Research Communications Specialist, News and Media Relations; COMM SPEC CM

This position is located within the News and Media Relations unit within Strategic Communications. It is responsible for identifying, generating, and promoting UC Davis stories in the Mathematical and physical sciences, College of Letters and Science (divisions of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, and Social Sciences), and graduate and professional schools in law, education and business, using traditional and contemporary compelling storytelling through news and feature writing, video, social media and other methods.

This position liaises with campus faculty, staff, students and administrators and with local, regional and national news media to achieve this goal. This position also is responsible for providing advice and consultation to campus constituencies on communications strategy, message development and issues management. This position serves as a communications liaison between UC Davis and the media, various public agencies, universities, organizations and the general public.

Apply By Date

September 10, 2026 at 11:59pm

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience AND at least three years of experience in news writing or media relations.
• Skills in recognizing and developing news and feature stories and in communicating them effectively (including recognizing and using correct English grammar, spelling and punctuation) in appropriate styles (including AP style) for radio, television and print media. Knowledge of news writing conventions, content management systems, journalistic formats, styles, standards, deadlines, techniques and audiences. Ability to communicate articulately, verbally and in writing.
• Familiarity and experience in promoting research and other activities through social media channels on a regular basis and digitally engaging with audiences in contemporary ways.
• Skills in analyzing situations and giving sound professional judgment on challenges dealing with public opinion and media relations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Skills in message development, audience identification and issues management.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with various public agencies, universities and organizations around the country. Interpersonal skills in working with a variety of people to gather needed information, solve problems and produce news materials for impactful audiences.
• Skill in organizing tasks and meeting deadlines. Ability to work effectively under stringent deadline requirements by producing clearly written, accurate and organized materials in short periods of time.
• Ability to energetically pursue and maintain personal media contacts on a regular basis, to be responsive to requests for information, and to effectively promote campus programs and market story ideas. Ability to plan and execute media events, both in person and virtually. Skills in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with print and broadcast editors, producers, writers and reporters. Ability to synthesize and use metrics to evaluate effectiveness of approaches and to iterate as needed.

• Experience in communicating research or other technical topics to general audiences.
• Knowledge of the academic and research enterprises and skills in deciphering technical research information and findings, placing them in context and communicating them to the news media and a general audience.
• Knowledge of computer and webbased operations and the ability to learn to operate new electronic databases and use the web for generating and distributing information. Ability to develop content for the web and other platforms.
• Understanding of the role of web navigation, visual representation and multimedia. Ability to take photographs and short videos with a digital camera.
• Knowledge of campus policies and sensitivity to legal issues

• 40% - Generates News Stories
• 35% - Provides Media Relations Support to the Campus
• 15% - Assist Campus in Communication Strategy and Planning
• 10% - Supports Other Units Publications

University Communications encompasses the Public Affairs, Campus Communications…