Communications Specialist III

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 109,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and

retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning

Rideshare

Childcare

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Communications Specialist III to oversee multiple NASA mission communications, collaborating with Mission Communications and other teams to deliver high-quality content quickly and accurately.

The role requires exceptional organizational skills, proactive project tracking, and the ability to balance technical accuracy with creative storytelling across diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 6 years of related work experience
• Masters degree with minimum 4 years of related work experience

Responsibilities

• Own communications activities, deliverables, and results for multiple NASA missions
• Liaise with stakeholders across NASA, JPL, and outside organizations
• Collaborate with team to brainstorm content, product ideas, and messaging campaigns
• Drive concepts to completion while preserving impact and integrity
• Act as the creative glue between technical leads and production teams
• Field requests from managers and mission leads, asking the right questions
• Facilitate feedback loop between creators and scientists for balance
• Identify and clear roadblocks to deliver in fast-paced environments
• Contribute to website and social content, outreach events, and other products
• Translate milestones into compelling narratives
• Define KPIs and develop reports to communicate value
• Research industry best practices for program improvements

Skills

Exceptional organizational skills

Proactive project tracking

Maintain momentum across multiple ~con

Strong writing and storytelling

Exceptional written and verbal沟通

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Fine Arts, Science, or a related field

Masters in a related job discipline

PhD in a related job discipline

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro)

Airtable

Social media platforms

Job description

Responsibilities

As part of the Media & Strategic Communications section, work with the Mission Communications and Media teams to deliver value to stakeholders across NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and JPL’s Flight Projects and Strategy & Formulation Directorates. The Communications Specialist III position requires exceptional organizational skills, a proactive approach to project tracking, and the ability to maintain momentum across multiple concurrent tasks. Must be nimble, highly curious about NASA/JPL science and engineering, and relentlessly focused on delivering the highest quality products quickly and efficiently. Must be adept at working with a diverse group of constituents including the science community, distribution outlets, NASA personnel, and civil, commercial, and non‑profit partners to ensure the success of high‑impact, leveraged initiatives that deliver value on the public's investment in NASA and JPL.

• Own communications activities, deliverables, and results for multiple JPL‑managed NASA missions in the planetary portfolio.
• Liaise with stakeholders across NASA, JPL, and outside organizations to ensure alignment and communications success.
• Work with the Mission Communications Manager, Planetary Communications Lead, and the broader communications team to brainstorm new content, product ideas, and messaging campaigns.
• Take ownership of project concepts and drive them to completion, filling in creative gaps and making tactical decisions to keep the project moving without sacrificing product impact or scientific integrity.
• Act as the "creative glue" between technical leads and production teams (graphics, video, web), providing clear, inspired direction to ensure the vision is realized.
• Field requests from managers, mission leads, projects, and program offices, then ask the right questions to navigate stakeholder goals with limited guidance.
• Facilitate the feedback loop between creators and scientists, ensuring that technical accuracy and creative flair are perfectly balanced.
• Identify and clear creative or technical roadblocks independently, finding efficient paths to delivery in a fast‑paced environment.
• Contribute to the creation of website and social content (writing, editing, producing), outreach events, and other communications products, as needed.
• Translate complex technical milestones into compelling, creative narratives that resonate with audiences.
• Define, develop, and aggregate KPIs, and develop reports to communicate the value of our strategic communications efforts across the portfolio.
• Research industry best practices and provide ongoing improvements to communications programs and products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Fine Arts, Science, or a related field with a minimum of 6 years of related work experience;
• Masters in a related job discipline with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience;
• PhD in a related job discipline with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience.
• Be able to work in a fast‑paced environment with responsibility for delivering concepts from inception through delivery.
• Proven ability to field undefined requests and action them in smaller tasks, and a track record of delivering impactful products on tight deadlines.
• Experience overseeing the production of varied assets including video, graphics, articles, experiential content, and others.
• Relentless focus on detail and strong design and storytelling instincts.
• Must be able to distinguish between "good" and "exceptional" products and know how to guide a creative team to get there.
• Genuine interest in and alignment with NASA’s mission to explore the unknown in air and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.
• Punctual, detail oriented, resourceful and a self‑motivated individual.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in a team environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working at NASA or a similar agency, and/or in planetary science.
• Experience working within a scientific, technical, or aerospace environment.
• A portfolio of work that demonstrates your ability to take a complex topic and make it visually and narratively compelling.
• Ability to write messaging copy, long‑form science articles, and other content at a professional level.
• Ability to think like a brand manager, concepting and driving impactful campaigns to elevate NASA and JPL projects and programs in the information environment.
• Familiarity with common creative and project management tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro), Airtable, and social media platforms.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Learning
• Rideshare
• Childcare
• Flexible schedule
• Parental leave

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.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $108,888 - $133,016

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law. In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law. EEO is the Law Supplement Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech.) JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth‑orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world‑leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space‑based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.