The Colorado Lab seeks to contract with one or more communications specialists to support projects in identifying evidence-based strategies for communication, developing communication plans and messages that will resonate with defined audiences, and developing communications products (e.g., press releases, compelling data visualizations, social media messages).
Experience designing and implementing strategic communications about evidence-building and evidence findings is required. The ideal candidate will have experience effectively reaching executive and legislative governmental decision-makers and policy influencers (e.g., advocacy organizations, journalists) of diverse political affiliations. Expertise or familiarity with specific project focus areas—which include justice system issues, justice involvement for individuals with substance use disorders, individuals with substance use disorders in the prenatal period, and strategies for evidence-based decision-making in state government—is a plus.
We seek individuals interested in serving as the communications specialist for the “life” of projects and who are willing and able to dedicate time that mirrors the ebb and flow of tasks and deliverables. The Lab’s project directors will be proactive in communicating when there are expected to be relatively high and low demands for time on a given project. Contracts can be set up as subawards to an individual’s institutions of employment or as consulting agreements.
Please submit a one-page summary of your experience to admin@coloradolab.org by July 28. Please include a discussion of:
- Times when you’ve reviewed, synthesized, and applied the literature around evidence-based communication strategies and messages in specific content areas.
- Times when you’ve developed and implemented communication plans with policy. makers and policy influencers as the target audience(s).
- How your communications experience is a good fit with the Lab’s approach to partnering with state government and our diverse issue areas.