HPI is recognized as one of the leading university institutes for computer science (www.hpi.de). Our goal is to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty with excellent research and practice-oriented teaching in computer science. At HPI, we are convinced that excellence is created when knowledge from different disciplines is collaboratively combined to create responsible and pioneering solutions for the future.
In our research clusters "Systems," "Data and AI," "Foundations," "Digital Health," "Security," and "Business and Society" researchers from various disciplines work together on topics relevant to solving the challenges facing society. The Digital Engineering Faculty of the University of Potsdam and HPI offers a computer science engineering degree program that is unique in Germany.
The Path to Power project is studying the changing nature politics and political information with a global focus. Our project is funded by the German development agency (GIZ) with the aim of producing insights that can lead to political innovation and, as such, communicating the ideas of our research outside of academia is a core goal of the project. As part of this effort, we are currently seeking a:
Research Communication Manager (m/f/x)
for our location in Potsdam.
The position is fixed term and full time for the period of two years
(with the possibility of extension for another two years).
Are you deeply engaged in current political and social issues, such as online misinformation, technological surveillance, political instability, and inequality? Do you hold a degree in a social science field such as politics, communications, sociology or similar? Do you have experience creating textual and audio-visual content for online dissemination? Would you feel fulfilled interfacing with academics researching technology, power and politics and working to disseminate their ideas to a non-academic audience? If so, we invite your application to join the Path to Power: 2024 team at the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) at the University of Potsdam.
Your future tasks
- Develop and manage the project’s media, communication and engagement plan
- Plan, maintain and create content for our dissemination channels, including our project website and social media channels
- Regularly interface with our team of academic researchers to stay abreast of their work and creating (with their input and oversight) regular relevant content based on their ongoing research. This could include things like:
- Interviewing team members and creating and posting videos based on that content
- Creating visual infographic content based on researcher collected data or findings
- Writing blog posts, reports and/or press releases based on the research ideas of team members
- Reaching out to journalists, policy makers, industry organisations and NGOs who might be interested in our research work and acting as an interface to provide them the information they need in the format they need it
- Hosting recording, editing and disseminating a podcast with team members and our research contacts
The ideal candidate does not have to be able to do all these things. The ideal candidate should look at this list, think that they can do some of them, and be interested to take up and refine other ideas, as well as generating their own similar ideas for disseminating academic research in novel and engaging formats to traditional as well as novel audiences.
- Manage comments and other interactions with our online channels
- Acting, if necessary for team efficiency, as an editor or creator of relevant content led by other team members, e.g. adapting or creating an infographic for a presentation, or helping manage recorded interview data
- Assisting, if necessary, in relevant aspects of team events, such as creating and sending invitations, designing and commissioning promotional items, and helping with event organization
- Attending project meetings to stay informed about the academic work of the project and proactively innovating how the project can best disseminate its ideas
- Participating in and supporting the activities and wider needs of the project as they might arise
- Other responsibilities commensurate with position and project needs
Your skills
- A bachelors or MA in a social science field (interpreted broadly)
- An understanding of key issues related to technology and politics, most particularly the influence of social media and technology on electoral politics and a global trend of democratic decline
- Excellent proficiency in professional English, with the ability to write and present in a highly engaging and informative way for different audiences
- Experience creating audio-visual content, such as videos and graphics
- Confidence processing and implementing constructive written and oral feedback
- Ability to manage own working time and set internal milestones in order to adhere to wider project deadlines across multiple projects and tasks
- Ability to work independently and actively seek information, support, resources and training when needed
- Ability to work with a diverse team and develop individual working relationship and workflows with team members
- Drive and excitement to take on the role of adapting academic ideas for a wider audience as part of a fast-paced academic project
Desirable skills
- Experience writing content for non-academic audiences, e.g. blogging or journalism
- Experience in website management and content optimisation
- Experience with social media management
- Experience with wordpress (or similar), HTML and CSS
- Global orientation, with familiarity with cultures and politics outside the US and Europe
- German skills are a benefit but not required
Application materials
- A CV and cover letter
- Up to three examples of content you produced have produced
- An answer of up to 250 words to each of the following questions:
- How would you describe the effects of technology on politics?
- What thing have you produced that you are most proud of and why?
- If you joined the team, what two things would you get started on as first priorities to improve the existing communications strategy?
- What conditions do you need to thrive in the workplace and what is one thing that would most cause you to feel unhappy within a team?
- Degree certificates / transcripts
- And contact details of three references
We are looking for a candidate who can start as soon as possible and, therefore, seek candidates who are already located in the Berlin area and, ideally, who already have permission to work within Germany. However, we are open to international candidates and able to support visa applications, if necessary.
We are a diverse team and equal opportunity employer. Applications from candidates who believe they can effectively undertake this position, but whose relevant skills were acquired in non-traditional ways are welcomed.
What we offer
- A multifaceted job, embedded in an international and dynamic working environment
- An exciting, responsible position in which you can make a difference
- A first-class, active, inspiring and passionate research team
- The opportunity to work with interesting and highly-topical ideas
- Regular training opportunities; insight into scientific research
- Regular team events and workshops
- Attractive employee offers (corporate benefits)
- Company-subsidized public transportation ticket/ Deutschlandticket
- Possibility to work remotely (up to 2 days a week)
- Numerous sports facilities (tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball court, calisthenics park, and participation in running events)
- Workplace on the HPI campus in Potsdam-Babelsberg (Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station), with fast transportation connections to Berlin
We look forward to receiving your application documents including salary requirements. Please apply exclusively via our career page.
Contact HR Recruiting
Tobias Pröchtel / Nicola Mertens
+49 331 5509-425/ -428
Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering gGmbH
Prof.-Dr.-Helmert-Str. 2-3
14482 Potsdam