Communications and Public Affairs Co-Op

Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents and builds platform companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health and sustainability exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from cancer detection and treatment to nature-positive agriculture.   

 What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance biotechnology by uniting life science innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet.   

Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. 

Position Summary:   
  
This co-op position offers the opportunity to gain exposure into the field of communications and public affairs. Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. The Flagship Communications and Public Affairs team is responsible for overseeing all aspects of communications, government and regulatory affairs, and social impact. This portfolio includes corporate communications, media relations, executive communications, internal communications, creative content, digital strategy, social media, and events. ​  

As a member of Flagship’s Communications and Public Affairs team, you will take on multiple responsibilities related to monitoring Flagship’s media presence, contributing to media relations strategy for Flagship and its companies, writing for Flagship’s social media channels, contributing to creative content, and helping advance projects across the CPA portfolio.  

 The co-op position is full-time (40 hrs/week), based in Cambridge, MA, and reports to the Senior Director, Communications and Media Relations. This position is hybrid with at least four days a week on-site required. 

 Responsibilities include:  

• Conduct research to support communications strategy and planning across the team. 
• Assist the communications team in developing and implementing executive thought leadership plans by updating calendar and databases of relevant conferences and award opportunities. 
• Monitor media coverage of Flagship and its ecosystem of companies and compile media reports, gaining experience with industry PR tools including Muck Rack.
• Assist in the creation of media materials such as media briefings.
• Maintain and update media contact lists, inclusive of content creators.  
• Assist with social media management and content creation for Flagship’s social, digital, and internal channels, using tools including Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Work collaboratively with other Communications & Public Affairs team members to support projects across the team as needed. 
• Participate in weekly Communications & Public Affairs team meetings.   

Experience & Qualifications:  

• You have a curiosity for and a desire to learn about corporate communications, media relations, and public affairs.     
• You possess the ability to write clearly and succinctly for different business channels. 
• You are detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing multiple responsibilities and deadlines. 
• You are an effective communicator who is comfortable asking questions as well as sharing your ideas. 
• You are an undergraduate student currently enrolled in Northeastern University and approved by the university to participate in the spring 2027 co-op cycle. 
• You have a demonstrated interest in communications, media relations, or journalism. 
• You have excellent written and spoken English skills. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Canva. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Express, Premiere Pro) and AI tools are a plus.
• You have work authorization in the United States.  

Flagship Pioneering is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

The pay range for this role is $25 - $35 per hour. This role is a short-term engagement that is not eligible for health and welfare benefits. Retirement benefits may be available after completing a set number of hours. Compensation and benefits information is based on Flagship Pioneering's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact privacy@flagshippioneering.com.