Communications Specialist

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Communications Specialist to support the Office of the Deputy Director for Science and Technology (DDST). As part of the DDST communications team, you will support initiatives and projects, as well as develop and contribute to integrated communication strategies and deliverables aligned with key institutional priorities. This position will lead communications for LLNL’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program and Academic Engagement Office (AEO), bringing to life the bold ideas, pioneering research and scientific talent driving the Laboratory’s national security mission. From championing investments in emerging science and technology to showcasing academic partnerships that inspire the next generation of researchers, this role will tell the stories of how LLNL turns discovery into impact. Your work will be performed in collaboration with colleagues in DDST, the Director’s Office (DO) and throughout LLNL.

We are seeking an exceptional writer, editor and storyteller with experience in strategic communications and the ability to communicate with executives confidently and succinctly. You will work with all levels of management, program leaders, scientists and administrative staff to communicate initiatives, programmatic strategies and highly complex scientific and technical information to a wide range of audiences. This position will be in the Technical Information Department matrixed to DDST within the DO.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.  

You will:

• Develop original content and coordinate a full spectrum of communication products: news articles, presentations, administrative memos, reports, external reviews, social media, stakeholder briefings and multimedia content.
• Provide comprehensive editing services for large and/or complex deliverables. This includes editorial development of materials, including revisions and notes on errors of logic, gaps in arguments, coherence of presentation and consistency of terminology. You will also review for compliance with information security requirements.
• Partner with DDST team members to define communication strategies, messaging, audiences and key deliverables for a variety of specialized projects to meet programmatic objectives.
• Support short- and long-term communications planning by developing key assets, managing complex project schedules, tracking resources and coordinating work across teams for large-scale production jobs, often collaborating with editors, designers, photographers and web strategists.
• Assess incremental input and manuscript iterations in addition to developing communication styles for complex technical and possibly sensitive material.
• Collaborate and interact with all levels of administrative, management, scientific and technical staff and team members to understand, define, develop and establish objectives to form editorial requirements for complex projects. Schedule and lead planning and status meetings to keep communication channels open and projects on track.
• Contribute to the evaluation and implementation of new tools, technologies and processes; help develop/track metrics and process improvement methods.
• Serve as quality check through interactions with the Print Plant, designers or multimedia professionals on complex production jobs.
• Work independently to perform a variety of other duties as assigned and be able to handle both heavy and light workloads intermittently.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications or journalism or the equivalent combination of education and experience in an area of scientific or technical communication. 
• Experience as a scientific and/or technical editor/writer.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated success partnering with all levels of an organization to deliver polished, high-impact content that advances institutional priorities.
• Extensive experience editing and writing across multiple scientific and technical areas, applying advanced technical communication principles, professional writing standards and style conventions. Demonstrated ability to incorporate editorial feedback and refine work through iterative review, including experience both editing others’ work and having one’s own work critically reviewed and revised.
• Ability to handle unclassified, sensitive and confidential issues with tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Demonstrated self-starter, comfortable multitasking with the ability to work to deadlines and respond to tight schedules in a rapidly changing environment and attend to intense details with high consequence of error. Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work independently under minimal direction within a team environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 (Teams, Sharepoint/OneDrive, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Adobe InDesign and familiarity with design and content management systems. 
• Formal project management experience leading complex production and technical writing and editing assignments; in-depth knowledge of multiple digital and paper-driven production processes.
• Experience evaluating and implementing new tools, technologies, and processes, including tracking performance metrics and leveraging AI for ideation and workflow optimization.

Pay Range

$114,900 - $140,712 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary range in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.