External Affairs Manager - Hybrid Washington, DC Office
JOB SUMMARY: NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a Communications Manager to join the Client Services and External Affairs team within Strategic Communications. This role is ideal for someone who believes rigorous, independent research can help make the world a better place, and wants to help get that work into the right hands. This is a highly collaborative role serving as the External Affairs Lead. You’ll be the primary media point of contact, while also helping lead and project manage select external corporate initiatives. You’ll partner closely with research and project teams and work day-to-day with colleagues across Digital, Editorial, Creative, and Events teams to keep projects on track, contribute to content development, and deliver external communications that are clear, timely, accessible, and aligned with NORC’s brand voice. Location: Hybrid role based in either Chicago Loop or Washington, D.C. office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Travel: Limited, with occasional travel (for example, an annual team retreat). DEPARTMENT: Strategic Communications The Strategic Communications department drives NORC’s brand, reputation, and visibility across every channel and audience. The department brings together expertise in corporate communications, creative services, digital communications and marketing, internal communications, and project-level communications support. We manage NORC’s social media presence, email marketing, and website properties, and we partner with project teams on dissemination strategies that help NORC’s research reach the people who need it. NORC partners with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to inform the critical decisions facing society, and we ensure that work gets seen, understood, and used, both for our clients and for broader public impact. RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Senior Communications Manager, this role serves as NORC’s External Affairs Lead and supports the dissemination of NORC’s research and expertise to media. While the work supports billable projects, the position is not held to billability standards. Lead NORC’s external affairs work as the primary media contact by developing and executing an ongoing media strategy; triaging and coordinating responses to inbound media inquiries; and supporting staff who will be speaking to media. Provide crisis communications and reputation/risk support to help protect NORC’s brand as an objective, nonpartisan research organization. Draft, edit, and distribute press releases and other external-facing media materials, applying strong editorial judgment to ensure accuracy, plain language, and alignment with NORC’s brand voice and editorial standards before release. Maintain External Affairs systems and infrastructure by managing NORC’s PR firm; monitoring the media landscape and identifying opportunities; building media relationships; developing and refining media lists; supporting thought leadership efforts; and producing monthly media reports and timely media alerts for senior leadership and key stakeholders. Project manage select external-facing corporate initiatives and client-funded projects (particularly those with a media component) by supporting intake and requirements gathering, contributing to dissemination planning, coordinating resources, and using project management tools to track timelines, owners, progress, and communications from kickoff through completion. Use AI tools thoughtfully and strategically to enhance media backgrounders, writing and planning, and press list generation, while maintaining human quality control and accountability. REQUIRED SKILLS: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English, or a related field, or equivalent experience. At least 5 years of relevant communications, PR, marketing, or agency experience (including internships). Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, solve problems, and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders (including senior leaders) to meet deadlines and handle shifting priorities. Experience handling media relations, press outreach, and/or reputation communications with strong judgment and discretion. Strong writing and editing skills, especially for press releases, spokesperson support materials, and executive-ready messaging. Excellent interpersonal skills, including clear, professional communication and a strong client-service mindset. Team-oriented approach and commitment to a collaborative work environment, both virtually and in person. High attention to detail, especially for accuracy, formatting consistency, and alignment with NORC’s visual brand and messaging standards. Experience in media monitoring, media list development, and coverage reporting tools (MuckRack or similar). Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint). Nice to have Experience in a project management platform (Wrike or similar). Familiarity with SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. Interest in and commitment to social science research and mission-driven work. Comfort using AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Claude) to support writing and planning, with strong editorial judgment. SALARY AND BENEFITS: The pay range for this position is $98,000 – $120,000. This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment Dental and vision insurance A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs. This role is bonus eligible. Bonus payment is contingent upon program terms and individual performance. WHAT WE DO: NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge. WHO WE ARE: For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale. EEO STATEMENT: NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics. LI-MS1
