• Develop congressional one-pagers, leave-behind materials, briefing books, advocacy collateral, and policy communications.
• Track stakeholder follow-up and coordinate with external government affairs consultants.
• Support media inquiries, interviews, press materials, and media monitoring.
• Develop digital content across websites, newsletters, email campaigns, and social media.
• Monitor communications performance metrics and recommend improvements.
• Partner with development to align donor communications and stewardship materials with broader institutional narratives.
• Support major gift cultivation through tailored materials and executive briefing support.
• Ensure alignment between government affairs messaging and philanthropic positioning.
• Maintain communications calendars and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Maintain repositories of messaging and assets, utilizing CRM systems.
• Manage external consultants and contractors, reviewing deliverables and budgets.

Skills

Executive Writing

Strategic Communications

Digital Media

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Public Affairs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Giant Magellan Telescope seeks a Communications and External Affairs Manager to advance strategic communications, executive messaging, media relations, and government affairs for the observatory. Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications and Outreach, this role coordinates messaging with policymakers, agencies, and partners while developing materials across platforms.

The position develops digital content, manages external contractors, supports rapid-response communications, and