Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

The Chief Communications and Marketing Officer ("CCMO") will serve as a critical member of JAX's Leadership Team (JLT), and act as a strategic leader responsible for shaping and amplifying The Jackson Laboratory's (JAX) voice and reputation across global audiences. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and Chief People Officer, the CCMO will ensure that communications is embedded as a transformative, enterprise-wide function - advancing JAX's mission, strengthening its brand, and driving engagement with the broader scientific community, partners, and donors.

As a key advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership, the CCMO will position JAX as the indispensable authority on genetics and genomics, leveraging innovative strategies to expand public understanding and influence. This role leads a non-commercial marketing and communications team, focused on institutional visibility, thought leadership, and stakeholder trust. While the CCMO does not oversee the commercial marketing team, they will play a critical role in fostering strong collaboration and alignment with all teams that have communications and marketing responsibilities. This ensures a unified enterprise voice, consistent messaging, and a cohesive brand experience across the organization.

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KEY REPONSIBILITIES

Brand & Reputation Management

• Elevates JAX's brand as the global gold standard in genetics and genomics research, education, and the development of the highest-quality integrated models - including in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches (mouse, cellular, and data-driven).

• Ensures consistent messaging and visual identity across all channels and audiences.

• Monitors and manages reputational risks, leveraging data-driven insights to inform decisions.

Digital Transformation & Engagement

• Oversees the evolution of JAX's digital presence, including website, social media, and emerging platforms.

• Drives innovation in digital storytelling, multimedia content, and interactive experiences.

• Uses analytics and audience insights to optimize engagement and measure impact.

Stakeholder & Public Relations

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with media, influencers, and key external stakeholders.

• Leads crisis communications planning and response.

• Develops strategies to expand donor engagement and partnerships through compelling narratives.

Leadership Training & Messaging Development

• Designs and implements a comprehensive communications coaching program for leadership, faculty, and key spokespeople.

• Trains organizational leaders to convey complex scientific and institutional narratives in clear, compelling, and accessible ways that resonate with diverse audiences.

• Ensures spokespeople are equipped to represent JAX confidently and consistently across media, events, and public forums.

Team Leadership & Development

• Builds strong relationships across the organization, fosters collaboration, and unites teams around JAX's strategic messaging pillars.

• Leads and inspires a high-performing communications team covering internal/external communications, media relations, brand and marketing, publications, and digital engagement.

• Aligns team structure and capabilities with evolving organizational needs.

• Fosters professional growth and a culture of creativity and accountability.

Opportunities & Expectations

Visionary communicator with a track record of elevating organizational reputation.

Skilled in leveraging data and technology to drive engagement and impact.

Collaborative leader who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Demonstrated ability to operate effectively within a complex, matrixed organization, influencing across multiple functional areas

Proven success in building relationships and driving results in environments with multiple stakeholders and shared decision-making structures

Candidates should possess an outstanding record of professional experience, delivery and accomplishment and thrive in an environment that emphasizes collaboration and a higher purpose mission.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field (advanced degree preferred).

Minimum 10-years' progressive leadership experience in strategic communications, preferably in research and mission-driven organizations.

Strong track record of creating and implementing results-oriented marketing, communications and business plans with a deep understanding of the life sciences and biotech landscape required.

Expertise in digital communications, brand strategy, and integrated marketing.

Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal skills; ability to influence at all levels.

Proven ability to manage complex projects and lead through change.

Strong understanding of emerging trends in media, technology, and audience engagement.

Ability to travel 25%.

Hybrid to a JAX location in the Northeast preferred but not required.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develops and executes an integrated communications strategy aligned with JAX's mission and strategic priorities.

• Serves as a trusted advisor to leadership on messaging, reputation management, and public engagement.

• Champions a culture of proactive, transparent, and impactful communication across the organization.

• Drives cross-functional alignment with teams responsible for communications and marketing to ensure a unified enterprise voice, consistent messaging, and brand cohesion across all audiences and channels.

Driving Results

• Acts to surpass goals, seizing opportunities to push the envelope.

• Sets continually higher goals that are ambitious but realistic.

• Focuses on new business opportunities that enable strategic communications goals to be exceeded.

Collaborating & Influencing

• Negotiates with a genuine give-and-take approach.

• Spends time identifying all stakeholders and meets or connects with all of them, neglecting no one to shape a collective consensus.

• Identifies opportunities to build relationships that will help others achieve their objectives and reaches out to those people to collaborate.

The base compensation range for this role is $215,150 - $371,400 based on total years of related experience

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visitwww.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.