COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST, Global Development Policy Center

The Global Economic Governance Initiative at Boston University seeks an Outreach Specialist to drive external engagement for the Task Force on Climate, Development and the International Financial Architecture (“Task Force”). This role connects world-class research with global stakeholders to advance actionable solutions at the intersection of climate finance and development policy. If you thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, love working in global development across countries and time zones and excel at building relationships that turn research into real-world impact, this position offers a unique opportunity to be at the center of critical policy conversations shaping our climate future.

The Program Outreach Specialist will work exclusively on the Task Force project, which is a global network of premier research institutions and inter-governmental agencies. Under the supervision of the Task Force’s Research Director, the Program Outreach Specialist will work to enhance the Task Force’s external visibility, build stronger connections with member institutions and international stakeholders, and drive strategic coordination to ensure member activities support the Task Force’s overall mission and goals.

The position will operate through a clear division of responsibilities within the GDP Center. While the GEGI Program Management Office focuses on internal operations and program execution, the Program Outreach Specialist concentrates on external-facing engagement with member institutes and key stakeholders. The Program Outreach Specialist will work in coordination with the GDP Center’s Communications Team on strategic communications and branding strategies and will collaborate with the GEGI Policy Liaison to ensure Task Force activities are integrated into the Center’s broader policy discourse.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Research Director in cultivating and maintaining relationships with member institutes of the Task Force, members of international organizations, government representatives, research networks, and other key external stakeholders.
• Monitor international policy developments and high-level meetings relevant to the Task Force’s mission (e.g., IMF/World Bank Meetings, COP processes, G20, UNFCCC).
• Identify and recommend opportunities for Task Force participation in relevant global dialogues, events, or consultations, in alignment with GEGI’s broader policy engagement strategy.
• Coordinate externally with Task Force partners on all logistics and planning for meetings, convenings, roundtables, and policy events ensuring seamless execution, timely communication, and a high-quality participant experience (e.g., schedule meetings, draft and circulate agendas, build the program for convenings, etc.)
• Contribute to content development, messaging, and timing of outreach related to the Task Force, in consultation with the Research Director, the GDP Center’s Policy Liaison, and the GDP Center Communications Team to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment across and the GDP Center’s broader policy engagement portfolio and communication strategy.
• Prepare Task Force briefing materials, talking points, outreach summaries, presentation decks for external engagements and global events.
• Coordinate with partner institutes’ communications teams to align messaging, branding, and dissemination activities across the Task Force consortium.
• Draft concise policy briefs, background notes, and blog posts that communicate Task Force insights and amplify research contributions from partner institutes.
• Coordinate the production of Task Force reports from start to finish, working closely with the GDP Center Communications team to ensure alignment in tone, framing, style, and editing, as well as graphic layout, promotion, outreach strategy, and scheduling. Work collaboratively with the GDP Center Communications team on the design, roll-out, and amplification of communications campaigns for Task Force reports and events, ensuring consistency with Center-wide visual and editorial standards.
• Collaborate closely with the GDP Center Communications team and the GEGI Policy Liaison to plan and execute outreach efforts related to Task Force publications, events, and policy milestones.
• Coordinate closely with the GEGI Program Management Team to monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks to keep initiatives on track.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, public policy, economics, environmental studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in strategic outreach engagement ideally in an international or research setting.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse partners or institutions across countries and time zones, including ability to travel and participate in virtual and in person meetings/events that may take place outside of normal business hours.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into accessible narratives for policy and public audiences.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Familiarity with global development, climate finance, and international financial institutions.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• Availability to attend virtual meetings outside of normal business hours.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in policy research, think tanks, or multilateral organizations.
• Experience producing short analyses, op-eds, or communications materials on climate and development topics.
• Basic design or content production skills (Canva, Adobe Suite, or similar).
• This is an in-person role at Boston University. Must be able to start on February 1, 2026. This is a benefits-eligible position. Salary range: $67,500 to $73,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.