Institutional Communications Integration Lead

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the Communications organization elevates the Lab’s reputation, inspires action, and engages audiences by translating the Lab’s science, mission, and impact into influential communications and compelling stories. Communications work is carried out by professionals across PNNL directorates and enterprise teams. For assigned Lab Priorities, the Institutional Communications Integration Lead brings communications work together into a coherent strategy and coordinated plan. The role connects directorate communicators with enterprise communications teams to clarify communication needs, identify existing or planned work, surface gaps, and align contributions in support of Lab priorities. The lead establishes direction and drives planning and follow-through across the portfolio, while functional leads remain accountable for execution in their respective areas. The position requires an enterprise-level perspective, sound judgment, and the ability to influence decisions and advance shared commitments without direct authority. The lead develops integrated communications strategies and plans that define outcomes, audiences, messages, proof points, content needs, channels, and measures of progress. They assess PNNL’s presence in priority areas, coordinate planned and needed work across teams, connect Lab Objective communications needs with enterprise capabilities, and work with the content lead to align the annual content strategy with priority needs. They also evaluate results, recommend improvements, maintain a regular planning and review process, clarify commitments and dependencies, resolve barriers with responsible leads, and elevate portfolio-level tradeoffs and resource constraints to Communications leadership with actionable recommendations.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree and 7 or more years of experience leading communications functions, programs, campaigns, or strategic initiatives; or a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree and 5 or more years of such experience.
Experience coordinating contributions across communications disciplines such as media, content, internal communications, social, digital, and creative.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholder groups without direct reporting authority.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing communications strategies and integrated plans across multiple initiatives, teams, audiences, and channels in a matrixed organization.
Demonstrated ability to translate institutional or programmatic priorities into coordinated communications activities and actionable recommendations.
Skill in assessing an organization’s presence in a priority area, identifying available content and expertise, and recognizing gaps and opportunities.
Strong prioritization and problem-solving capabilities, including anticipating needs, managing dependencies, balancing competing demands, and driving work through to completion.
Knowledge of communications measures and audience insights and how to apply them to evaluate effectiveness and inform improvements.
Familiarity with communications within energy, environmental, scientific, engineering, research, or technology-focused organizations.
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including developing cohesive messaging in collaboration with others.

Responsibilities

Develop Lab-wide communications strategies and integrated plans for assigned communications priorities, defining intended outcomes, priority audiences, key messages, proof points, content needs, channels, and measures of progress.
Assess PNNL’s presence in assigned priority areas, including existing content and expertise, audience needs, communications opportunities, and relevant activity by peer organizations.
Coordinate planned and needed work across directorates and enterprise communications teams, including activities, content needs, timing, and dependencies; identify gaps and opportunities.
Connect Lab Objective communications needs with enterprise communications capabilities to extend the reach and value of communications efforts.
Translate Lab priorities into content requirements and work with the content lead to ensure the annual content strategy prioritizes the stories, expertise, assets, and cadence needed across internal and external channels.
Identify gaps between priority-area needs and the planned content portfolio and recommend how to address them; maintain visibility into portfolio stories, assets, expertise, and planned communications.
Identify opportunities to connect related efforts and address gaps in coverage, content, or audience engagement.
Ensure integrated communications plans support established institutional strategies and Lab Objective goals, reflect audience needs, and follow relevant communications standards.
Work with communications leads and teams to evaluate results against shared communications objectives and apply findings to improve collective impact.
Use results and emerging opportunities to recommend adjustments to content, channels, timing, and coordination.
Provide Communications leadership with insights regarding portfolio needs, emerging opportunities, and communications outcomes.
Establish a regular planning and review process with relevant Lab Objective communications leads, relationship managers, and enterprise communications teams.
Clarify shared commitments, responsibilities, and timing; follow up on progress and work with responsible leads to resolve barriers.
Recommend adjustments to sequencing and coordination across initiatives when priorities, audience needs, dependencies, or available resources change.
Bring portfolio-level tradeoffs, resource constraints, and unresolved dependencies to Communications leadership with actionable recommendations.
Foster transparency and collaboration by sharing insights across efforts so teams can anticipate needs and act on shared opportunities.