Technical Communicator jobs in Alaska

As a Science Communicator at the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC), you'll guide our external communications, ensuring that climate science actively contributes to Alaskans efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Every day you will lead efforts and work in a team to interpret scientific findings and creatively tell compelling and interesting stories about climate change for a variety of audiences. To thrive in this role, you must be passionate about conveying scientific or technical subjects to diverse audiences, highly organized and detail-oriented, and enjoy working in a highly collaborative environment.

These attributes represent our current thinking for the role. You might have important skills to contribute and be a great candidate even if you don’t fit everything we have described. If that’s you, even if you are on the fence, we encourage you to apply and tell us about yourself.

At the AK CASC, we’ve built a team that celebrates a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Our strength and success as a research institute and university are built on a wide range of perspectives and experiences. If you are interested in supporting climate change adaptation efforts in Alaska, we encourage you to apply.

As a Science Communicator at the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC), you'll play a vital role in ensuring that climate science actively contributes to Alaskans efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Every day you will work with teams of researchers, coordinators, technicians, community partners, and other communications professionals to identify important stories, interpret scientific findings, and creatively tell compelling and interesting narratives about climate change for a variety of audiences.

In this role, you’ll guide our external communications strategy, collaborating closely with researchers, coordinators, and partners to craft compelling narratives about climate change science and adaptation efforts. From fielding inquiries to drafting press releases and nurturing relationships with media outlets, you'll be at the forefront of sharing engaging stories with both internal and external audiences. Whether it's through feature articles, project profiles, or social media updates, your storytelling prowess will resonate across various platforms, driving our message forward with impact. With a strategic mindset, you'll develop editorial calendars, ensure our website has fresh and engaging material, and ensure that we're always in line with industry best practices.

With a creative mindset, your responsibilities will also include working with scientists and our partners to plan and produce a variety of communication products that not only meet research project needs but also embody the spirit of innovation and service that defines the AK CASC. Additionally, you’ll use graphic design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva) to add visual appeal to our content. Working collaboratively with scientists and partners, you'll maintain a steadfast commitment to quality and accuracy, ensuring our communications reflect the excellence that defines our organization. You'll report to the AK CASC Senior Communication Strategist, Dr. Kristin Timm and will collaborate closely with the AK CASC communication and engagement team.

To succeed in this role, candidates should possess at least three years of experience, or a combination of education and experience, effectively conveying scientific or technical subjects to multiple diverse audiences, and a demonstrated ability to write and edit for non-scientific audiences. The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, possess strong interpersonal communication skills, and enjoy working in a highly collaborative environment. Candidates must be proficient with Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, and the Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canvas. Successful candidates should be comfortable working with scientists and familiar with Alaska and climate science or have a strong desire to learn. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and creative candidate to make meaningful contributions to climate change adaptation work in Alaska.

The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, possess strong interpersonal communication skills, and enjoy working in a highly collaborative environment. Candidates must be proficient with Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, and the Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva. Successful candidates should be comfortable working with scientists and familiar with Alaska and climate science or have a strong desire to learn

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications or related field and three years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Candidates should possess at least three years of experience, or a combination of education and experience, effectively conveying scientific or technical subjects to multiple diverse audiences, and a demonstrated ability to write and edit for non-scientific audiences.

A valid Alaska driver's license, or the ability to obtain one upon hire, and clean driving record in compliance with UA Safe Driving Criteria is required.

Position Details:

This position may be located on the Fairbanks campus in UAF preferably but could be based in Anchorage or Juneau. Flexible on-site/ or hybrid work arrangements may be considered in accordance with UA regulations. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 79, based on education and experience.

Special Conditions:

With your application, please provide a cover letter, resume, writing samples, and the names of three professional references (emails and phone numbers.)
Applications will be accepted for review on 4/21/2024, to ensure consideration, please apply by 11:55 PM, Alaska Standard Time on 4/22/2024.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This position is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Delia Lopez-Ketzler, IARC HR Coordinator, at dketzler@alaska.edu or 907-474-1960.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.