The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Research Communications Specialist position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

What the EPA project is about

The Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE) National Research Program is in the Office of Research and Development. ACE's focus is on the impacts of climate change and air pollution, as well as the role of energy, particularly decision models and life-cycle impacts. To tackle increasingly complex problems, the ACE team employs innovative thinking and sustainable solutions to ensure a healthy and prosperous environment.

As a team member, you will assist the ACE National Program Director (NPD) and the ACE research team with the analytical and administrative duties required to support the operations of this robust and innovative program. Such duties include, but are not limited to, the administration, management, and communication of results and impacts emerging from ACE Research Program activities.

Management and Administrative responsibilities will include:

Synthesizing research and information relating to air, climate, and energy research, both within and beyond the ACE Research Program;
• Analyzing activities and processes to strengthen interactions with internal and external stakeholders;
• Maintaining records of meetings, correspondence, and action documents, as well as maintaining a system for tracking projects in progress;
• Assisting with the promotion and coordination of web-based tools to foster collaboration among ORD scientists and Regional and Program Office partners;
• Performing analyses of internal and external EPA web traffic using Google analytics and other built-in analytics reporting software; and
• Assisting in the development of metrics to evaluate impacts of ACE publications.

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the logistics and coordination activities for briefings, meetings, webinars, workshops, and other collaborative efforts;
• Producing graphics, visual aids, and other forms of interactive multimedia to be used by ACE team members when communicating complex research concepts and demonstrating the connections between ACE research and broader Agency goals;
• Developing original reports and communications materials that synthesize, summarize and/or analyze the results and impacts of ACE research activities;
• Supporting website development and maintenance using web content management software; and
• Originating and organizing communication and outreach related to ACE activities such as creating one-page summaries (including weekly highlight summaries for upper-level management), writing articles for scientific publications, developing longer pieces based on directed background research, and authoring communication materials for wider audiences (e.g., fact sheets, blogs, podcasts).

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience writing for a lay audience about science, environmental issues, or public health concerns as evidenced by a writing sample;
• Familiarity with web content management;
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, or similar multimedia production software to preform video editing, audio editing, and/or data visualization;
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook;
• Experience in administration support functions (recordkeeping, filing, etc.) and managing records (electronic and hardcopy) and databases;
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, including a demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines;
• Strong written and oral communication skills; and
• Strong proof reading and editing skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience using open-source content management systems and/or a basic knowledge of HTML5.

Location: This job will be located EPA's facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $31.38 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin April 2024. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The contract renews each May through 2025.

For more information, contactEPANSSC@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Master's degree in environmental or climate science, science journalism, environmental policy, or other closely related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months and
• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.