COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING SPECIALIST INTERN presso CCAM

Description

Communications & Marketing Specialist Intern 

The Communications & Marketing Specialist Intern will support CCAM’s community partner Alliance for Building Better Medicine (Alliance) Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) Tech Hub’s communications and stakeholder engagement efforts. Interns will help ensure the Alliance delivers timely, compelling, and consistent content to its partners and the broader public while learning best practices in communications strategy, digital tools, and collaborative storytelling.

IN THIS POSITION YOU WILL:

Improve your understanding of strategic communications and marketing through:

· Developing time-sensitive marketing materials, including press releases, fact sheets, photo galleries, testimonials, and digital/in-person updates.

· Supporting the creation of content for internal and external audiences to raise awareness about the Alliance and its impact.

· Learning how to tailor messages to different stakeholders across government, industry, and education sectors.

· Participating in social listening efforts to understand the communications landscape surrounding advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and economic development.

· Monitoring web performance via Google Analytics to assess traffic, audience behavior, and effectiveness of outreach tools.

Improve organizational and project coordination skills through:

· Scheduling and participating in 1:1 meetings with Alliance Comms Team members to review and update communication plans.

· Capturing key events and milestones from Alliance members and helping develop internal story archives.

· Creating and updating a centralized communications resource library using Google Drive and defined document control systems.

· Assisting in the development of signage, event materials, “walking decks,” and public-facing communications templates.

Improve digital content and platform management skills through:

· Uploading and maintaining content on the Alliance WordPress website, including new pages, event updates, and partner highlights.

· Assisting in email marketing using MailChimp by helping define audiences, writing content, and tracking engagement.

· Supporting social media strategy, content creation, and performance tracking.

· Helping coordinate award nominations and media placements to establish thought leadership in trade, regional, and national media.

Improve technical communication skills through:

· Writing and formatting content for formal communications, newsletters, and presentations.

· Supporting the development of a “messaging house” to align Alliance voice and stakeholder narratives.

· Assisting in drafting and editing crisis communications plans and learning how organizations manage public reputation.

Work collaboratively with our leadership team to:

· Participate in developing strategy for launching the Alliance brand and celebrating regional wins (e.g., Petersburg Water & Sewer funding).

· Assist in maintaining quality control across all communications materials and documenting best practices for messaging accuracy and transparency.

· Support cross-functional communications projects including events, partner updates, and outreach to external stakeholders.

· Contribute to long-term storytelling efforts to map the Alliance’s future-state vision and elevate key messages across the region.

INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE & HOURS

· Up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.

· Up to 40 hours per week during school breaks and the summer.

· Schedule can be adjusted to accommodate academic commitments.

· Remote

· Hours: 8-5PM

Company Overview:

CCAM is the center of an ecosystem of collaboration with industry, government, and academia that is focused on helping manufacturers solve real world problems. CCAM works with its partners to develop and deploy new technologies that advance manufacturing and deliver business value. For many companies, joining CCAM can be the difference between being in front of new technology or behind the curve.

Our research focuses on building intelligence in manufacturing processes and systems by bringing experienced, multi-disciplinary teams together with advanced digital systems and manufacturing process capabilities as well as new technology to solve industrial challenges. Whether through new process development, process improvement, new technology development and insertion, system integration and automation, or advanced analytics and AI development, our teams deliver real, usable results. Active research threads include flexible and distributed manufacturing, adaptive automation, cooperative processing, advanced coatings systems, and intelligent repair and replacement through new technologies. 

As an applied research center, CCAM has a very strong, multi-disciplinary resident staff that includes research scientists and engineers, skilled industrial technicians, university faculty, and engineering interns and graduate students. These teams work collaboratively with one another as well as with partner organizations to build new and effective approaches to challenges. Our teammates are highly skilled and innovative problem solvers that are focused on delivering value to our customers every day.

CCAM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CCAM does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetics, disability, or veteran status.

Requirements

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:

This internship requires access to information subject to export control. Candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

 At a minimum, candidates must have completed at least two years of academic credit in communications or a related program. Rising juniors, seniors, or graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Academic Major OR Area of Focus:

· Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Media Studies, or related degree

Completed Coursework:

· Intro to Mass Communication, Media Writing or Public Relations Writing, Digital Media/Design, Communication Theory, Analytics/Research Methods, Technical or Strategic Writing

Technical Skills:

· Strong writing and editing skills, familiarity with Google Workspace, social media platforms, MailChimp or other email tools, and website editing (WordPress preferred). 

· Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or other design tools is a plus.  

ABILITY TO:

· Communicate clearly across multiple formats (written, visual, digital).

· Work independently and meet deadlines with minimal oversight.

· Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

· Take initiative on research and content development.

· Embrace feedback and continuous learning.

· Represent the Alliance with professionalism and enthusiasm.

PASSION FOR:

· Telling stories that matter and elevating regional impact.

· Collaborating across sectors to achieve shared goals.

· Public-private partnership work and inclusive economic growth.

· Learning about advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and innovation ecosystems.

· Making communications feel human, accessible, and strategic.