Communications Manager

About BIIE

The Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to innovation in immune engineering. Founded in 2024 through a generous endowment from Fondation Botnar, the BIIE supports scientists in taking on some of the world's most challenging problems in immunology and global health. The institute unites experts across immunology, biomedicine, bioengineering, computational biology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, creating a unique multidisciplinary environment with a mission to make a lasting impact and to train future leaders in immune engineering.

We are seeking a talented Communications Manager to complement our scientifically-focused leadership team with professional communications expertise. Working alongside our Leadership Team and Faculty, you will develop and execute strategic communications that build credibility and amplify our impact. You'll craft compelling narratives that make our research accessible to diverse global audiences—from academic peers and policymakers to communities and stakeholders—demonstrating its real-world relevance, including its potential to address health challenges in resource-limited settings. Your role will be essential in managing our brand identity, cultivating media relationships, and coordinating all internal and external communications, enabling our researchers to focus on groundbreaking discoveries.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Content Development

• Develop clear, compelling narratives that make complex immune engineering research accessible and engaging for diverse global audiences
• Collaborate with our scientifically-trained leadership to transform their technical insights into effective communications materials
• Produce high-quality content across multiple formats (newsletters, press releases, articles, social media, web content) that showcase research breakthroughs and their impact
• Build trust with communities, funders, and partners through transparent, professionally-crafted communication about research processes, outcomes, and collaborative relationships

Communications Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy, including stakeholder mapping, channel selection, key messaging, and measurable objectives
• Coordinate with research partners, clinical collaborators, and institutional stakeholders to align messaging and ensure consistent communication of collaborative research activities
• Produce corporate materials, such as annual reports and presentations
• Cultivate relationships with journalists, media outlets, and communications teams at partner institutions

Brand Identity & Digital Presence

• Manage BIIE's brand identity and visual guidelines to ensure professional, consistent representation
• Serve as primary media contact and spokesperson for institute news and announcements
• Oversee website content strategy and ensure digital presence effectively communicates our mission and activities
• Monitor media coverage and track BIIE's presence across platforms, providing regular reporting on communications impact

Internal Communication & Community Building

• Coordinate internal communications to foster knowledge sharing and community building
• Organize and support events (seminar series, special events, media briefings) that strengthen internal and external engagement
• Provide communications guidance to researchers when they engage with external audiences

Required Qualifications

Essential

• Master's degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of professional communications experience (candidates with strong transferable skills and less experience will be considered)
• Fluency in German and English (spoken and written)
• Experience communicating in academic, research, healthcare, or nonprofit settings, with proven ability to make complex topics accessible to diverse audiences
• Experience with communications strategy development and stakeholder mapping
• Strong project management skills and cultural sensitivity

Preferred

• Competency in visual/graphic design and experience with Adobe Creative Cloud or similar design software
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of global health or international contexts
• Additional language skills

Joining BIIE offers a unique opportunity to shape communications for a growing institute at the forefront of biomedical innovation. If you are an experienced communications professional with a passion for science, we encourage you to apply.