About The Role:
VentureWell is growing and is seeking a Communications & Outreach (C&O) Officer to support communications strategy and implementation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Investor Catalyst Hub, a groundbreaking health innovation network, as well as VentureWell’s health commercialization vertical. We value staff members who are curious, committed to environmental sustainability, and have experience (either through work or personal life) working with marginalized groups affected by racism, sexism, or classism.
In its role as Consortium Management Firm for the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub, VentureWell supports the scaling of health research and venture investment ecosystem capabilities, disrupting traditional care models, creating new delivery pathways, and helping performers bring game-changing solutions to market to solve big problems in health.
The C&O Officer will join the IC Hub communications team working to recruit and engage a vibrant network of Investor Catalyst Hub member - or “spoke” - institutions and to raise awareness of ARPA-H programs, opportunities, and events. The C&O Officer will contribute to the planning, developing, and coordinating of external communications and communications-related events, recruitment/outreach activities, network engagements, and communication products (reports, case studies).
Reporting to the Senior C&O Officer, the C&O Officer will implement tactics using various media such as digital, print, video, and web-based products to promote the mission and programs of the Investor Catalyst Hub. The individual will work closely with other Marketing & Communications team members and program and administrative staff to achieve the goals of the hub.
In addition to their work with the IC Hub, the C&O Officer will offer communications strategy and implementation support to VentureWell’s portfolio of health commercialization initiatives. Serving as a liaison between the commercialization team and the VentureWell Marketing, Communications & Events team, the C&O Officer will coordinate the review and dissemination of program announcements, inform website messaging, and contribute to content creation highlighting VentureWell’s commercialization portfolio.
Responsibilities:
ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub (75% of time)
- Work with the Senior C&O Officer to support the development and execution of a multi-pronged communications strategy to support the recruitment and engagement of a nationwide network of spoke members—accelerators, research institutions, incubators, entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, healthcare companies, hospital systems, and more—in partnership with ARPA-H stakeholders
- Draft and edit compelling announcements, press releases, promotional copy, and other written materials about Investor Catalyst Hub programs, working closely with Investor Catalyst Hub staff and external partners
- Draft and review content for Investor Catalyst Hub communication channels, including the website, monthly newsletter, email campaigns, and social media
- Contribute to discrete strategic communication campaigns designed to engage potential consortium members and drive participation in opportunities and events
- Identify opportunities and story ideas to pitch to media outlets
- Distill complex scientific messages into narratives accessible to journalists, researchers, and other informed audiences, as well as a health-interested public, in forms such as short articles, infographics, and multimedia content
- Develop talking points
- Contribute to the creation of branded digital and print collateral material and swag
- Contribute to the creation of video content highlighting select spokes, their capabilities, and the outcome and impact of the work accomplished by the Investor Catalyst Hub
- Contribute to the maintenance of the consortium website including program information, overview of the membership process, event information and registration, case studies and other resources, programmatic opportunities, applications for membership, and more.
- Contribute to the Investor Catalyst Hub’s digital media platforms, including a network members-only community forum and multiple social media channels
- Carry out other communications duties as assigned
Commercialization Communications (25% of time)
- Work with the Senior C&O Officer to support the development and execution of a communications strategy to promote the work of the commercialization team
- Facilitate reviews, approvals, and amplification of partner communications materials, including press releases and toolkits
- Draft and review content for VentureWell communication channels, including the website, newsletter, email campaigns, and social media
- Draft and disseminate announcements related to new programs launches
- Provide communications support for program-specific events
What You Bring:
- A Bachelor's degree in communications preferred
- A minimum of five years of related professional experience is required
- Experience translating complex material into digestible, lay-friendly language
- Focused and motivated self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent writing, editing, and project management skills
- A working knowledge of social media, website, and print material design principles
- Experience managing multiple projects with deadline pressures and competing priorities
- Experience with (Gmail, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other relevant tools
- Experience implementing and utilizing sophisticated marketing automation tools like HubSpot, Pardot, Marketo, or similar
- Experience with WordPress (or other content management systems) and familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and/or Canva are considered a plus.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%
Across the Board, VentureWell Staff:
- Are able to succeed and thrive in an environment with competing and changing priorities and tight deadlines
- Have track records of and ability to build solid collaborative working relationships, and are proven team players who enjoy a “customer service” orientation to collaboration
- Are committed to embedding equity in our internal practices and culture and in our programs in order to live and achieve our mission
- Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity
- Are curious and committed to issues of environmental sustainability
- Are self-starters with excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work
- Are active learners who independently learn new tools and work processes quickly
- Have excellent written and oral communication skills
Our Benefits*:
- An attractive and equitable compensation package, including:
- a salary range of $70-85K commensurate with experience and internal equity
- 403 (b) with 200% match up to a maximum contribution from VentureWell of 10% when the employee puts it 5% (eligible after one year of service for the match)
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- $1,000 home office stipend upon hire
- A true focus on work-life balance with work weeks that reflect that
- It’s our aim for our employees in this position to not work more than a 40-hour workweek
- 20 paid vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- 12 paid wellness days
*Benefits are reviewed each fiscal year and may be subject to change.
What We Offer:
- A culture where people work intentionally and collaboratively in pursuit of our mission
- Values we believe in
- A commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
About VentureWell:
VentureWell supports the cultivation of an emerging generation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems that are critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has funded or trained over 17,000 science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of over 3,700 ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The startups they have supported have raised subsequent funds totaling close to 5.6 billion and are reaching millions of people in 60 countries.
Visit venturewell.org to learn more.