Assistant Editor (Communications Specialist 2)

What You Will Do

Are you an editor with daily news experience looking for your next big challenge in communicating to an intelligent, talented and diverse workforce? Can you shape and craft daily communications that will inform, engage and connect employees? Do you want to be part of a world-class research and development institution solving some of the nation's most important security challenges? If the answer to these questions is "yes" then we invite you to learn more about an opening in our Public Affairs Group on Los Alamos National Laboratory's employee-focused daily digital newsletter, LANLToday.

This Communications Specialist 2 position is responsible for editing news stories and features and collaborating with the six-person team that produces LANLToday and maintains its internal website.

As a member of the Public Affairs group and the LANLToday team, you'll have an action-packed array of responsibilities and opportunities, including: working with communicators from across the Laboratory to produce daily stories for the newsletter and internal homepage; updating the internal website; collaborating with the team to develop innovative ways to communicate; working with communicators to develop content from idea to publication in a deadline-driven environment; editing content for style and accuracy; collaborating with team members on special communications projects and campaigns; sourcing and assigning artwork and photography; working in a content management system (CMS).

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Education/Experience

A bachelor's degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field and a minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Editing Acumen

Demonstrated editing experience and ability to thrive in a deadline environment.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of and/or ability to work with Associated Press and organization-specific style guides. Experience using a web-based CMS; comfort updating content multiple times a day.

Demonstrated News Judgment

You can find the "what's in it for me?" in a story and make it clear to the reader.

Collaboration

Willingness to work as part of a tight-knit team and the ability to listen to, collaborate and coordinate with multiple stakeholders and learn to navigate a complex review process.

Desired Qualifications:

Coaching Skills

Demonstrated skill working with, coaching and editing writers with a variety of experience and ability to tactfully make their work better than when it came to you will set you apart from other candidates.

Employee Communication and Branding

Some experience working in an employee-facing environment in which your goal is to communicate to and motivate a workforce would be helpful.

Science and Technology

Experience editing complex and/or technical materials for a general audience would be a benefit.

Government or National Lab Experience

Experience with government, national security or a national laboratory environment is nice but not required.

Web-Based and Multimedia Content

It is a plus if you have experience creating multimedia content (photos, podcast, video, and infographics) for web-based stories and basic familiarity with a web-based content management systems.

Required: Cover letter and portfolio containing relevant writing and editing examples. Candidates for this position may be asked to take a timed writing and editing test.

Work Location : The work location for this position is hybrid and is located in Santa, Fe, NM with occasional on-site presence required in Los Alamos. Hybrid is defined as working partially onsite/partially offsite but within 2 hours ground commute of this location. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network

§ Dental and vision insurance

§ Free basic life and disability insurance

§ Paid childbirth and parental leave

§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)

§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance

§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)

§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs

§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (~~~) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (~~~) for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 (~~~) for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to ~~~ or call ~~~ option 1.