CIRES/NOAA/ NIDIS Communications Specialist

Job Summary

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) welcomes applications for a Communications Specialist to implement internal and external communications to multiple audiences across the nation.

The Communications Specialist fulfills a critical role in the implementation of NIDIS, a federal multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, and planning and information at national, state, and local levels. Its mission is to help the nation to move to a more proactive approach to managing drought risks and impacts, and to improve long-term drought resilience. The NIDIS program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Communications Specialist helps lead the effort to create and promote content on drought-related research, ideas, news, and events. The Communications Specialist will conceptualize, write, design and edit drought-related information and materials for NIDIS that effectively describe and promote the program, appealing to decision makers, the general public, technical experts, and the media.

This information must engage these audiences visually as well as via written materials, as appropriate to the subject matter, with careful attention to tone and accuracy.

Specific tasks include developing and delivering content for NIDIS email marketing; summarizing technical information in easy-to-grasp formats, including story maps; creation of news items for the U.S. Drought Portal (Drought.gov) and biweekly e-newsletter; utilizing social media and other forms of outreach; writing content and editing reports; and working with regional program coordinators to organize, refresh, and implement locally relevant information.

This position is based at NOAA’s David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado. Some out-of-state travel is required.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 800 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

https://www.drought.gov

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Develop and deliver content for NIDIS email marketing.
• Summarize technical information in easy-to-grasp formats.
• Create, prioritize, edit, and update written and visual material and structures on drought.gov, promoting NIDIS objectives.
• Provide contributions to NIDIS social media accounts and other means of outreach to engage current audiences and attract new ones.
• Monitor email, social media, webinar, and Google analytics and other measures to develop strategies to increase user engagement.
• Research data format, content, and visualization methods for the development of additional communication materials.
• Communicate with data users to both learn about their data needs and respond to them in consultation with other scientists and sources.

What You Should Know

• Some out-of-state travel is required for this position.
• The NIDIS program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Candidates must be able to legally work in the U.S on a full-time basis.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.
• If you are the selected finalist you will be required to pass a federal laboratory background clearance for site access.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to comply with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $65,000- $80,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• Relocation funds are available for this position following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation processes and procedures.
• This position can accommodate a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• B.A. or B.S. in journalism, communications, technical writing, information management, digital media, marketing or related degree.
• Three years’ professional experience in communications, showing a range of formats and approaches.
• Professional experience designing documents, layouts, infographics, and other materials.
• Professional experience using Google Apps, Microsoft Office Suite, Constant Contact or similar e-mail marketing program.

What You Will Need

• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and re-prioritize on the fly.
• Demonstrated ability to render technical information into an understandable and appealing narrative and/or visual formats such as infographics, charts, story maps, and others.
• Expertise in using plain language principles in writing and editing.
• Creative approach in generating story ideas and planning coverage over the long term as well as in response to developing events.
• Strict attentiveness to detail and vigilance about accuracy.
• Active and innovative use of social media in a professional capacity.
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate productively with multiple groups of internal and external partners, local and remote.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required and preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even if they do not have the preferred skills and experience outlined in this “What We Would Like You To Have” section. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Demonstrated professional multimedia experience (video, podcast, photography, other).
• Professional experience with any/all of the following: Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign; Google Analytics.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. List of contact information for 3 references who will be willing to write a confidential Letter of Recommendation for you. You don’t need to include letters of recommendation with your initial application. The search committee will request letters of recommendation at a later time If you are identified as a finalist for this role.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Position will remain posted until finalists have been identified.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

Select here for additional information regarding Classified Staff positions: https://www.colorado.edu/jobs/special-instructions-classified-staff-applicants

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Elizabeth Ossowski

Posting Contact Email: elizabeth.ossowski@noaa.gov