We are seeking a STEM Communications Specialist to support the Office of Naval Research’s STEM outreach and communications initiatives. The specialist will attend selected events and program activities to interview participants, take photographs, and develop stories highlighting Naval STEM programs, students, educators, scientists, engineers, interns, alumni, mentors, and community partners.
The successful candidate will be a strong interviewer and versatile writer who can translate scientific, technical, and program information into accurate, engaging content for students, families, educators, and other nontechnical audiences. Content may be developed for websites, newsletters, social media, presentations, and printed materials. The specialist will also support ongoing communications needs, including website updates and recruitment messaging, in coordination with Naval STEM program staff and the Naval STEM Coordination Office (NSCO).
All content must be coordinated and approved through applicable Government and U.S. Navy review and public-release procedures before publication. The position requires periodic travel and occasional evening, or weekend support based on event schedules.
Essential Job Functions:
- Identify and develop stories that demonstrate the activities, accomplishments, and impact of Naval STEM programs.
- Attend outreach events, internship activities, conferences, career fairs, student competitions, and laboratory visits to gather content.
- Interview students, interns, educators, scientists, engineers, program managers, naval personnel, and community partners.
- Write and edit feature stories, participant profiles, including alumni and participant success stories highlighting research experiences, mentorship, career pathways, and program outcomes, event recaps, web content, newsletters, social media posts, presentations, fact sheets, and other communication products.
- Translate technical and program information into clear, engaging content for students and other nontechnical audiences.
- Support updates to Naval STEM website content, including program information, news, participant stories, and outreach announcements.
- Assist with recruitment communications, program announcements, and other outreach messaging in coordination with program staff.
- Take clear, usable photographs at events and maintain accurate names, titles, affiliations, quotations, and caption information.
- Coordinate with event organizers and program representatives to identify priority activities, interview subjects, and story opportunities.
- Proactively work with Naval STEM program representatives, laboratories, mentors, and alumni to identify potential stories and communications opportunities.
- Work with NSCO and program staff to support communications priorities and maintain consistent program messaging.
- Support outreach and recruitment activities by engaging with students, educators, and other participants at selected events and providing program information.
- Follow applicable requirements for photography, consent, privacy, personally identifiable information, operational security, and release authorization.
- Verify facts and technical information with subject-matter experts and program representatives.
- Prepare content for technical, programmatic, security, privacy, branding, and public-release review.
- Incorporate reviewer feedback and maintain version control, approval records, release status, and final approved files.
- Ensure draft or unapproved content is not published or distributed through unauthorized channels.
- Manage multiple assignments, reviews, deadlines, and revisions.
- Maintain editorial calendars, assignment trackers, interview notes, source information, photographs, and related content files.
- Coordinate with program management to track upcoming communications needs, assignments, and deliverable status.
- Travel periodically to outreach events and program locations, including occasional overnight, multi-day, evening, or weekend assignments.
Skills and Qualification Required:
- U.S. citizenship.
- Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
- At least three years of professional experience in writing, editing, journalism, communications, public relations, content development, or a related field.
- Experience interviewing people and developing original stories, profiles, or event coverage.
- Experience writing and editing content for multiple platforms, such as websites, newsletters, social media, presentations, and print materials.
- Ability to translate scientific, technical, educational, or program information for nontechnical audiences.
- Strong writing, editing, proofreading, fact-checking, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to take clear event photographs and document accurate caption information. Professional photography credentials are not required.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments, reviewers, and deadlines.
- Willingness and ability to travel periodically, including occasional overnight, evening, or weekend assignments.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint Online, Teams, and Excel.
- Current SECRET clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain the required clearance within the established timeframe.
- Ability to provide relevant writing samples that demonstrate reporting, interviewing, storytelling, or audience-focused communications experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience covering events and developing stories from in-person interviews and observations.
- Experience writing about STEM education, science, engineering, research, technology, internships, or workforce-development programs.
- Experience updating website content using a content-management system (CMS).
- Experience supporting recruitment communications, email outreach campaigns, or digital communications platforms.
- Familiarity with U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, or Federal Government public-release and content-approval procedures.
- Experience working with public affairs, security, privacy, or operational security reviewers.
- Experience supporting Federal Government, Department of Defense, or Department of the Navy programs.
- Familiarity with Naval STEM programs such as SEAP, NREIP, SMART, or Naval Horizons.
- Experience creating social media content, photo captions, short-form stories, student profiles, or event recaps.
- Basic photography and photo-editing experience.
About Us:
At HunaTek, we build teams of people from all backgrounds with varying levels of experience, knowing firsthand that diversity of thought will strengthen our ability to deliver for our customers. We work hand in hand with Federal civilian and military staff, pulling together to further the interests of our nation and home and abroad.
Whenever possible, we provide opportunities for our employees to learn new skills, obtain certifications, attend industry events, and have some fun together.
Our Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to make sure our employees and their families have access to good health care, are insured against catastrophic health events, can put money aside for retirement and are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. These benefits include:
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision
- Long-term and short-term disability insurance and term life insurance
- 401(K) with safe harbor contribution
- Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
- Tuition and career development assistance
- A selection of voluntary benefits
This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.
Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
— Sarah J.
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Marketing Manager
★★★★★
Verified
