Science Writer

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Perform a wide range of editorial functions to highlight the activities and achievements of assigned Basic Science and Clinical departments in the School of Medicine, including developing and conceptualizing communications strategies and story ideas, conducting research and interviews, and writing content including news, profiles, feature articles, research stories, announcements, briefs, blog posts, and press releases. The Science Writer will work as part of a highly skilled team of strategic communicators, writers, and digital and multimedia specialists in the Duke University School of Medicine’s Office of Strategic Communications (OSC).

The position will report to the Senior Science Writer in the School of Medicine’s Office of Strategic Communications.

WORK PERFORMED

News Gathering and Reporting

• Produce accurate, timely, relevant, and engaging content that highlights research and education activities, awards and honors, and other achievements by departmental faculty, students, trainees, staff, and alumni that can be shared on department/school websites, social media, and other communications channels across the School, University and Health System, including e-newsletters and magazines.
• Cover varied School of Medicine events and write general news items and articles for School of Medicine communications channels including department websites, SOM Newsroom, Magnify, DukeMed Alumni News, Breakthroughs, and Children’s Stories.
• Monitor and analyze developments in health care, biomedical research, and major issues to develop content ideas for publication.
• Maintain a catalog of grants awarded, other honors and recognitions, alumni notes, and publications across assigned departments for use in departmental newsletters and on websites.

Creative Strategic Alignment

• Collaborate with the Office of Strategic Communications’ assistant directors of social media and multimedia to identify and coordinate photos, illustrations, and other multimedia elements to accompany articles or as stand-alone communications tactics.
• Align storytelling to support Duke Health’s messaging themes for Duke’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, collaborate with development writers to ensure that research priorities across various departments are highlighted in prospective donor and stewardship communications, and identify content that builds the organization’s case for support.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Develop and maintain working relationships with leaders, faculty members, and administrators in assigned departments. Collaborate with them and the Office of Strategic Communications’ Manager of Digital Strategy to publicize and promote excellence in research, education, patient care and community partnership. Attend department meetings as requested.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Office of Strategic Communications, across units in the School of Medicine, Duke University Marketing & Communications, Duke Health News & Media, and other units to coordinate and amplify coverage of assigned department news.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

Education and Training

Work requires the ability to perform news writing, feature writing, and related activities such as conducting interviews and research, producing high-quality written content, and copy editing and fact-checking normally acquired through attainment of a bachelor's degree in Journalism, English or a related discipline.

Experience

Work requires a minimum of 2 to 3 years of directly related writing and communications experience.

Experience in academia preferred.

Skills

• This position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, knowledge of language, grammar, and style, and the ability to produce effective written content in a variety of formats highlighting departments in the School of Medicine.
• Must demonstrate a talent for understanding, interpreting, and writing about science and research in a concise, compelling, and accurate way that engages the lay reader without compromising scientific integrity.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to coordinate and conduct effective interviews with faculty and other subjects, and to conduct additional research necessary to write accurate and informed content.
• Must have initiative and creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with colleagues, scientists, students, and senior leaders. Must have demonstrated experience in working well both independently and as part of a team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Work requires the ability to perform creative writing and related activities such as conducting interviews and research, and copy editing normally acquired through attainment of a bachelor's degree in Journalism, English or a related discipline.

Experience

Work requires one year of directly related writing experience.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.