National Security Communications Professional - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

**Overview** PNNL's Communications organization comprises over 100 talented communications professionals committed to elevating PNNL's reputation, inspiring action, and engaging audiences by transforming the Lab's science into influential communications and compelling stories.? **Responsibilities** Job Description We are seeking a senior-level communicator who can imagine and execute communication strategies that strengthen the understanding, impact, and reach of PNNL's national security work among select stakeholders. As the point-of-contact, production manager, and lead executor for communications in PNNL's National Security Directorate (NSD) Program Development Office, you will pair your experience in communications leadership with your knowledge of the sensitivities, sponsors, and stakeholders in the national security domain. Working with teammates in PNNL's wider communications division, you will represent the mission, vision, and preferences of our NSD leaders to execute communications work that drives reputation and business growth. You will lead or contribute to a variety of communications activities-events, campaigns, tours, visits, promotional opportunities, presentations, etc.-to support NSD and its goals internally and externally. 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 national security. You understand how to engage with leaders in the intelligence community, can carefully weigh the risks and the opportunities for communicating in this space, and have a comfort working with sensitive subject matter. **Key Responsibilities?** Candidate will primarily be aligned to support market sectors within NSD's Program Development Office with specific focus on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security and Nuclear Stockpile Partnerships. Relationship Management and Communications Counsel: + Build and maintain outstanding relationships with NSD leaders and researchers. + Maintain a keen understanding of PNNL's national security audiences, including funding sponsors, external collaborators/partners, and other stakeholders; understand sponsor requirements and preferences and how they can impact communications opportunities. + Provide excellent communications counsel and support to NSD leaders in the Program Development Office. Foster an understanding of, and support for, strategic communications: + Socialize lab-level communications priorities with NSD leaders and researchers and integrate them into NSD communications strategies and activities. + Develop, present, and gain approval from researchers and leaders on comprehensive communications plans that provide lift to NSD's business goals. Production Management:? + Initiate, traffic manage, and successfully execute communications strategies/activities that further NSD's business goals among specific audiences, including but not limited to, communications campaigns, event communications, video scripting and production, and web content development. + Coordinate across teams-with News and Media, Creative and Editorial Communications, Internal Communications, Institutional Communications, and others-to activate communications tactics, enforce standard workflows, and carry out best practices for project and event communications. Content Development:? + Respond to-and often personally handle-requests for high-level communications support including briefing documents, presentations, talking points, reports, all-staff messages, and classified communications. + Write reports, highlights, articles, brochures, summaries, slides, speaking points, and other communications materials to represent the work, people, and impact of the aligned research directorate. + Interview researchers to better understand their science and its impact. + Develop and update web content for internal and external audiences; identify potential new content; route content for editing and approvals; and stage content using Drupal and/or SharePoint. + Create content for use in internal communications, writing content for the internal website, internal newsletters or emails, and for PNNL's other internal channels. Communications Planning, Problem Solving, and Tracking:? + Contribute to NSD's annual strategic communication plan, articulating the business goals for your aligned sectors, projects, and initiatives and propose supporting communications activities that are scaled to budget, measurable, and drive audience outcomes. + Develop and carry out communications plans for events, campaigns, and projects. + Set goals for communications efforts and track impact. + Assist your Team Lead in problem solving to remove distractions and barriers to progress; provide strategic direction, context, and clarity to other communicators. Quality Assurance, Risk Mitigation, and Metrics:? + Align with and support the PNNL brand through all communications efforts/products. + Collaborate with staff throughout the Communications Division to resource and execute the work, ensure quality, and adhere to brand standards. + Collaborate with leaders in National Security to assess, navigate, and mitigate risk associated with communicating in this sensitive domain. + Foster transparency and collaboration by communicating often with your teammates and leadership about your communications projects and priorities. ? **Additional Responsibilities?** + Assist with other event coordination and execution, as needed, across the Research Communications group. + Take on additional work and duties within job family expectations, as assigned by your line manager. + Some travel may be required. **Qualifications** Minimum Qualifications: + BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant experience -OR- + MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant experience Preferred Qualifications: + Strong customer service orientation with exceptional attention to detail and follow through. + Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills. + Former experience in a national security communications role. + Confident executive presence and confidence to work with and advise senior executives. + Good judgement and careful nature with business sensitive information. + 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. + Adept individual contributor and producer of communications materials for print and digital platforms. + Experience working across a communications organization to gather and leverage the input and talents of others. + Metrics-minded, with experience defining and tracking KPIs to prove value of communications efforts. + Comfortable working with scientists and engineers. + Power user of common software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams); experience with or knowledge of content management systems (Drupal, SharePoint). **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** 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, and flexible work schedules. 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. **HSPD-12 PIV Credential Requirement** In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. **Mandatory Requirements** Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a "country of risk" without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment. **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 (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards) **Notice to Applicants** PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules. As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position. **Minimum Salary** USD $121,100.00/Yr. **Maximum Salary** USD $191,400.00/Yr.