Communications Manager, Stakeholder Engagement

Organization   overview  
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research in the areas of U.S. politics and policy views; media and journalism; internet and technology;   science and society;   religion and public life;   race and ethnicity ; global attitudes and U.S. social and demographic trends. Pew Research   Center   does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.   The   Center’s work is carried out by a staff of   about   1 80 .

Position   summary

Pew Research Center is expanding how we connect our research with the people who use and amplify it.   We’re   hiring a   Communications Manager for Stakeholder Engagement .    This position is   a t wo -year, limited-term role   to test, pioneer and deepen relationships with key audiences — decisionmakers, practitioners and others who apply our data in real-world contexts.   (The position will   conclude   October 31, 2028.)

This is a new role   at   the juncture of communications,   events   and audience strategy. The focus   isn’t   on reaching millions of people via social or website traffic —   it’s on   meaningfully seeking out and drawing in   people who can most use our research   for real-world impact.

You’ll   help design and deliver a growing portfolio of live and interactive experiences that bring our research to life and create direct connections between Center experts and the communities they inform. In this role, you will work across the Center to pilot different stakeholder models,   monitor   results   and operationalize the best approaches. Success in this role means helping ensure the Center's research not only reaches key audiences, but is understood,   discussed   and applied in circles that strengthen its real-world impact. The role of this position is to test and measure innovative approaches that will help   determine   future   strategy . Success in this role is as much about what we learn as it   is delivering   wins.

This is a   term-limited, grant-funded position expected to last approximately   2   years .

Primary   r esponsibilities  
Communications   s trategy   and   l eadership

- Under the guidance of   t he c ommunications   d irector   and   associate director ,   d evelop and oversee execution   of   communications plans   for   major research   studies   to build reach,   influence   and impact for the Center’s work.   Identify   target audiences, goals and dissemination strategies and tactics for major priorities   while working within the overall institutional brand strategy.

- B uild   strong relationships with   the   managing director s   and staff of the   research teams ; digital producers and designers on the beat; and other research ers and staff across the   Center .

Develop deeper relationships with priority audiences:

- Work with Strategic Communications and Research staff to   identify   and prioritize key stakeholder groups (policy professionals, civic leaders, educators, etc.).

- Build and manage targeted outreach and invitation strategies

- Track engagement over time (attendance, repeat participation, follow-up actions)

- Grow the addressable stakeholder audience for the Center

Lead stakeholder engagement through live experiences:

- Plan and execute virtual, hybrid and/or in-person events, including webinars,   briefings   and small-group discussions in consultation with Strategic Communications colleagues.

- Partner with research leaders and communications designers in the Center to shape compelling, accessible presentations of findings

- Moderate or   facilitate   live sessions that encourage participation and dialogue

- Help the Center build repeatable formats of engagement (series, office hours, stakeholder briefings)

- Ensure follow-up with stakeholders after convenings and internal teams on learnings

Create new ways to connect research to practice:

- Pilot digital, hybrid or in-person formats around:

- Small convenings or roundtables

- “Ask a researcher” sessions

- Sector-specific briefings

- Training-style sessions (how to use Center data)

- Explore partnerships with organizations, associations or networks that   convene   key stakeholders in partnership with Strategic Communications colleagues

Collaborate across the organization:

- Serve as a connector across research,   communications   and audience teams to   identify   engagement opportunities and ensure stakeholders receive coordinated outreach

- Work with communications colleagues to build internal relationships that help surface the right experts,   stakeholders   and opportunities at the right time

- Serve as a key partner to research teams in translating findings into experiences for stakeholders

- Work with Strategic Communications colleagues to align stakeholder engagement with broader outreach strategies

Measure and refine impact:

- Help build a digital events tech stack to manage attendees and host live experiences

- Track engagement metrics beyond reach (e.g., registrations, attendance quality, repeat participation) in partnership with communications analysts

- Identify   what drives meaningful interaction and adjust strategy accordingly

- Help set the pace for what “success” looks like for stakeholder engagement at the Center

- Gather feedback and insights from stakeholders to inform future engagement strategies and help the Center better understand audience needs

- Identify   emerging audience interests and opportunities to connect the Center research with real-world conversations and challenges

Knowledge and   skills requirements

- A strong communicator who can translate complex ideas into clear, engaging live experiences

- A builder who can visualize pilot approaches and turn them into repeatable flows

- A strategist who can also be hands-on to test tools and produce events

- Experienced in planning and running virtual and in-person events, webinars, and facilitated discussions

- Comfortable working both in partnership with fellow communications colleagues   and also   directly with senior stakeholders and subject-matter experts

- Skilled at building relationships—not just audiences

- Curious, creative, and eager to test   new approaches

Education/ training / experience requirements

- Bachelor's   in public relations, communications, mass media,   or related   field .

- 5-8+ years in communications, events, audience engagement, or related roles

- Experience working in media, research, nonprofits, or mission-driven organizations

- Familiarity with virtual event platforms and engagement tools

- Experience building partnerships or networks and   maintaining   stakeholder relationships

- Strong project management skills and ability to coordinate across multiple teams and priorities

- Experience engaging and   facilitating   discussion with professional or policy-oriented audiences is a plus

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation:   The typical starting salary for this position is $ 91,035   annually.

Hybrid Work Schedule:   Pew Research Center staff   are required to   be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) .   Staff may work   virtually from   remote locations on other days in a typical work week .

Application Procedure:   Click on the Apply button, and complete required fields. Both cover letter and resume are   required .

When requested, please upload a copy of your resume/cv, as well as a copy of your cover letter in the section labeled Resume/Cover Letter. If the documents have successfully   uploaded , you should see 2 attached files beneath the “Drop files here” box. Please make sure you have uploaded a resume AND a cover letter before moving on to the next page.

Total Rewards

In addition to competitive pay, Pew Research Center’s employees enjoy a robust total rewards package   that includes:

- Affordable, comprehensive health care that includes medical, dental (including adult orthodontia) and vision benefits.
- Generous paid annual leave plan, including a winter break between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
- Employer-paid disability, life insurance and paid family leave plans
- Up to a 12% employer 401(k) contribution, with vesting at the end of the first year.
- A 37.5-hour workweek.
- Health savings or flexible spending account options with employer funding component.
- Flexibility to telework a portion of each week, with an additional four telework “flex weeks” each year for most staff.

EEO:

Pew Research Center makes employment decisions without regard to age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We encourage applications from candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.