News Center Editor, External Communications

Position Overview

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's Strategic Communications & External Affairs (SC&EA) division is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented News Center Editor to join the External Communications team. Reporting to the Head of External Communications, the editor will manage the day-to-day operations of the lab's news center, a key website for sharing SLAC announcements with the world. This position supports an integrated external communications strategy centered around delivering key messages in effective and impactful ways to a broad range of stakeholders, including internal and public audiences, news media and policymakers.

The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding editing and writing skills, paired with a deep knowledge of editorial processes, best practices and trends. The News Center Editor is expected to turn complex science and technology information into well-constructed, accurate and compelling articles about SLAC's research and people while applying institutional acumen to enhance the strategic value of those stories. Critical job functions include, but are not limited to, managing the news center calendar;

vetting story ideas; assigning stories to staff and on-call writers; writing and editing news center and social media content; guiding stories through reviews and approvals; and posting and promoting news.

Collaborating with SC&EA team members and other partners within and outside of the lab, the News Center Editor will use their expertise to support the strategic development of the news center to improve the reach of our content and refresh the news experience for our audiences.

• Manage the news center calendar and cross-team news center processes.
• Identify and plan news stories in close collaboration with other SC&EA team members and assign stories to writers.
• Edit news center content (and other content as needed), adhering to style and applying strategic thinking and institutional acumen.
• Facilitate the review of stories and their distribution.
• Create awareness for editorial guidelines and ensure they are being followed, including ownership and maintenance of the SLAC style guide.
• Support the development and implementation of long-term and short-term strategic plans for the news center in support of integrated External Communications and SC&EA strategies.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with SC&EA team members and stakeholders within and outside of the lab to plan and coordinate publications.
• Stay up to date with trends in the news industry and contribute ideas for enhancing the news experience for our audiences.
• Assist the Head of External Communications in evaluating workflows and the impact of news center content and make recommendations.

• Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant work experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience working in a scientific or technical environment.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee all aspects of the editorial and publication process.
• Demonstrated organizational talent, attention to detail and experience managing content calendars and complex workflows.
• Demonstrated advanced editorial, writing and storytelling skills and the ability to synthesize complex science and technology information into well-constructed, accurate and compelling articles for a broad range of audiences.
• Familiarity with style guides, especially AP style.
• Demonstrated ability to apply strategic thinking and institutional knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to apply discretion and judgment in evaluating institutional sensitivities and the implications of information release to internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead team discussions and work with stakeholders.
• Expert level knowledge of job-required tools, applications and best practices, paired with an interest in exploring new trends in the news industry.

• Effective Decisions:
  Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development:
  Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability:
  Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative:
  Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability:
  Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication:
  Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages
• Relationships:
  Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve.

• Collaborates:
  Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Organization Savvy:
  Maneuvering comfortably…