Summary

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Communications Office has an opening for a Communications Project Lead to manage projects that communicate about the innovative research in NREL’s Energy Systems Integration organization. You’ll work closely with a core group of dedicated, creative communicators to develop materials that help NREL tell the stories of its important work and impactful research. NREL is the only U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory dedicated to renewa

Description

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Employment at NREL is contingent upon your compliance with all NREL and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) safety protocols and mitigation efforts directed at the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

Passionate about making science relatable, understandable, and memorable to a wide range of audiences? Love creating communications plans and tracking timelines, details, deadlines, and budgets to move projects forward? Enjoy building client/customer relationships to become a trusted partner?

The NREL Communications Office comprises communications experts in a variety of disciplines focused on raising awareness about the lab and DOE programs. This position resides in the Communications Office’s Science and Technology Communications Group, which includes teams representing NREL’s wide-ranging research areas.

This Communications Professional III- project lead position at NREL requires the ability to manage key client relationships with ease while quickly learning and handling a variety of tasks, whether that’s scoping a project budget, running a virtual webinar, managing a routine web update, or building a PowerPoint deck for a presentation—with limited supervision.

We’re looking for a self-motivated individual who is familiar with traditional and digital communications strategies, communication projects and annual budget management. To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate attention to detail and quality, deliver creative solutions, and be comfortable interacting directly with research staff and management while building strong working relationships across NREL’s Communications Office. Our team works in an agency-like setting, where you’ll help produce content through collaboration with researchers, writers, editors, videographers, web specialists, and graphic designers.

Primary Job Functions

Serve as the primary communications representative for an NREL research center.
Manage an annual communications budget and plan.
Create materials to communicate the center's work both internally and externally, and track ad-hoc requests back to the established plan.
Work directly with NREL research staff to support communications efforts to present their projects and research, including crafting internal and external communications strategies and experiences.
Collaborate with our internal design team to develop graphics for facility and research platform signage and collateral.
Create and track multiple project plans, timelines, and budgets for a variety of multichannel outreach campaigns, ranging from one-off promotional efforts to multiyear projects.
Develop, edit, and create content to promote NREL’s research, following established standards and best practices.
Coordinate virtual events, including providing technical support and acting as a host for webinars, meetings, and workshops using relevant software platforms.

Additional Responsibilities

Build and maintain positive relationships with team, peers, and clients.
Coordinate internal processes to support researchers and communication project leads.
Find innovative solutions and function as a strategic partner to clients.
Work closely with teams across NREL to secure content and project approvals.
Inform other project managers and team leaders on project status and day-to-day problem-solving.

Your success will depend on your adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to learn; can-do attitude and collaborative work style; and the ability to react positively to rapidly changing circumstances.

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter describing why you are interested in this position and your specific qualifications related to communications project management.

Basic Qualifications

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant JD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Ability to work independently as a communication project manager to plan, coordinate, and provide a variety of communication services for complex, multi-channel communications campaigns.
Critical thinking skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
Complete understanding and wide application of communications principles, theories, and concepts.
Experience developing strategic communication plans and reports.
Demonstrated skill in creating, monitoring, and adhering to budgets and schedules to meet deadlines, using strong project management skills.
Aptitude for mentoring teammates and peers through supportive feedback and coaching, reviewing others’ work, and providing guidance.
Advanced writing skills to communicate effectively through internal and external channels.
Experience working with teams and customers.
Demonstrated experience creating environmental communications experiences for a variety of audiences.
Experience with writing web content and working in content management systems.
Experience coordinating and hosting webinars and events.
Problem-solving abilities to work collaboratively with others to achieve goals.
In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter describing why you are interested in this position and your specific qualifications related to communications project management.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous science-, energy-sector, government-, technology-, or research-related communications experience.
Experience adhering to an in-house style guide, AP style, and/or Chicago style.
Experience with project management and collaboration platforms, such as Microsoft Teams.
Prior roles in a communication/public relations/advertising agency or similar corporate/organization or department.
Familiarity with renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, and/or other technical subject matter.