Posting Title: Communications Campaign Coordinator/Lead for Water Power
Location: CO – Golden
Position Type: Regular
Hours Per Week: 40
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
NREL has an opening in our growing Communications Office for a communications campaign coordinator or lead who will help amplify the important work taking place related to water power technology research, including hydropower, marine energy, and integrated water systems.
This Professional II/III-level role might be a great match if you…
- Love creating communication plans and teaming with specialists to produce related content (e.g., news articles, website copy, social media posts, videos, webinars, presentations, and more)
- Are a project management mastermind who can proactively track multiple action items in parallel to deliver on deadlines
- Find joy in communicating science-y subject matter in plain language for general audiences
- Enjoy building relationships to become a trusted partner with program managers and researchers at NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Bring passion for professional growth and love for continuous learning with guidance from multiple mentors!
The content coordinator will be part of a collaborative communications team structured in an agency-like setting. We create outreach campaigns and publish owned content across multiple channels (e.g., websites, social media outlets, and newsletters), including features like the Ripple Effect series and The Current newsletter. Our strong storytelling and targeted amplification campaigns communicate NREL and DOE’s impactful work.
On our team, you’ll be involved in every aspect of client communication—from planning and execution to metrics tracking and reporting. You’ll help keep complex projects on track by working closely with our writers, editors, graphic designers, and digital and multimedia specialists to produce results on time and on budget.
We’re looking for a self-motivated team contributor, who is ready to hit the ground running and enjoys learning from diverse perspectives. You’ll bring strong attention to detail and thrive on interacting directly with research staff and management.
Primary job functions include:
- Serving as a communications representative for the water power program, including working directly with NREL research staff and their colleagues at other organizations to develop content and programs that help amplify their projects and publications
- Collaborating with communications team members to develop and edit written and multimedia content for web and social media channels, adhering to internal style, brand guidelines, and web standards and best practices
- Help establish communications plans and manage complex projects from conceptualization to execution.
Additional responsibilities:
- Creating and adhering to project plans, timelines/deadlines, and budgets, with general supervision from team leaders and mentors
- Managing and tracking project assignments in Asana, our project management software, to collaborate with team members and meet deadlines
- Proactively informing clients and team members about project status through meetings, project management tools, email, and reports
- Independently coordinating communications projects as assigned, while anticipating needs and building strong working relationships with colleagues and clients
- Tracking and analyzing communications campaign success metrics to offer insights on best practices and areas for improvement with future projects.
Basic Qualifications
Relevant Bachelor’s Degree and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master’s Degree or equivalent relevant education/experience. General knowledge and application of technical standards, principles, theories and techniques. Frequent application of industry concepts and principles. General knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Skilled in problem solving, written and verbal communication. Ability to use various computer software programs.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Ability to distill technical information into understandable and engaging content.
- Time management skills and nimbleness needed to multitask and stay organized in a fast-paced communications agency-like setting.
- Experience using emerging digital communications and marketing concepts and practices.
- Exceptional writing skills used to craft compelling stories from technical research information.
- Team- and customer-service-oriented mindset.
- A can-do attitude and collaborative work style, with the ability to react positively to rapidly changing circumstances.
Professional II: prerequisite skills/experience
- Ability to work under guidance to complete moderately complex communications assignments including research, writing, and editing for a variety of products
- Adhere to budgets and schedules to meet deadlines for deadline-oriented projects
Professional III: prerequisite skills/experience
- Ability to work independently to plan, coordinate, and provide a variety of communication services for complex campaigns
- Create, monitor, and adhere to budgets and schedules to meet deadlines
- Develop strategic communication plans and reports
- Critical thinking, with the ability to work collaboratively and problem-solve within a team environment to achieve goals
- Mentor team members and peers through supportive feedback and coaching, review others’ work, and provide guidance
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience, including:
- Working in science-, energy sector-, government-, technology-, or research-related communications
- Creating internal or corporate communications strategies and content
- Adhering to an in-house style guide, AP style, and/or Chicago style
- Roles or internships in a communication/public relations/advertising agency or similar corporate/organization department
- Using project management and collaboration platforms, such as Asana, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or similar
- Familiarity with renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and/or other technical subject matter.
Preferred Qualifications
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Professional III / Annual Salary Range: $69,400 – $114,500Job Profile: Professional II / Annual Salary Range: $60,400 – $99,700
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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