Science Communications & Engagement Coordinator

About the Role

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is seeking a Science Communications & Engagement Coordinator. This full-time role focuses on communicating world-class research and education through engaging content and storytelling. The Coordinator will develop communication materials to support Divisional initiatives and share the Division's work with audiences in Saudi Arabia and globally.

Role Context and Focus

This position involves interacting with faculty, researchers, students, and staff to highlight the Division's contributions. The successful candidate will be active across the Division’s social media channels, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, and supporting digital communications, presentations, and event-related materials. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying stories and engaging with diverse audiences online.

Key Responsibilities

• Create original, engaging content showcasing the Division’s research, education, people, and impact.
• Translate scientific work into clear, compelling stories for various audiences.
• Build relationships with faculty, researchers, and students to identify story ideas.
• Support content development highlighting the Division’s contribution to KAUST’s missions and engaging key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Global Branding and Communications office and other University departments on communication initiatives.
• Manage the Division’s LinkedIn and X (Twitter) channels, publishing engaging posts in various formats.
• Engage actively on social media by responding to comments and interacting with partners to build an online community.
• Maintain an editorial calendar with timelines and content targets.
• Stay updated on social media and digital communication trends to enhance engagement.
• Amplify Division content across KAUST and faculty channels as appropriate.
• Track engagement metrics and provide reports for continuous improvement of communication activities.
• Develop content aligned with core mission areas including Food, Water, Red Sea-related research, and Health.
• Create original Arabic language content and adapt stories for cultural relevance to engage local stakeholders and Arabic-speaking audiences.
• Assist in developing high-quality presentation materials for Divisional meetings, reviews, visits, and external engagements.
• Contribute to the development of Divisional communication materials such as annual reports, impact reports, and brochures.
• Contribute to creating supporting material for Divisional events, conferences, workshops, and visits.
• Contribute to preparing talking points, briefing notes, and presentation material for formal engagements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media, Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience in communications, science communication, digital content, media, or a related role.
• Demonstrated experience in an academic, research, or innovation environment.

Required Skills

• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, engaging content across digital and written platforms.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English (spoken and written), including the ability to create original content for both audiences.
• Experience managing and contributing to professional social media channels and digital platforms, with an engaging online presence.
• Comfortable engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and proactively identifying compelling stories.
• Working knowledge of content creation and editing tools (*, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar software).
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple ideas, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Genuine interest in engaging both local Saudi audiences and international communities through impactful storytelling.
• Experience in preparing professional presentation materials and supporting documents.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear visual and written narratives suitable for presentations, reports, and events.