Senior HPC Communications Specialist

Responsibilities

• Lead NERSC’s external communications strategy in partnership with management.
• Coordinate the NERSC communications team, including two communications specialists and a web content administrator.
• Research, pitch, and produce engaging, high-quality science stories for general audiences.
• Collaborate with researchers, DOE, partner institutions, vendors, and Lab communications teams to ensure accurate messaging and coordinated coverage.
• Produce publication-quality photography and video.
• Lead NERSC’s social media presence through original content, campaigns, and strategic platform development.
• Monitor social media sentiment, address reputational concerns, and analyze engagement metrics.
• Manage communications projects from concept to publication, balancing competing priorities while upholding Lab policies and editorial standards.
• Mentor NERSC communications team members and junior Lab communications staff.
• Navigate complex communications challenges requiring in-depth analysis and sound professional judgment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or related field, or a scientific or engineering field, and 8 years of experience in technical communications, science communications, institutional communications, government communications, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience translating complex scientific or technical concepts into understandable prose for an educated audience
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies, especially for scientific, non-profit, or government organizations
• Experience communicating science through social media and multi-media technologies
• Experience interacting with high-level internal and external contacts to establish working relationships needed to produce publications for release
• Demonstrated organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple assignments, coordinate reviews, and meet competing deadlines
• Proficient with both print and electronic publishing technologies such as web publishing software, content management systems, and digital communications practices
• Strong interpersonal communication, teamwork, collaboration and client service skills, with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse group of colleagues
• Knowledge of contemporary science communications tools, tactics, and best practices for technical audiences, including familiarity with common writing, editing, web publishing, and social media platforms such as Google Suite, LinkedIn, Meta, and Bluesky
• Strong organizational skills, fact-checking abilities, editorial judgment, and attention to detail

Preferred

• Familiarity with Berkeley Lab, DOE, and UC mission, organization, operations, programs, policies, and relevant public policy issues
• Experience with media editing software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva)

Benefits

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits , including pension or 401K-style plans
• Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program
• A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
• Pet insurance