Argonne National Laboratory is hiring a strategic communications leader for the lab’s Advanced Energy Technologies unit.

We’re looking for a talented communications professional who is passionate about science and technology and their role in creating a sustainable, secure, equitable, and prosperous energy future. The successful candidate will lead Argonne’s communications efforts around topics critical to the future of our nation, including sustainable transportation; power generation, energy storage and distribution; and energy materials and manufacturing.

Candidates should have demonstrated experience in working closely with leaders to develop and execute strategic communications that support organizational goals.

The communications director will manage a small team of communications professionals (2 full-time employees plus contractors) dedicated to the needs of the lab’s applied materials, energy systems and infrastructure analysis, and transportation and power systems areas.

Working under the laboratory’s Head of Scientific & Technical Communications, they will partner with peers representing other Argonne science and technology areas to execute communications for activities and initiatives that reach across laboratory areas, including support for a net zero carbon electric grid and economy.

The successful candidate will lead, plan, coordinate and set priorities for a wide range of communication products and services, including both external and internal communications. They will promote a steady stream of integrated marketing communications and content for key internal and external audiences.They will develop goals and objectives to enable the success of communications within the unit; implement innovative strategies for providing services; execute communications initiatives; and advise stakeholders.

Experience working in a scientific or technical organization, such as a research laboratory or academic institution, is preferred. Knowledge and expertise in communications related to sustainable transportation, renewable power, and energy efficiency is desired.

Position Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to translate the needs of large, complex organizations into communications solutions that meet business goals.
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with organizational leaders, leveraging excellent listening and communications skills to understand, anticipate and represent management’s point of view on a wide variety of substantive issues and to various audiences.
• Ability to identify organizational priorities and proactively design, implement and update communication strategies and tactics to support those priorities as they shift and change over time.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and trends applicable to the unit’s science and partnerships. Able to skillfully translate scientific and technical content for both basic and sophisticated audiences.
• Lead a high-performing team of communications professionals: setting objectives, evaluating, supporting and developing team members.
• Ability to define target audiences, set goals for communications efforts and prepare information products that convey specific types of scientific, business, marketing, and news information to those audiences.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers at all levels.
• Demonstrated skill in team-building, negotiation, and working effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated excellence in project management, planning, strategy, and driving projects to successful outcomes by facilitating the action of others.
• Innovative problem solving.
• Knowledge of characteristics of audiences for scientific and business information.
• Client service mindset, able to take in and clarify objectives and goals of clients.
• Ability to be highly responsive, meet demanding deadlines, and prioritize and handle a large number of diverse projects and issues within budget.
• Flexible and adaptable with highly fluid situations and strong personalities.
• Conscientious budget manager and steward of laboratory resources.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, English, journalism, or a related scientific/technical discipline, and 10+ years’ experience, or equivalent.
• Experience supervising full-time employees preferred.

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