Senior OAR Science Communications Specialist (SME II) - PMEL (Seattle, WA) (Hybrid)

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.)

Seattle (WA)

Hybrid

USD 103,000 - 108,000

Full time

11 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Long-term and Short-term Disability

Life Insurance

401(k) Plan

Holiday Pay

Paid Time Off

Job summary

FWI seeks a Senior OAR Science Communications Specialist (SME II) to join the PMEL team in Seattle, WA, with a hybrid onsite schedule. You will translate complex NOAA science into clear communications for executives and staff, coordinating across offices and laboratories, and guiding outreach at national scale.

Responsibilities include drafting talking points, materials for leadership, and training regional staff, while ensuring accurate, accessible messaging and alignment with NOAA and OAR

Qualifications

BA/BS in a technical or business discipline preferred; advanced degrees or certifications may qualify for shorter periods of required experience
8+ years of professional and/or academic experience
Experience providing communications support for a federal science agency or similar technical environment
Proven ability to translate complex scientific content for diverse audiences including non-expert and senior government audiences
Experience developing executive communications including talking points, briefing materials, and leadership presentations
Familiarity with NOAA, OAR, or federal agency communications processes and public affairs requirements
Experience planning and coordinating large-scale events such as all-hands meetings, site visits, or public outreach
Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships across a distributed organization
SME II: advising senior leadership on communications strategy and sensitive engagement issues
Ability to obtain and maintain a Low-risk federal security clearance

Responsibilities

Serve as an analyst and coordinator for communication actions, working with OAR leadership and subject matter experts
Provide clear written and oral communications for OAR products and materials
Translate complex scientific information into communication products for leadership and workforce
Provide planning and coordination support for periodic meetings and events
Develop talking points and materials used by leadership for internal and external audiences
Provide training to nationwide OAR communications staff on various topics
Establish and maintain communications between OAR staff across the organization
Coordinate to showcase OAR mission across platforms and events
Advise leadership on sensitive issues and engagement strategies
Document workflows and maintain organized files of communications data

Skills

Writing & editing

Executive communications

Stakeholder relations

Event planning

Strategic communications

Oral communications

NOAA familiarity

Security clearance

Education

BA/BS in technical or business discipline

Job description

Senior OAR Science Communications Specialist (SME II) - PMEL (Seattle, WA) (Hybrid)

Location US-WA-Seattle

ID 2026-2545

Overview

NOAA Research is one of the most consequential science agencies in the federal government — advancing the forecasts that save lives, the data that informs climate policy, and the understanding of Earth systems that shapes decisions for generations. But great science only creates impact when it is communicated well. As an OAR Science Communications Specialist, you will be embedded directly within a NOAA OAR laboratory or program, working alongside scientists and senior leaders to translate groundbreaking research into communications that inform, engage, and inspire. You are a skilled writer, a strategic thinker, and a natural connector — someone who can develop talking points for a Congressional briefing, coordinate a nationwide all-hands meeting, and advise the OAR Communications Director on sensitive engagement opportunities, all in the same week. This is a role for a communications professional who understands that the stakes of getting science communication right are high — and who brings both the craft and the judgment to do it well.

Work Schedule and Location:

Hybrid (2-3 Days Onsite) at NOAA PMEL HQ (Seattle, WA)

FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024, 2025 and 2026 Top Workplace, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Serve as an analyst and coordinator for communication actions, working closely with OAR office leadership, the OAR Communications team, and subject matter experts across headquarters, labs, and programs
Provide exceptional written and oral communications for OAR products and materials, ensuring OAR mission, work, and activities are presented in clear, concise, and understandable language for a variety of audiences
Explain and organize complex scientific information into communication products used by OAR leadership and the workforce, demonstrating strong writing and editing skills with experience translating technical information for non-scientific audiences
Provide planning, coordination, and communication support to OAR Senior Management for periodic meetings and events, including all-hands meetings and site visits
Develop talking points and other materials used by leadership when communicating to internal and external audiences
Provide training and resources to nationwide OAR communications staff on a variety of communication topics
Establish and maintain communications between OAR communications staff to effectively communicate NOAA-relevant information across the OAR workforce
Coordinate within OAR to showcase OAR mission, work, and activities across a variety of communications platforms and events
Provide advice and recommendations to the OAR Communications Director and OAR laboratory and program leadership on sensitive issues, opportunities for engagement, and strategies for improved communications
Document workflows and maintain organized files containing data associated with communications work

Qualifications

Required:

BA/BS in a technical or business discipline — Communications, Journalism, Science Communications, Environmental Science, Public Affairs, or a closely related field preferred; advanced degrees or certifications may qualify for shorter periods of required experience
8+ years of professional and/or academic experience
Demonstrated experience providing communications support for a federal science agency, research organization, or similar technical environment
Proven ability to translate complex scientific or technical content into compelling written products for diverse audiences, including non-expert and senior government audiences
Experience developing executive communications including talking points, briefing materials, and leadership presentations for senior government officials
Familiarity with NOAA, OAR, or federal agency communications processes, review cycles, and public affairs requirements
Experience planning and coordinating large-scale events such as all-hands meetings, site visits, or public outreach events
Strong interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to build relationships with scientists, senior managers, and communications colleagues across a geographically distributed organization
SME II candidates: demonstrated experience advising senior leadership on communications strategy and sensitive engagement issues
Ability to obtain and maintain a Low-risk federal security clearance

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Why Join Our Team

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including: