Chief Communications Officer

Berkeley Lab; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 290,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Berkeley Lab is seeking a Chief Communications Officer to lead the Strategic Communications Office and shape the Lab’s voice across national and global audiences. Reporting to the Laboratory Director, the CCO will set the agenda for science storytelling, media engagement, internal culture, and stakeholder relations.

The role requires 15+ years in strategic communications within complex scientific or governmental settings, with a track record of elevating institutional reputation and guiding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in strategic communications or related fields.
• Experience within science-driven, research, academic, government, or complex institutional environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide communications strategy aligned with mission and priorities.
• Advise executive leadership on reputation, issues management, and messaging.
• Translate vision into actionable strategies across audiences.
• Lead integrated storytelling to reinforce Laboratory identity.
• Position the Lab as a global leader in science, innovation, and impact.
• Lead communications across the Lab’s research portfolio including AI, energy, computation, and quantum.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Crisis communications

Stakeholder relationships

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or related field

Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in related field

Job description

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory invites visionary communications leaders to apply for the role of Chief Communications Officer (CCO)—an opportunity to shape the voice and reputation of one of the world's premier scientific research institutions. The CCO will lead Berkeley Lab's strategic communications function and help advance the Laboratory's mission of delivering science solutions to the world's greatest challenges.

Reporting directly to the Laboratory Director and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Communications Officer is a trusted strategic advisor who partners with senior leaders to advance Berkeley Lab's scientific, operational, fiscal, cultural, and reputational goals. Leading the 17-person Strategic Communications Office, the CCO will develop and execute a bold, integrated communications strategy that elevates the Laboratory’s global profile, strengthens engagement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the University of California (UC), policymakers, scientific collaborators, employees, and surrounding communities, and reinforces Berkeley Lab's position as a world leader in scientific innovation.

This role leads a modern, Lab-wide communications organization, inspires a high-performing team, and shapes compelling narratives that showcase groundbreaking research, operational excellence, organizational culture, and public impact. The successful candidate will foster trust across diverse stakeholders, lead through moments of opportunity and complexity, and ensure Berkeley Lab's voice reflects its enduring commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, service, and stewardship.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Institutional Strategy

• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide communications strategy aligned with the Laboratory’s scientific mission, strategic priorities, and reputation, with clear outcomes and data analytics to evaluate progress, including the impacts of AI on stakeholder information gathering.
• Advise the Laboratory Director and executive leadership on reputation, issues management, stakeholder engagement, and institutional positioning.
• Translate long-term institutional vision into actionable communication strategies that advance scientific leadership and programmatic ambitions across internal and external audiences.
• Drive integrated storytelling across programs and directorates to reinforce a unified Laboratory identity.

Science Communication & Impact

• Position the Laboratory as a global leader in science, innovation, and impact.
• Lead communications across the Lab’s research portfolio in energy, computation, artificial intelligence, quantum, materials, biological sciences, and related disciplines.
• Proactively engage national and global media to elevate the Laboratory’s reputation for scientific excellence and impact.
• Connect programmatic priorities to broader societal challenges to strengthen understanding of federally funded science and its value.
• Direct a modern digital and media ecosystem aligned with audience expectations and institutional storytelling needs.

Internal Communications, Culture & Engagement

• Lead a Lab-wide internal communications program that fosters shared purpose across a complex organization with multiple internal communities.
• Partner with Lab leaders to communicate a culture grounded in stewardship, shared values, and safety.
• Work with functional areas (e.g., the Stewardship Office and Human Resources) to communicate organizational change in ways that build trust and engagement.
• Strengthen cohesion across research and operations communications teams to support execution of Laboratory priorities.
• Lead internal efforts to execute programs that foster employee engagement.

Crisis & Emergency Communications

• Prepare for and lead emergency and crisis communications that protect people, assets and reputation while maintaining and building stakeholder trust.
• Advise senior leadership in real time during high-consequence crises, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and institutional credibility.
• Be available after hours and on weekends to advise and lead crisis communications as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build trust and alignment across stakeholder communities through clear, consistent, and responsive messaging.
• Serve as the senior communications interface with DOE, UC,, the State of California, academic partners, industry, and local communities.
• Coordinate communications across national laboratory peers (the National Laboratories Chief Communications Officers) and research partners to reinforce mission alignment and collective impact.
• Represent the Laboratory in national forums where communications, science policy, and institutional reputation converge.

Organizational Leadership & Team Development

• Strengthen integration across decentralized communications teams to lead a cohesive, Lab-wide communications enterprise, leveraging distributed expertise into a unified strategic function.
• Foster a high-performing communications culture grounded in collaboration, trust, accountability, innovation, and excellence.
• Oversee budgeting, workforce planning, and resource allocation for Strategic Communications, aligned with institutional priorities.
• Anticipate and adapt to shifts in the information landscape, including misinformation, evolving practices, and AI-enabled tools and workflows.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or related fields, ideally within a science-driven, research, academic, government, or similarly complex institutional environment.

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Proven ability to design and execute enterprise-scale, integrated communications strategies aligned with institutional mission, scientific leadership, and long-term programmatic priorities in large, distributed organizations.
• Record of advising senior executives on reputation, issues management, and strategic messaging.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and executive communication skills with deep fluency in modern practices across digital, media, internal communications, branding, and executive messaging.

Stakeholder Relationships

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across complex stakeholder ecosystems, including federal agencies, academic partners, and public‑sector institutions.
• Ability to balance diverse and sometimes competing stakeholder needs while maintaining institutional coherence and credibility.
• High emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and credibility at all levels, with the ability to influence without authority and build trust across scientific, operational, and executive communities.
• Significant experience leading crisis and emergency communications, operating effectively under pressure while maintaining transparency and alignment with institutional values.
• Proven ability to protect institutional reputation while sustaining trust with internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Proven success in leading and developing high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience driving organizational alignment, cross‑functional collaboration, and institutional change in complex environments.
• Strong budgeting, operational planning, and resource management skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
• Experience leading communications activities in a DOE national laboratory or FFRDC environment.
• Familiarity with data‑informed communications approaches and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools and workflows.

Notes:

• Appointment type: This is a full‑time career appointment, exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid). The Chief Communications Officer position is appointed by and serves at the discretion of the Laboratory Director, and this appointment is at will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.
• Salary range: This position is expected to pay $290,000 to $360,000 annually; salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, as well as aligned with the internal leadership peer group. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position.
• Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work modality: This position requires daily on-site presence at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, with occasional business travel.