Social Media Specialist III

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Wellbeing programs

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning stipend

Rideshare

Childcare assistance

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) seeks a Social Media Specialist III in Pasadena to lead editorial and visual storytelling across NASAJPL accounts. You will collaborate with engineers, scientists, and partners to translate complex missions into engaging content, manage communities, and publish platform-native assets.

A broad content toolkit and data-driven decisions are essential. You will monitor trends, shape content plans, and deliver performance reports while upholding NASA/JPL brand

Qualifications

• Portfolio showing social media storytelling and platform-native content.
• Strong editorial and visual judgment; translate technical info into engaging content.
• Experience with design and video-editing tools used to produce polished social content.
• Experience using native platform analytics or social media management/measurement tools.
• Ability to communicate data and insights clearly in summaries and briefings.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to lead work from concept through publication.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building across teams and expertise.
• Interest in NASA, JPL, space exploration, science, engineering.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in social media strategy, content creation, or digital communications.

Responsibilities

• Helps lead content strategy, planning, creation, publishing, and ongoing account stewardship for NASAJPL across major social platforms.
• Leads day-to-day community management for NASAJPL by monitoring conversations and responding to audience questions.
• Maintains a forward-looking view of the content pipeline and identifies gaps and opportunities.
• Works with NASA Goddard to develop and publish coordinated content for NASAUniverse.
• Translates complex scientific information into accessible content while linking missions and stories to the public.
• Creates and edits platform-ready assets, including carousels, short-form video, graphics, captions, and thumbnails.
• Tracks platform trends and evaluates opportunities that fit NASA's voice and goals.
• Monitors performance and turns data into recommendations for content strategy and audience development.
• Develops clear reports and presentations communicating performance and insights.
• Responds to breaking news and changing priorities while protecting accuracy and public trust.
• Builds relationships with communicators, creative teams, mission stakeholders, and partners.

Skills

Editorial judgment

Visual storytelling

Analytics tools

Content strategy

Collaboration

NASA/JPL interest

Social media experience 3+ yrs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Tools

Design tools

Video editing tools

Job description

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus‑like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Responsibilities

As part of JPL's Strategic Communications organization, the Social Media Specialist III position serves as a social media specialist on the Digital Content team. The role helps set the direction and day‑to‑day rhythm of the NASAJPL accounts while contributing to the NASAUniverse accounts through a cross‑center partnership with NASA Goddard.

The Social Media Specialist III position requires strong editorial and visual judgment, enthusiasm for NASA and JPL, and the confidence to turn broad goals into platform‑ready content. The successful candidate will stay current on social platforms and audience behavior, bring forward ideas that keep JPL's content fresh, and use performance data to improve future work. They must be comfortable taking ownership while working closely with managers, communicators, designers, scientists, engineers, and NASA partners in an environment where priorities and sensitivities can change quickly.

• Helps lead content strategy, planning, creation, publishing, and ongoing account stewardship for NASAJPL across major social platforms.
• Leads day‑to‑day community management for NASAJPL by monitoring conversations, responding to audience questions and comments, identifying opportunities for meaningful engagement, and escalating sensitive or technical issues as appropriate.
• Maintains a forward‑looking view of the NASAJPL content pipeline, identifies gaps and opportunities, and advances work with appropriate independence while keeping collaborators informed.
• Works closely with NASA Goddard colleagues to develop and publish coordinated content for NASAUniverse, aligning on editorial priorities, responsibilities, and timing.
• Translates complex scientific and technical information into accurate, accessible content without losing the substance or significance of the work, connecting JPL missions, science, engineering, people, and institutional stories with public audiences.
• Creates and edits platform‑ready assets, including Instagram carousels, short‑form video and Reels, graphics, captions, thumbnails, and other visual content, while maintaining NASA and JPL brand standards.
• Tracks platform trends, emerging formats, audience behavior, and cultural moments; evaluates which opportunities fit NASA's voice, goals, and public‑service responsibilities.
• Monitors account and content performance, identifies meaningful patterns, and turns data into specific recommendations for content strategy, formats, timing, and audience development.
• Develops clear reports and presentations that communicate performance, audience insights, lessons learned, and recommended next steps to colleagues and leadership.
• Responds calmly and flexibly to breaking news, mission events, approval requirements, and changing organizational priorities while protecting accuracy and public trust.
• Builds relationships with communications colleagues, creative teams, mission stakeholders, and institutional partners to identify opportunities, gather and verify information, and bring strong social content to life.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Design, Film or Media Production, Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience with a minimum of 6 years of related work experience or a Masters in a similar discipline with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong social media storytelling and hands‑on creation of platform‑native visual content, including graphics, carousels, and short‑form video.
• Strong editorial judgment and demonstrated ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, accurate, and engaging content for general audiences.
• Strong visual judgment and proficiency with relevant design and video‑editing tools used to produce polished social content.
• Experience using native platform analytics or social media management and measurement tools to evaluate performance and recommend changes.
• Ability to communicate data and insights clearly in written summaries, visual presentations, and verbal briefings.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to lead work from concept through publication while seeking input, surfacing risks, and adapting to feedback.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship‑building skills, including the ability to work across teams, organizations, and areas of expertise in a changing environment.
• Demonstrated interest in NASA, JPL, space exploration, science, engineering, or related technical subjects, with an eagerness to deepen that knowledge.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in social media strategy, content creation, digital communications, or a related field.

Preferred Skills

• Experience managing or serving as a primary contributor to a high‑profile institutional, science, technology, aerospace, government, or mission‑driven social account.
• Existing knowledge of NASA and JPL missions, history, science, engineering, or the broader space community.
• Advanced design, illustration, photography, motion graphics, or video production skills, with a strong understanding of branding and visual systems.
• Experience building measurement frameworks, dashboards, recurring reports, or presentations that connect social performance with actionable editorial insights.
• Experience with social media management and analytics platforms such as Sprinklr, along with native analytics for Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Experience supporting live events, mission milestones, breaking news, or other high‑visibility moments on social media.
• Working knowledge of federal government communications, accessibility, records, approval, or public‑affairs requirements.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. 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.

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.

$94,536 - $124,592

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.