Communications Lead for STEM Education, Academic Partnerships, and External Engagement

Overview: Communications creates and provides strategic communications to the Laboratory’s internal and external stakeholders and collaborators.
It sets and implements a cohesive strategy to amplify the visibility of PNNL's research and develops standards and efforts that communicate PNNL’s value proposition.
In doing so, Communications enhances the Laboratory’s institutional reputation and science and technology agenda.
Further, Communications drives employee-focused communications; leads media and outreach to external stakeholders; supports research through robust technical editing, formatting, and graphics support; and protects the Laboratory's reputation through issues management and transparency with news media.
Rockstar Rewards: Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, supplemental parental bonding leave**, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
Employees are automatically enrolled in our company funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401k savings plan.
Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
* Research Associates excluded.
**Once eligibility requirements are met.
Click Here For Rockstar Rewards Responsibilities: Job Description We’re seeking a senior-level strategic communicator who can imagine and execute communication strategies that strengthen the impact and reach of PNNL’s STEM Education, Academic Partnerships, and External Engagement activities.
In this role, you will serve as the primary communications advisor and executive communications strategist for PNNL leaders in STEM, Academic Partnerships, and External Engagement, and represent their mission and interests when coordinating across the Communications Division to execute communications work.
Prime candidates will naturally be able to engage, elevate, and inspire others—core tenets of PNNL’s Communications and External Engagement mission.
Engage PNNL stakeholders to foster meaningful connections between them and our science and technology mission and accelerate our impact.
Elevate our institutional reputation and impact locally, regionally, nationally, and globally to position PNNL as a leader in mission-driven science and innovation.
Inspire stakeholders and staff by facilitating and showcasing PNNL’s scientific leadership, national influence, community commitments and service to advance the frontiers of knowledge and our distinguished staff.
You are a listener, convener, creator, and one who can make sense of numerous—sometimes divergent—ideas, priorities, and requests.
You have a passion for strategic communications plus enthusiasm and experience in higher education or STEM education and outreach.
You understand how to motivate audiences to action, including students (K-12 to college age).
You’re excited to find creative ways to foster connection between PNNL and its academic stakeholders, campus visitors, elected officials, and more.
You are confident and comfortable communicator skilled at guiding others towards outcome-focused communications activities.
Key Responsibilities Build and maintain outstanding relationships with the leaders in our STEM, Academic Partnerships, External Engagement, and faculty/staff at academic institutions where we have partnerships.
Define internal and external communications priorities.
Produce annual strategic communication plans that are scaled to budget, drive audience outcomes, and include measurable activities.
Respond to-and often personally handle-requests for high-level communications support including briefing documents, presentations, talking points, reports, all-staff messages, etc.
Plan and lead the communications efforts for STEM and academic partnership events where PNNL has a large role or interest; collaborate with other outside of PNNL on joint events; attend partnership launches and other events.
Teaming with Protocol, prepare for the hosting of high-level stakeholder visits to the PNNL campus.
Maintain a keen understanding of PNNL's audiences, including funding sponsors, external collaborators, academic partners, and other stakeholders.
Leverage and maintain familiarity with trends in the industry, especially in STEM education and university outreach.
Align with and support the PNNL brand through all communications efforts/products.
Regularly communicate and collaborate with other communications leads to recognize collaboration opportunities.
Foster good relationships with teammates across the wider Communications Division to execute the work, ensuring understanding of each communication product’s strategic purpose and intended outcome.
Take the lead in problem solving to remove distractions and barriers to progress; provide strategic direction, context, and clarity to fellow communicators.
Report regularly to Communications leadership on communications projects and priorities.
Take on additional work and duties within job family expectations, as assigned by your line manager.
Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications: BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant work experience MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant work experience Preferred Qualifications: Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills.
Former experience in a STEM or higher education communications/outreach role; work experience in a mid to senior level role on a college or university communications team.
Confident executive presence with a track record of effective collaboration with and strategic support for senior executives.
Experience leading a team of communicators through influence or line authority.
Talent to translate business goals to communications strategy.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment as a liaison, convener, and project manager; able to “projectize” plans into a suite of scheduled deliverables; familiar with the use of project management tools to track job progress.
Experience planning and marketing events to maximize visibility and engagement with attendees.
Metrics-minded, with experience defining and tracking KPIs to prove value of communications efforts.
Comfortable working with scientists, engineers, and faculty members at academic institutions.
Skilled at developing collaborations with outside communication teams (such as at academic institutions) to amplify stakeholder engagement and reputation efforts for PNNL.
Experience working with a creative services team/creative director and with a news team.
Power user of common software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
Additional Information: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Requirements: * U.
S.
Citizenship * Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
*Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the candidate selected is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.
S.
Department of Energy until non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months can be demonstrated.
Testing Designated Position (TDP): This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.
About PNNL: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage.
Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.
S.
Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them! At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options.
PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living.
The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3-hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity: Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency.
We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.
In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.
gov.
Drug Free Workplace: PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment.
PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use.
Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.