Job Description

UCAR's rich package of employee benefits includes medical, dental, vision, education assistance, retirement, and life insurance. UCAR offers a variety of programs designed to assist with work-life balance including flexible work alternatives, paid time off and 14 weeks of paid parental leave.

Where You Will Work:

The Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS—pronounced: see-pass), under the UCP, provides an extensive portfolio of placement, management, and organizational services for the broad Earth System Science community. CPAESS develops innovative solutions to complex scientific challenges, advances research capacity, and fosters community collaborations.

CPAESS provides professional development, training, and research opportunities for early career to expert scientists.  The CPAESS community includes placements at prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, short- and long-term appointments at US Federal research labs and institutions, research internships, and summer school opportunities for graduates and postdoctoral scientists. These research and training opportunities provide mentoring and career advancement; lifelong collaboration through program alumni networks; and the advancement of science worldwide through university, federal, state, municipal level, and private sector partnerships. CPAESS employees and sponsors collectively work toward advancing scientific research for the benefit of society.  

What You Will Do:

The Science Communications Lead for NOAA’s OAR Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) leads and directs the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication program. Provides consultation and technical advice in the development and implementation of priorities and strategies for communicating complex climate data with various audiences (e.g., general public, graduate students, Congressional staff, etc.)

Provide leadership in establishing best business communication practices and strategic principles to maximize effectiveness. Assure the lab’s climate research is accurately and appropriately represented to a diversity of internal and external constituencies. Develop recommendations that significantly improve communications on major programs, and integrate diverse points of view to make information accessible and meaningful to a wide array of audiences.  Contribute to the efficient and effective management of program resources and administrative processes. Enhance program effectiveness by applying relevant social marketing practices and science communication theories. Provides leadership and management for high-level interagency efforts. Perform liaison activities between program and other NOAA communication staff, and with external stakeholders. 

This position will be located at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, NJ.

Responsibilities:

Program Planning

Develop communications plans that identify target audiences, appropriate messaging, and resources needed for effective communication, management of expectations and to disseminate project progress.
Develop information strategies to assure the public is informed of GFDL research activities.
Develop recommendations to significantly improve communications on major programs and integrate diverse points of view to make information accessible and meaningful to a wide array of audiences.
Develop and implement communication and marketing programs, projects, and strategies for the general public and other audiences, including innovative demonstration projects.
Coordinate major public affairs activities.
Serve as a consultant and catalyst for improving the way GFDL delivers information to its employees and the public via its digital platforms.
Identify and build needed expertise and state-of-the-art technology, logistical support, and other capacities required for effective external and internal policy, public affairs communication, and media relations.
Build linkages and foster joint projects of mutual interest for capacity building throughout GFDL and with institutional partners, communities, national and international organizations.

Program Management and Execution

Serve as a team leader with responsibility for researching, learning and applying a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze and improve team effectiveness, efficiency and work products.
Develop leadership briefings and presentations and digital products.
Brief senior management at GFDL, NOAA, and external stakeholders, as appropriate, on the laboratory’s communication policy, programs and activities.
Serve as the GFDL spokesperson in responding to questions from the news media and from special interest groups and the general public about GFDL research and programs.
Manage the editing, clearance procedures, and the various stages of production of publications to meet stringent deadlines and to ensure that materials are of the highest quality.
Recommend revisions, format changes, alternative methods of information presentation, or other changes to ensure that communications contribute to fulfilling the lab’s mission and provides the critical information needed by the intended audience.
Interpret scientific and technical information; identify and prioritize critical content; ensure information aligns with the intended audience and is consistent with policy and program goals; re-write and edit material for clarity, persuasiveness, and adherence to format and style conventions of targeted information outlet.
Prepare a variety of comprehensive status reports, management summaries, and briefing papers which identify problems, assess the overall effect of work completed or in progress and outline issues, solutions and recommendations.

Other General Support Duties

Provide leadership expertise and support services in the areas of climate literacy, graphic design, video production, digital and social media.
Conceptualize, draft, review, modify and prepare materials to meet predetermined communications and marketing goals.
Organize, write, edit and present information via digital sites and related social platforms.
Develop clear and appealing products using best practices, document design principles, high resolution imagery, and other fundamental concepts.
Collaborate with professional design staff to plan, analyze, and create visual infographic solutions to meet strategic planning and stakeholder engagement requirements.
Develop collateral that connects directly with target audiences and delivers information/calls-to-action in clear, concise, and persuasive formats.

Authors manuscripts, external communications, presentations to leadership, and other contributions with limited management review at the discretion of the manager.
Solicits, interviews, and selects interns, fellows, or other staff with limited input from management at the discretion of management.

Decision Making And Problem Solving

Independently determines best approaches for developing demand and characterizing research and operational needs and requirements.
Manages projects, partnerships and collaborations autonomously, reporting to senior leadership as needed.
Rebalances priorities and manages work timelines and deadlines due to new or anticipated impacts.
Applies in-depth knowledge of program area to devise creative solutions to problems, decisions or recommendations which would normally result in serious delays to initiatives, or failure to achieve goals critical to major organizational objectives; which could seriously affect the image of the organization.

What You Need:

Education and Years of Experience

REQUIRED

A Master’s degree and at least 6 years of experience in working in earth science communications and interest in the science/audience interface and strong interdisciplinary and translational skills to work across it.

Demonstrated advanced experience planning, developing, executing, and managing, strategic communication programs and activities that inform appropriate target audiences of research mission, accomplishments, activities and cooperative endeavors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Advanced knowledge of emerging climate modeling and research including data management, climate projection, forecast, visualization, and dissemination systems and processes.
Authoritative mastery of all aspects of strategic communications.
Advanced ability to effectively evaluate program needs, and stakeholder community environments, and to prepare program strategy to meet critical needs.
Advanced ability to identify program opportunities and problems and prepare program strategies to meet the needs of the program.
Advanced ability to understand and interpret scientific findings and to translate these results for comprehension and understanding by diverse audiences.
Excellent managerial and programmatic skills that include the ability to plan and implement communications strategies and manage resources.
Experience defining demand, understanding user context, and defining requirements for information systems.
Advanced skill in editorial management.
Advanced ability to build and manage a team in a cooperative environment.
Ability to work in a highly visible environment.
Ability to maintain a high level of dependability and accountability.
Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to work on several simultaneous tasks, often with short-term deadlines
Skill and experience in using software applications of the trade, including publishing software, collaboration software, and quantitative metric and analysis tools.

Desired but not required

Familiarity with the work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

This position is subject to work location requirements for obtaining access to facilities and research systems. These requirements may include a combination of national security checks, credit checks, fingerprinting, or other security clearance or work authorization requirements.

Applicant Notes:

A pre-employment screening is conducted in conjunction with an offer for employment. This screening may involve verifying or reviewing any of the following relevant information: restricted parties screening, employment verification, performance records of internal candidates, education verification, reference checks, verification of professional licenses, certifications, and Motor Vehicle Records.  UCAR complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Please note that while the position description details both minimum requirements as well as desired skills and experience, we want to remind applicants that you do not need to have all the desired skills and experience to be considered for this role. If you have the passion for the work along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest.