Digital Communications Specialist

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is seeking a versatile and skilled Digital Communications Specialist to elevate the laboratory's online/social presence, drive audience engagement, and ensure SRNL's groundbreaking work reaches partners, sponsors, stakeholders, and other targeted audiences. This position sits within SRNL's Communications team and works collaboratively across the full communications function to support and promote the laboratory.

The selected candidate will serve as the primary steward of SRNL's external website and the strategic driver behind the lab's social media presence. This is a hands-on role that blends website building and management in WordPress with social media strategy development, content creation, and performance analytics. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable crafting a compelling social post, restructuring a web page for improved user experience, and working with subject matter experts to help translate complex science into accessible, engaging digital content.

Website Strategy and Management

• Manage, maintain, and continuously improve SRNL’s external WordPress website, including building new pages and updating existing content.
• Maintain a clear, user-centered site architecture to support intuitive navigation.
• Apply SEO best practices including metadata standards, internal linking, structured content, and keyword optimization.
• Conduct regular content audits to remove outdated material, fix broken links, and strengthen user pathways.
• Identify content gaps and develop new web material aligned with strategic priorities.
• Apply UX principles and responsive design to ensure an accessible experience across devices.
• Ensure all web content meets WCAG accessibility standards and federal requirements.

Intranet Oversight and Strategy

• Establish clear governance roles across Communications, IT, and Site Owners, including quarterly reviews to set priorities.
• Maintain a 12–18-month roadmap aligned with laboratory goals.
• Manage site navigation and conduct routine content reviews for accuracy and accessibility.
• Enforce brand, writing, accessibility, and compliance standards.
• Coordinate intranet announcements and updates with Internal Communications.
• Track analytics and provide monthly engagement insights.
• Support onboarding and training for site contributors.

Social Media Strategy and Execution

• Develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy that advances SRNL’s brand and research mission.
• Create, curate, and schedule engaging posts, graphics, and short-form videos tailored to each platform.
• Monitor channels for audience engagement opportunities and trends across science, energy, and national security communities.
• Stay informed on platform changes, emerging platforms, and evolving best practices to ensure forward-looking strategy.

Content Development and Collaboration

• Work with scientists, engineers, and program managers to translate complex topics into clear and engaging digital content.
• Partner with writers, graphic designers, and multimedia producers to create integrated digital content aligned with brand standards.
• Ensure digital components — web, social, email, and multimedia — are strategically aligned within broader campaigns.

Analytics, Reporting, and Optimization

• Track and analyze website and social media performance using Google Analytics and platform-native tools.
• Translate data insights into actionable recommendations for SRNL leadership and the Communications team.
• Maintain reporting dashboards or summaries that provide visibility into audience behavior and digital performance.
• Use data-driven testing and optimization to refine content and tactics.

General

• Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure digital work supports SRNL’s strategic priorities and brand standards.
• Provide guidance on web standards, social media best practices, content optimization, and analytics interpretation.
• Comply with all environmental, safety, health, and quality requirements while upholding SRNL’s values and ethics.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, web development, digital media, marketing, journalism, information science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience managing and optimizing digital platforms, with particular depth in WordPress and SharePoint.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing social media strategies, including content creation, scheduling, community engagement, and platform management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to write clear, engaging content for digital audiences.
• Experience working with subject matter experts to translate complex or technical information into accessible content for non-technical, science-minded audiences.
• Experience tracking and analyzing web and social media metrics using tools such as Google Analytics and native platform analytics, with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Solid understanding of SEO principles, structured content strategies, and metadata standards.
• Firm understanding of UX principles and digital accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
• Experience coordinating digital projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to apply effective web design practices that enhance usability and engagement within a content management system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Photography and/or videography skills, including the ability to capture and produce visual content for web and social media use.
• Experience developing content or strategies for email newsletters and short-form video.
• Ability to optimize content for AI-driven or generative search environments.
• Expertise in conducting content audits and gap analyses to drive strategic improvements.
• Familiarity with web analytics benchmarking methodologies and A/B testing.
• Experience developing SharePoint sites, dashboards, or similar internal reporting tools.
• Knowledge of how to implement structured data or schema markup within a CMS.
• Demonstrated ability to improve workflows and introduce structured processes within a communications team.
• Background working within a government, laboratory, higher education, or similarly regulated communications environment.