Brand & Strategic Communications Manager

Brand & Strategic Communications Manager About the role

Sitting within the Cell Press Marketing team and reporting to the Head of Media & Communications, you will help define what stories Cell Press should tell, why they matter, who we need to reach, and how best to reach them.

You will identify opportunities to bring the Cell Press brand, mission, vision, values, journals, people, and impact to life through compelling storytelling and integrated communications campaigns that resonate with researchers and authors and build affinity for the Cell Press brand.

This is both a strategic and hands‑on role. You'll set the strategy and creative direction for campaigns while also rolling up your sleeves to bring them to life. Sometimes you'll write the story yourself; sometimes you'll edit and shape content created by colleagues; and sometimes you'll identify and manage the right freelancer or creative partner to deliver it.

You’ll collaborate closely with channel owners across web, social, email, and other platforms to build integrated channel strategies and ensure our stories reach the right audiences.

You’ll also be responsible for demonstrating the impact of this work. You'll identify the metrics that matter, use data and insights to understand campaign performance, and communicate results and recommendations to stakeholders and senior leaders.

Shape our strategic brand storytelling

• Develop and evolve the strategic storytelling approach for Cell Press, connecting communications activity to our brand strategy, mission, vision, values, and business priorities.
• Identify proactive storytelling opportunities that showcase the people, processes, papers, and initiatives that make Cell Press unique.
• Turn business and brand priorities into clear communications strategies, campaign concepts, narratives, and content plans.
• Develop creative approaches to major Cell Press moments, milestones, and editorial initiatives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of our audiences and the broader scientific and publishing landscape to ensure our storytelling remains relevant and differentiated.
• Help maintain a consistent Cell Press brand voice and narrative across communications.

Create and commission compelling content

• Write and edit high‑quality brand and strategic communications content for external audiences, translating complex ideas into clear and engaging stories.
• Exercise strong editorial judgment about which stories to pursue, which formats will work best, and how stories should be framed for different audiences.
• Develop clear creative briefs and commission content from freelancers, agencies, and other creative or brand partners.
• Manage external contributors from briefing through delivery, providing thoughtful editorial direction and ensuring work meets strategic, creative, brand, budget, and timeline requirements.
• Collaborate with internal subject‑matter experts and stakeholders to uncover strong stories and translate their expertise into accessible, compelling content.

Build integrated channel strategies

• Develop campaign‑level channel strategies designed around audience needs and communications objectives.
• Partner closely with channel owners across social media, email, web, and other channels to translate campaign strategies into coordinated execution.
• Ensure content is appropriately adapted for different channels and audience segments rather than relying on a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
• Bring channel partners together around clear objectives, audiences, messages, roles, timelines, and measures of success.
• Apply audience and performance insights to continually improve how Cell Press stories are distributed and amplified.

Measure and demonstrate impact

• Define meaningful KPIs and measurement plans for strategic…