Media Relations Specialist II

Responsibilities

Reporting to the News Chief, the person in this position will concentrate on Earth, planetary sciences, and astrophysics, working closely with subject matter experts and communications teammates to craft and guide the development of an array of text and multimedia products, including news releases, feature stories, blog posts, press kits, videos, presentations, and social media posts. In addition, the person will help craft communication plans with longer-term strategic goals for individual missions, help organize news conferences and other events, and develop crisis communications plans as needed.

The ability to create compelling, user-friendly products for general audiences and the news media alike with pinpoint accuracy is essential, as is the ability to navigate a complex environment with various stakeholders at JPL. The JPL newsroom is a fast-paced environment where collaboration, excellent internal communication, and strong navigation skills are key. Leading candidates must be able to hit their deadlines and stay ahead of news cycles while working with various stakeholders at JPL, NASA, and other institutions to see projects through from start to finish.

Requirements

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, science writing, or related discipline with a minimum of three years of related experience, or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year of related experience, or a PhD with 0 years of related experience.
• Advanced skill in one or more of the following areas: science and technical writing, news releases, digital storytelling, and both short- and long-form newswriting.
• Candidates must be able to distill complex science and engineering topics into brief, colorful, and descriptive materials that are easily understood by the public and the general media yet provide sufficient detail for science and technology journalists.
• Flexible writing abilities: This position involves developing succinct statements, 900-word features, short blog posts, website text, and more on a quick-turn basis.
• Strong internal and external communication skills, solid news judgment, and diplomatic skills.
• Excellent copyediting skills; JPL and NASA follow the AP Stylebook.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and handle breaking news while juggling multiple projects and working with numerous stakeholders on any given project.
• Leading candidates must have leading candidates must be able to hit their deadlines and stay ahead of news cycles while working with various stakeholders at JPL, NASA, and other institutions to see projects through from start to finish.

Qualifications

• This position requires the ability to work independently yet collaboratively.
• An ideal candidate will have:
• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, science writing, or related discipline with a minimum of three years of related experience, or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year of related experience, or a PhD with 0 years of related experience.
• Advanced skill in one or more of the following areas: science and technical writing, news releases, digital storytelling, and both short- and long-form newswriting.
• Candidates must be able to distill complex science and engineering topics into brief, colorful, and descriptive materials that are easily understood by the public and the general media yet provide sufficient detail for science and technology journalists.
• Flexible writing abilities: This position involves developing succinct statements, 900-word features, short blog posts, website text, and more on a quick-turn basis.
• Strong internal and external communication skills, solid news judgment, and diplomatic skills.
• Excellent copyediting skills; JPL and NASA follow the AP Stylebook.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and handle breaking news while juggling multiple projects and working with numerous stakeholders on any given project.
• Leading candidates must have leading candidates must be able to hit their deadlines and stay ahead of news cycles while working with various stakeholders at JPL, NASA, and other institutions to see projects through from start to finish.

Skills

• Science and technical writing
• News releases
• Digital storytelling
• Short- and long-form newswriting
• Distilling complex science and engineering topics
• Creating compelling, user-friendly products
• Navigating a complex environment with various stakeholders
• Collaboration and excellent internal communication
• Meeting deadlines and handling breaking news

Benefits

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together.