Head of Scientific

Argonne National Laboratory is hiring a strategic science communications leader to shape communications for Argonne’s world-leading and wide-ranging science and technology (S&T) mission areas. The Head of Scientific & Technical Communications leads, guides, and manages external and internal communications from the laboratory’s S&T organizations. They partner with the laboratory’s top S&T leaders, and peers within the Communications and Public Affairs directorate, to support the laboratory’s science mission through exemplary communications targeted to key audiences and stakeholders.

Argonne’s S&T portfolio spans the spectrum from fundamental to applied sciences. Laboratory researchers pursue big, ambitious ideas with international impact in areas as diverse as biology, quantum information science, new materials, and artificial intelligence. We operate large research facilities that serve more than 7,000 researchers from around the world each year. Our S&T organizations are:

Advanced Energy TechnologiesComputing, Environment, and Life Sciences, including the Argonne Leadership Computing FacilityPhoton Sciences, including the Advanced Photon Source user facilityPhysical Sciences and Engineering, including the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System user facilitiesNuclear Technologies and National SecurityScience and Technology Partnerships and Outreach

The Head of Scientific & Technical Communications acts as an ambassador for Argonne science and communications to external and internal audiences. They lead a team of more than 20 communications managers and professionals deployed to the S&T organizations as well as individuals supporting laboratory-led centers and institutes, including the Q-NEXT quantum center and the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. The successful candidate should have experience developing, guiding, and leading teams of communications professionals who provide communications leadership and advice to internal clients and ensure that internal and external communications proactively support client needs and goals.

The position partners closely with leaders and staff across all functions within the Communications and Public Affairs directorate, including media relations, internal communications, events and protocol, digital communications, and writing and creative services, to ensure successful communications of Argonne science and technology people, capabilities, and impact. The successful candidate should have experience leading the development, adoption, and implementation of multi-channel communications strategies that deliver measurable results.

Under the direction of the Chief Communications Officer/Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs, the position also provides advice and counsel to laboratory leaders on matters related to media relations, events, internal communications, thought leadership, digital (internet, intranet and social media), and content analytics. 

Experience in communications leadership within a scientific or technical organization, such as a research laboratory or academic institution, is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

Partner with Argonne’s Chief Communications Officer and Senior Director of Communications & Public Affairs, and laboratory S&T leaders, to ensure an integrated and strategic approach to the laboratory’s communications efforts within each S&T organization and for laboratory-wide S&T efforts and activities.Lead communication managers deployed to the S&T organizations, ensuring that they effectively lead communications needs within their organizations and supervise and develop their team members.Ensure that deployed communication managers and the communications professionals embedded in the S&T organizations collaborate across the laboratory to provide consistent and effective communications.Lead and manage laboratory-wide science and technology communications initiatives and projects.Act as an ambassador of the Communications and Public Affairs directorate to Argonne’s internal and external audiences.Build relationships with researchers and leaders across the laboratory.Build relationships with communications personnel at the U.S. Department of Energy and partner with them to support Department goals.Partner with UChicago communicators to cross-fertilize and amplify strategic communications.Partner with internal teams to educate staff across Communications and Public Affairs on science and technology mission priorities, goals, and activities.Drive creative and forward-looking communications strategies and initiatives in support of Argonne’s mission.Seek opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Argonne communications.Serve as a member of the lab’s crisis response team.

Position Requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Demonstrated excellence in communications planning and strategy with outstanding proven ability to deliver measurable results (increased awareness, higher client satisfaction, increased engagement, etc.) supported by rigorous analytics.Strong management, leadership, and communication skills with experience presenting recommendations to senior management.Client service mindset, able to take in and clarify objectives and goals of researchers and leadership.Demonstrated expertise reaching internal and external audiences, using traditional and digital means of delivery.Able to write and edit in a variety of formats, in varying levels of formality, with strategic attention to tone.Strong teaming and collaboration skills, working through both influence on and control over cross-functional teams.Conscientious budget manager and steward of lab resources.Deadline driven, highly responsive without creating an atmosphere of stress or anxiety.Flexible and adaptable with highly fluid situations and strong personalities.Ability to translate scientific and technical content for both basic and sophisticated audiences, focusing on the impact of the work in real world terms.Passion for the mission of the lab.Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.Experience in communications leadership within a scientific or technical organization, such as a research laboratory or academic institution, preferred.Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, English, journalism, or a related scientific/technical discipline, and 10+ years’ experience, or equivalent.

Job Family

Professional Administrative (PA)

Job Profile

Communications/Marketing Leader 2

Worker Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

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