Senior Science Content and Digital Media Specialist

Attention science communicators: We in NOAA need help...and I need help! FedWriters is hiring a number of contract positions to shape the news stories, social media, multimedia, outreach, and everything else that tell the stories of our research. You will help support all of NOAA Research: tornadoes, hurricanes, forecast modeling, Great Lakes, oceans, air quality, wildfires, and so much more.

Roles:

• Science Content & Digital Media Specialist (SME I)
• Senior OAR Science Communications Specialist (SME II)
• OAR Science Communications Specialist
• Senior Science Content & Digital Media Specialist (SME II)

Posted by: Matthew Mahalik, Mission Support Branch Chief

Overview

You are the kind of communicator who finds a hurricane forecast just as compelling as a viral social post \u2014 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 \u2014 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.

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

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

Qualifications

Required: 

• BA/BS in a technical or business discipline \u2014 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.