Internal Communications Specialist

Communications creates and provides strategic communications to the Laboratory’s internal and external stakeholders and collaborators. It sets and implements a cohesive strategy to amplify the visibility of PNNL's research and develops standards and efforts that communicate PNNL’s value proposition. In doing so, Communications enhances the Laboratory’s institutional reputation and science and technology agenda. Further, Communications drives employee-focused communications; leads media and outreach to external stakeholders; supports research through robust technical editing, formatting, and graphics support; and protects the Laboratory's reputation through issues management and transparency with news media.

Responsibilities

As an internal communications specialist for PNNL, you will strategically orchestrate and optimize crafted, targeted, and impactful messages tailored to diverse stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational outcomes and leveraging advanced communication tools and methodologies. Our commitment is to elevate the lab's culture, promote effective information flow, and contribute to the overall success of the enterprise through seamless and efficient communication strategies. This role will develop and implement integrated communications and content strategies that will engage with all Lab-wide personas, advance institutional priorities and key messaging, drive employee engagement, build brand awareness, and inspire actions that matter. The successful candidate will be a seasoned communications professional with a proven ability to translate complex narratives into clear and engaging messages. This role offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping lab-wide internal communication strategies in partnership with the Internal Communications & Mission Support Content & Editorial Specialist and front and center forging our institutional voice.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and activate an actionable institutional communications strategy that advances PNNL's strategic objectives and grows its internal brand visibility and culture.
Evaluate emerging communication priorities and ensure that PNNL's communications strategy and efforts are focused on the most impactful outcomes.
Create a 360-degree annual enterprise-level strategic communications plan for the Internal Communications & Mission Support team to disseminate through their pillars.
Develop and implement comprehensive communication plans that articulate branding, objectives, benefits, and impacts.
Craft clear and compelling messages tailored to diverse stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Enhance the creation, impact, and innovative nature of communications by heightening processes, tools, and collaboration.
Align communication strategies to the Lab narrative, identifying opportunities, and incorporating key messaging to ensure campaign consistency.
Create various communication materials, including emails, newsletters, videos, presentations, and other relevant collateral.
Engage with key stakeholders to understand perspectives, concerns, and feedback.
Facilitate the development of Lab-specific personas and conduct an audience audit.
Infuse the latest thought leadership into strategic plans.
Develop communication toolkits and resources to create strategic outcomes.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies.
Regularly assess and report on communication outcomes, making data-driven adjustments as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
PhD with 3+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

Requires depth and/or breadth of expertise in specialized areas and general knowledge of related areas.
Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices.
Solves complex problems; takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions.
Communicates complex concepts; anticipates potential objections and influences others to adopt a different point of view.
Works independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations.
May lead functional teams or projects.
A bold thinking, growth-oriented mindset, and an instinct to self-initiate action.
A promising aptitude for mature executive presence.
Diplomacy, listening skills, and a consultative mindset.
Strategic thinker with the ability to align communication strategies with organizational objectives.
Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
Adaptable and comfortable navigating through ambiguity.
Results-oriented with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.