Senior Science Content & Digital Media Specialist (SME II)

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.)

Silver Spring (MD)

Hybrid

USD 103,000 - 108,000

Full time

14 days+

Application generator

Stand out for this role — generate a tailored resume and cover letter in about a minute.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Long-term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Plan

Holiday Pay

Paid Time Off

Job summary

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.) seeks a Science Content & Digital Media Specialist to craft compelling narratives around atmospheric science for NOAA's OAR. You’ll write, edit, and design digital and print content, producing graphics and short-form videos for Instagram, YouTube, and internal channels.

The role supports day-to-day writing, visual content creation, and editorial review, ensuring accuracy and audience-appropriate delivery across platforms.

Qualifications

BA/BS in a technical or business discipline; advanced degrees may shorten required experience
8+ years of professional and/or academic experience in communications or related field
Experience producing science or technical content for digital platforms is highly desirable
Proficiency with visual content creation tools and multimedia formats for public audiences

Responsibilities

Explain and organize complex scientific information into audience-appropriate content
Provide technical writing and editing for digital and print platforms
Research, write, and edit content for online, social media, and print channels
Develop content themes, schedules, and updates for external websites and social platforms
Create visual graphics and short-form videos for NOAA platforms
Monitor engagement analytics and apply insights to strategy
Coordinate with NOAA teams to showcase OAR mission across platforms
Advise on content strategy and accessibility/compliance standards
Document workflows and maintain organized content files

Skills

Storytelling

Editing

Digital media writing

CMS familiarity

Social media management

Education

BA/BS in Communications or related field

Advanced degree or certifications (preferred)

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

CMS platforms

Social media scheduling tools

Job description

Overview

You are the kind of communicator who finds a hurricane forecast just as compelling as a viral social post — because you understand that both are stories, and both matter. As a Science Content & Digital Media Specialist supporting NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), you will be embedded at a NOAA laboratory or program, providing day-to-day writing, visual content creation, and editorial support across digital, social media, and print platforms. You'll research and write news stories about cutting-edge atmospheric science, develop eye-catching graphics and videos that bring ocean research to life on Instagram and YouTube, and shepherd content through NOAA's rigorous scientific review process to make sure every word is accurate and every image is on-brand. This is a role for a creative professional with a scientific mindset — someone who can move seamlessly between a technical research summary and a 280-character social post, always keeping the audience at the center of every content decision.

Overview

Work Schedule and Location

In-person presence required at one of the following locations: Air Resources Laboratory (College Park, MD); Pacific Marine Environment Laboratory (Seattle, WA); David Skaggs Research Center (Boulder, CO); Global Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (Plainsboro, NJ); Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Miami, FL); National Severe Storms Laboratory (Norman, OK); Great Lakes Environment Research Laboratory (Ann Arbor, MI); or NOAA SSMC3 (Silver Spring, MD)
Remote positions are expected to work in the office each Tuesday (OAR CFO-CAO office day) when based in Silver Spring, MD
Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day / 40 hours per week, excluding federal holidays
Local and non-local travel may be required, including international travel; all unplanned travel must be approved in writing by the COR at least 10 calendar days in advance

Responsibilities

Explain and organize complex scientific information into communication products for OAR leadership and the workforce, demonstrating strong writing and editing skills with experience translating technical information for non-scientific audiences
Provide expert technical and scientific writing and editing for public communication products across OAR digital and print platforms, including news stories, web features, social media posts, and visual content
Research, write, and edit audience-appropriate content for online, social media, and print channels; shepherd content through internal review cycles within OAR and NOAA to ensure scientific accuracy, correct format, and appropriate style
Develop themes, schedules, and content for updates to external websites, internal Google Sites, and social media platforms
Create visual graphics, videos, and other visual materials for use across NOAA platforms
Monitor engagement analytics across digital platforms and apply insights to content strategy
Coordinate with other NOAA teams to showcase OAR mission, work, and activities across NOAA websites and partner platforms
Provide advice and recommendations to the OAR Communications Director on sensitive content issues; recommend and execute new content strategies and innovations to increase public engagement
Document workflows and maintain organized files containing data associated with content development

Required

Qualifications

BA/BS in a technical or business discipline — Communications, Journalism, Digital Media, Science Communications, Environmental Science, 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

Desired

Demonstrated experience producing science or technical content for digital platforms, including websites, social media, and multimedia channels for a federal agency or research organization
Strong science or technical writing and editing skills; ability to translate research findings into compelling, accurate, audience-appropriate content across multiple formats and reading levels
Proficiency with visual content creation tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or equivalent platforms; experience producing graphics, short-form video, or infographics for public audiences
Experience managing content through formal scientific or government review and approval processes
Familiarity with web content management systems (CMS) and social media scheduling platforms; experience monitoring and reporting on digital engagement analytics
Knowledge of NOAA, OAR, or federal agency web publishing standards, Section 508 accessibility requirements, and plain language guidelines
SME II candidates: demonstrated experience leading content strategy development and advising senior communications leadership on audience engagement and platform innovation
Ability to obtain and maintain a Low-risk federal security clearance

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

Why Join Our Team

Benefits

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: