HPC Communications Lead: Science Storytelling & Strategy

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and retirement benefits

Pension/401K plans

Vacation and sick time

Winter Holiday Shutdown

Parental bonding leave

Job summary

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s NERSC division is seeking a Senior HPC Communications Specialist to lead external communications, raise NERSC’s visibility, and strengthen stakeholder engagement. You will write accurate science content, manage social media, and support media relations to showcase NERSC’s impact to the research community.

You will collaborate with researchers, DOE and partner institutions, produce multimedia content, and guide a small team to ensure consistent,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or related field, or a scientific or engineering field, and 8 years of experience in technical/science communications or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience translating complex scientific or technical concepts into understandable prose for an educated audience
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies for scientific, non-profit, or government organizations
• Experience communicating science through social media and multi-media technologies
• Experience interacting with high-level internal and external contacts to establish working relationships for publications
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Proficiency with print and electronic publishing technologies (web CMS, digital publishing)
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, client service skills with diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of contemporary science communications tools and platforms (Google Suite, LinkedIn, Meta, Bluesky)
• Strong editorial judgment, attention to detail, and professional presence
• Ability to adapt writing style and tone for different platforms
• Ability to use multiplatform social media tools (Sprout Social or HootSuite)
• Knowledge of communications/public affairs fundamentals and industry practices

Responsibilities

• Lead external communications strategy for NERSC in partnership with management
• Coordinate the communications team (two specialists and a web content administrator)
• Research, pitch, and produce engaging, high-quality science stories for general audiences
• Collaborate with researchers, DOE, partner institutions, vendors and Lab teams for accurate messaging
• Produce publication-quality photography and video
• Lead NERSC’s social media presence through original content, campaigns and platform development
• Monitor sentiment, address reputational concerns, and analyze engagement metrics
• Manage communications projects from concept to publication, balancing priorities
• Mentor communications staff and junior team members
• Navigate complex communications challenges with professional judgment

Skills

Translating complex science to prose

Communications strategy development

Social media management

Media relations

Interpersonal communication

Publish/design tools knowledge

Multimedia content production

Editing and fact-checking

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Sprout Social

HootSuite

Adobe Creative Cloud

Canva

Google Suite

Job description

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s NERSC division is seeking a Senior HPC Communications Specialist to lead external communications, raise NERSC’s visibility, and strengthen stakeholder engagement. You will write accurate science content, manage social media, and support media relations to showcase NERSC’s impact to the research community.

You will collaborate with researchers, DOE and partner institutions, produce multimedia content, and guide a small team to ensure consistent,