Communications Specialist III

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

 @Orchard LLC is seeking an experienced Communications Specialist III to support the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s (OAR) Headquarters Program. 

The Communications Specialist III - Communications Lead and Senior Science Communicator provide strategic, analytical, editorial, scientific translation, multimedia, event, digital, and stakeholder communications support for NOAA OAR Headquarters. The role works closely with the Communications Director, OAR leadership, subject-matter experts, and communications professionals across NOAA to plan and execute communications products and initiatives.

This position is contingent upon contract award.

Responsibilities

• Support the Communications Director with communications planning, strategy, execution, and coordination of internal and external communications efforts.
• Serve as an analyst and coordinator for communications actions and projects involving print products, multimedia products, meetings, events, and outreach campaigns.
• Coordinate with the nationwide OAR communications team and work collaboratively with communications professionals and subject-matter experts across NOAA.
• Develop, write, edit, and refine communications products so OAR's mission, work, and activities are presented clearly and concisely to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Translate complex scientific information into understandable communications products for OAR leadership, employees, partners, and public audiences.
• Lead planning and development of visual communications products, including photographs, graphics, data visualizations, videos, slides, infographics, graphic recordings, and related products.
• Manage visual and communications products through review cycles with OAR, NOAA, and partners to ensure scientific accuracy, audience understanding, appropriate format, and accessibility to public audiences as applicable.
• Develop and maintain a visual information strategy plan emphasizing cross-platform consistency and update it annually.
• Plan and coordinate OAR meetings and events, including all-hands meetings, awards ceremonies, conferences, town halls, teleconferences, and webinars; develop talking points and leadership materials.
• Develop and edit digital, web, print, internal, external, and social media content, including news stories, web features, social posts, and visual content.
• Develop and maintain a master website content calendar and support plain-language, tone, style, and branding consistency.
• Provide communications strategy and execution support for social media, including content production, audience interaction, engagement metrics, and coordination with OAR/NOAA social media leads.
• Support development and maintenance of OAR public-facing and internal web content, including Google Site resources, templates, navigation, visual content integration, and analytics reporting.
• Provide communications training and resources to OAR staff on topics such as image/video collection, multimedia content development, and communications best practices.
• Provide expert editing and communications advice to improve the quality, readability, organization, relevance, and impact of written materials.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, environmental science, marine science, or related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
• Significant professional experience in communications, science communication, technical writing, public affairs, journalism, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific or technical information for non-scientific audiences.
• Experience supporting Federal agencies, scientific organizations, research institutions, or environmental programs.
• Experience with visual storytelling, data visualization, photography, video, graphics, or multimedia production.
• Experience developing communications or social media strategy and measuring audience engagement.
• Experience providing communications training or developing SOPs and communications resources.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing communications products for digital, web, print, social media, presentation, or multimedia channels.
• Experience coordinating communications projects, events, stakeholders, and review cycles.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with senior leadership, subject-matter experts, and cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or comparable productivity tools.
• Experience with website content management, Google Sites, web analytics, or related digital communications platforms.
• Must be available for occasional travel to the program HQ.

Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience.

If you are a motivated individual with a passion for continuing your work with NOAA, we want to hear from you!

@Orchard is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.