Communications / Full-time
Science Communications Editor
Edit public research notes, press materials, and catalog language so the Laboratories remain clear, serious, and precise.
The communications office is expected to make uncertainty readable without making it exciting. That discipline matters more here than speed.
Resume or CV
Three science, institutional, or technical writing samples
Short editing note on uncertainty, claims, and source discipline
Candidate exercise
A bounded edit of a public technical note with citations and uncertainty language preserved.
Communications recruiting desk / FAL-CEA-26-005
Full-time exempt staff appointment
Continuing employee benefit tier
REC-CEA-26-005-COM
FAL-CEA-26-005-public-notice-09
July 2, 2026
Search committee
- 01Eleanor Cross
- 02Communications recruiting desk
- 03External Affairs standards delegate
Recruiting active file plus finalist review record
How this packet is evaluated
Communications
Finalist review covers embargo discipline, citation hygiene, claim boundaries, and correction handling.
Complete packets are logged under REC-CEA-26-005-COM, separated from public correspondence, and assigned to the Communications recruiting desk for first read.
Any exercise is bounded, redacted, and evaluated only for hiring. It is not added to the catalog, public systems, grant files, or laboratory work product.
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Source discipline | 30% | Preserves citations, caveats, correction state, and claim boundaries. |
| Technical editing | 25% | Makes difficult material readable without changing its meaning. |
| Institutional voice | 25% | Keeps public language serious, restrained, and non-sensational. |
| Media judgment | 20% | Knows when to route, decline, correct, or narrow a public request. |
- 01Reference check after candidate notice
- 02Station access and site-duty acknowledgement
- 03Records-handling and confidentiality review
- 04Program-office recommendation before offer
Candidate review docket REC-CEA-26-005-COM; public posting version FAL-CEA-26-005-public-notice-09.
Responsibilities
- Edit source-backed research notes and institutional releases
- Maintain language standards for unresolved detections and public claims
- Coordinate with researchers on citations, caveats, and review status
- Prepare press kits, statements, and public FAQs
Qualifications
- Five or more years in science writing, institutional communications, or technical editing
- Ability to make complex uncertainty readable without flattening it
- Strong source hygiene and fact-checking habits
- No appetite for sensationalism
Preferred experience
- Experience with observatories, foundations, laboratories, or research universities
- Experience writing for both public and specialist audiences
What good work looks like
- Public notes are source-backed, cautious, and readable
- Researchers see fewer corrections after release
- Press requests are answered without creating claims the record cannot hold
Continuing staff appointment
Two station residencies per year plus major release windows
Limited media, collaborator, and public-program travel
Writing sample review and confidentiality attestation required
Hiring process
- 1Writing samples
- 2Editing exercise
- 3Researcher panel
- 4Final communications interview
Recruiting acknowledges complete packets within five business days and routes them to the program office named on the requisition.
Access, relocation, and accommodations
Two station residencies per year plus major release windows
Relocation support is reviewed after finalist stage for continuing Calder Ridge appointments.
Candidates may request accommodation support through recruiting before any timed exercise or station visit.
Communications recruiting desk, FAL-CEA-26-005
- Recruiting will not request references until the candidate is notified.
- Finalist access checks are started only after a program panel recommends continued review.
- Candidate materials are retained under the recruiting records schedule and are not used as public work product.
Candidate materials remain in the recruiting record and are not used as laboratory work product, public samples, or source material for the catalog.
Candidates may request accommodations before any timed exercise, station visit, or access-review step by contacting the recruiting desk listed on the requisition.
FAL evaluates candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other protected status.
Apply for this position
Applications are read by the relevant program. Include links to your CV, publications, or portfolio where relevant. For station roles, use the message field to note any field, access-controlled, archive, or remote-site experience that would help the review panel.