Communications Manager I

Overview

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site's Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today. In this environment, the best ideas need to be voiced and every opinion matters. As such, MSTS places great value on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is committed to a diverse and equitable workforce, with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, and perspectives.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

NNSS COVID-19 attestation requirements: https://www.nnss.gov/pages/nfo/WorkingForMSTS.html

Responsibilities

The Communications Manager is vital to sharing the Nevada National Security Site's (NNSS's) mission by leading strategic internal and external communications designed to inform, engage, and inspire employees and foster a knowledgeable and motivated workforce. This position will provide communications counsel and dedicated services to leaders, managers, and staff to develop communications targeting internal and external audiences to highlight the organization's effectiveness, impact, reputation and accomplishments. This role is integral to continuing the strong culture of collaboration to create experiences that engage, connect, and inspire employees and the NNSS community of partners, and cultivate and maintain positive relationships with external stakeholders. This position reports to the Public Affairs Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team, managing all aspects of personnel management, including interviewing, hiring, training, ranking, performance and salary management.
• Lead internal and external communications, media relations, graphics and video services.
• Develop and execute a strategic internal and external media communication plan that aligns messaging with the company's vision, mission and national security programs' positioning.
• Coordinate complex communications projects with multiple contributors who may be affiliated with other government, international, or commercial entities.
• Collaborate with senior managers, team members, both internal and external to Public Affairs, and other colleagues to execute communication initiatives and meet project and programmatic objectives.
• Define communications strategies, messaging, and key deliverables for a variety of short- and long-term projects; participate in all aspects of publishing from concept through distribution.
• Manage internal communications and external/media communications channels: editorial calendar (social media posts, newsletters, etc.), promotional stories channels: editorial calendar (blogs, newsletters etc.), email groups, stories, graphics, and intranet/internet sites.
• Maintain quality service by enforcing quality and customer service standards; analyzing and resolving quality and customer service problems; identifying trends; recommending system improvements.
• Act as the media spokesperson.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent training and experience, plus a minimum of 11 years of related and progressively responsible experience.
• Strong external/media and executive communications experience to write and tailor content for specific audiences that demonstrates a deep understanding of messaging, positioning, and stakeholder needs that increase positive visibility for the NNSS.
• Experience interacting with all levels of personnel, both internal and external to organizations, exercising a high degree of discretion, mature judgment, and tact in handling difficult situations and issues of a sensitive nature.
• Experience in strategic communications, as well as in planning, developing, organizing, and writing technical content effectively across various types of communication platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership experience leading and working in a team environment.
• Strong analytic skills to gather and summarize data, find solutions to various workforce-related problems, and prioritize work.
• Self-starter, comfortable multitasking with ability to work to deadlines and respond to tight, shifting schedules, including effective interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and within a team environment.
• Experience collaborating with senior managers, clients, team members, peers, and stakeholders to meet organizational objectives.
• Experience as a writer/editor, planning, developing, organizing, and writing content effectively across various types of communication platforms, including web and digital copywriting, across multiple scientific and/or technical communication areas.
• Knowledge of and experience using editorial style conventions as well as communication practices and standards.
• Expertise in the theory and techniques of high-quality technical communication for both printed and web-based publications.
• Evaluate and implement new software and processes; help develop metrics and process-improvement methods.
• Demonstrated experience to apply the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies required to successfully perform the job.
• The primary work location will be at the Losee Road facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Work schedule for this position will be 4/10's, Monday - Thursday (subject to change).
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, "Personnel Security". If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, "Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites," will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, "Counterintelligence Evaluation Program."

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $115,148.80 - $184,246.40.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.