Communications Assistant

Join AIR as a Communications Assistant and use your experience and knowledge to help us deliver on our mission: to generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all. The Communications Assistant develops and maintains communications materials, translates technical concepts, coordinates communication campaigns, creates infographics, contributes to social media, and supports routine communications.

The Communications Assistant will play a key role in supporting and executing the communication strategy of a large, nationally relevant project that involves working in deep collaboration with partner communities. Working in close coordination with project leadership and the evaluation, technical assistance, and data teams, this position will ensure that project activities, findings, and community stories are communicated clearly, accurately, and respectfully across audiences.

Engagements are typically project-based, part-time, and may vary in duration and hours depending on project needs.

This role is well suited for a communications professional who is comfortable working in complex, multi partner initiatives, telling stories with sensitivity and respect, and who excels at translating technical or research-based content into compelling narratives. Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.

About AIR:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. Mission-focused and evidence-driven, AIR applies rigorous research and technical expertise to close gaps in opportunity and access, improving lives across communities and systems.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications & Messaging:

• Support the development and implementation of the project’s communications strategy, aligning messaging across technical assistance, research, and community engagement activities.
• Develop clear, consistent messaging that reflects project values such as partnership, local context, and community voice.
• Coordinate communications planning with project leadership to support milestones, site visits, learning events, and deliverables.

Content Development & Storytelling:

• Support the development of project content, including blogs, briefs, talking points, data stories, presentations, and web‑ready materials.
• Support the creation of community‑centered data stories and case narratives that highlight implementation progress, challenges, and outcomes.

Coordination & Collaboration:

• Work closely with evaluation, technical assistance, and project management staff to identify communications opportunities tied to ongoing work.
• Coordinate with partners to ensure communications are accurate, culturally responsive, and aligned with community priorities.
• Support internal alignment by coordinating review processes and incorporating feedback from multiple contributors.

Dissemination & Engagement:

• Support dissemination of project products across appropriate channels (e.g., internal audiences, partners, field‑facing platforms).
• Contribute to communications planning for convenings, onboarding activities, and learning events associated with the project.
• Help ensure communications support broader goals related to sustainability, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public policy, education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing communications products for complex initiatives, research projects, or education‑focused programs.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with experience tailoring content for multiple audiences.
• Experience collaborating with cross‑functional teams and managing multiple inputs and deadlines.

Skills:

• Experience with community‑based research, technical assistance, or education systems initiatives.
• Familiarity with data‑informed storytelling or translating research findings for practitioner or policy audiences.
• Comfort working in partnership‑driven projects involving schools, districts, community organizations, or funders.
• Experience supporting multi‑year projects with evolving communications needs.

Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.orgor call 202.403.5000.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer: AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out torecruitment@air.org. If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) atReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams atftc.gov/scams.

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