Communications Liaison

The Communications Liaison supports the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Laboratory Director Office (LDO) by delivering high-quality, timely, and high-visibility communications in a fast-paced, executive environment. This individual contributor role focuses on tactical execution, rapid response, and high-quality delivery of leadership communications.

The Communications Liaison works directly with senior leaders and trusted partners to ensure INL messaging is clear, accurate, and aligned with leadership priorities. The role requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to perform under tight deadlines with frequently shifting priorities.

This position requires a high degree of flexibility and may involve evening and weekend work to support leadership engagements, events, and emergent issues.

This role offers significant developmental opportunities to learn strategic communications, stakeholder management, and executive support in a high-visibility laboratory environment with direct mentorship and increasing responsibility.

The position works onsite in Idaho Falls with 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

Executive Communications Execution

• Draft, edit, and coordinate internal and external remarks and presentations for the Laboratory Director and senior leadership, including executive overviews, town halls, leadership meetings, conferences, community engagements, and congressional testimony support materials.
• Develop written communications products such as thought pieces, op-eds, talking points, briefing notes, FAQs, and leadership messages for internal and external audiences.
• Prepare briefing packets to support leadership travel, events, and engagements, synthesizing complex information into concise, executive-ready materials.

• Coordinate with Communications staff on crisis communications support and rapid response capabilities for emerging issues and time-sensitive situations requiring immediate messaging coordination.

• Conduct research using laboratory knowledge bases, web sources, and document review to inform communications development and ensure messaging accuracy and currency.

• Manage iterative drafting and revision processes, incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders while maintaining version control and meeting concurrent deadlines.

Digital & Social Media

• Support Laboratory Director social media activities, including proactive storytelling and reactive content tied to high-visibility events, announcements, or emerging issues.
• Coordinate closely with Communications leadership to ensure messaging accuracy, timeliness, and appropriate approvals.

Liaison & Coordination

• Serve as a communications liaison between the Laboratory Director Office and internal partners (Communications, Government Affairs, Legal, and other subject matter experts).
• Ensure all communications align with INL values, leadership priorities, brand standards, and DOE expectations.
• Rapidly adjust messaging in response to leadership direction, emerging issues, or time-sensitive requests.

Operational Excellence & Urgency

• Manage multiple high-priority assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Exercise discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive or pre-decisional information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.
• Strong presentation development skills and ability to collaborate with graphic arts designer on delivering final products (PowerPoint or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of AP Style and executive-level writing.
• Ability to translate complex, technical, or policy-related information into clear, concise messaging.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated flexibility, responsiveness, and professionalism in a dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with digital and social media platforms for organizational communications.

Education, Credentials, and Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, marketing, or a related field.
• Relevant communications experience commensurate with level.
• Demonstrated experience in writing, editing, and presentation development.

Preferred

• Experience supporting senior leaders or executive offices.
• Experience with science, engineering, energy, or national laboratory communications.
• Familiarity with government, congressional, or public-sector communications.

Level 2

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience (or Master's with 0 years).

• Developing professional expertise; apply established communications principles and INL procedures.
• Executes assigned communications products with guidance on approach and prioritization.
• Supports leadership communications with increasing independence.
• Primary contacts are internal, with limited external coordination on routine matters.
• Work is reviewed for accuracy, sound judgment, and alignment with expectations.

Level 3

Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience (or Master's with 2+ years).

• Fully qualified communications professional with broad application of principles and concepts.
• Independently delivers complex, highvisibility communications products for senior leadership.
• Exercises strong judgment in fast-moving situations; solutions are practical and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Frequent internal customer engagement and limited external representation of INL communications.
• Works under general direction; work reviewed upon completion for adequacy and outcomes.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Previous experience with science or engineering public communication.
• Experience and knowledge of nuclear energy.

Job Information:

The pay range for this position is:

Level 2-Salary grade 420 ($57,444-$112,068)

Level 3-Salary grade 430 ($66,504-$136,356)

At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires the operation of office equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds with assistance. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits and Relocation

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
Access and ability to self contribute to 401(k)
Paid time off (personal leave)
Employee Education Program (tuition assistance)
Comprehensive Relocation Package
Benefit eligibility subject multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

INL Mission

Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.

INL Vision

Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Selective Service Requirements

To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Other Information

When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.

INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.