Responsibilities

• As part of JPL's Strategic Communications organization, the Social Media Specialist III position serves as a social media specialist on the Digital Content team.
• The role helps set the direction and day-to-day rhythm of the NASAJPL accounts while contributing to the NASAUniverse accounts through a cross-center partnership with NASA Goddard.
• The Social Media Specialist III position requires strong editorial and visual judgment, enthusiasm for NASA and JPL, and the confidence to turn broad goals into platform-ready content.
• The successful candidate will stay current on social platforms and audience behavior, bring forward ideas that keep JPL's content fresh, and use performance data to improve future work.
• They must be comfortable taking ownership while working closely with managers, communicators, designers, scientists, engineers, and NASA partners in an environment where priorities and sensitivities can change quickly.
• Tasks include but not limited to:
• • Helps lead content strategy, planning, creation, publishing, and ongoing account stewardship for NASAJPL across major social platforms.
• • Leads day-to-day community management for NASAJPL by monitoring conversations, responding to audience questions and comments, identifying opportunities for meaningful engagement, and escalating sensitive or technical issues as appropriate.
• • Maintains a forward-looking view of the NASAJPL content pipeline, identifies gaps and opportunities, and advances work with appropriate independence while keeping collaborators informed.
• • Works closely with NASA Goddard colleagues to develop and publish coordinated content for NASAUniverse, aligning on editorial priorities, responsibilities, and timing.

Requirements

• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Design, Film or Media Production, Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience with a minimum of 6 years of related work experience or a Masters in a similar discipline with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong social media storytelling and hands-on creation of platform-native visual content, including graphics, carousels, and short-form video.
• Strong editorial judgment and demonstrated ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, accurate, and engaging content for general audiences.
• Strong visual judgment and proficiency with relevant design and video-editing tools used to produce polished social content.
• Experience using native platform analytics or social media management and measurement tools to evaluate performance and recommend changes.
• Ability to communicate data and insights clearly in written summaries, visual presentations, and verbal briefings.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to lead work from concept through publication while seeking input, surfacing risks, and adapting to feedback.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work across teams, organizations, and areas of expertise in a changing environment.
• Demonstrated interest in NASA, JPL, space exploration, science, engineering, or related technical subjects, with an eagerness to deepen that knowledge.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in social media strategy, content creation, digital communications, or a related field.

Preferred

• Experience managing or serving as a primary contributor to a high-profile institutional, science, technology, aerospace, government, or mission-driven social account.
• Existing knowledge of NASA and JPL missions, history, science, engineering, or the broader space community.
• Advanced design, illustration, photography, motion graphics, or video production skills, with a strong understanding of branding and visual systems.
• Experience building measurement frameworks, dashboards, recurring reports, or presentations that connect social performance with actionable editorial insights.
• Experience with social media management and analytics platforms such as Sprinklr, along with native analytics for Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Experience supporting live events, mission milestones, breaking news, or other high-visibility moments on social media.
• Working knowledge of federal government communications, accessibility, records, approval, or public-affairs requirements.

Benefits

• JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.