Digital Communications Specialist

Requisition Id16007

Overview:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a strategically focused Digital Communications Specialist to strengthen the digital performance, discoverability, and infrastructure of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate (ESTD). This position resides in ORNL's Digital Media Team within the Communications and Community Engagement Directorate and collaborates closely with communicators embedded in ESTD.

The selected candidate will optimize ESTD's external web presence, improve performance in AI-driven and traditional search environments, and establish measurable digital reporting systems to support leadership decision-making. This role emphasizes digital platforms, analytics, web architecture, structured content strategy, and project coordination. The successful candidate will serve as ESTD's lead resource for WordPress optimization and digital performance initiatives that directly support industry engagement and technical collaboration growth.

ESTD advances science and engineering solutions that strengthen U.S. energy systems, industrial competitiveness, and national security. Through research, applied development, demonstration, and industry partnerships, ESTD accelerates deployment across the energy value chain and supports DOE priorities related to infrastructure modernization, domestic manufacturing, grid resilience, and secure, affordable energy systems.

ESTD's impact is amplified through its major research centers and collaboration programs, including the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF), the Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC), the Critical Feedstocks Technology Facility (CFTF), the Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C), and the National Transportation Research Center (NTRC). These facilities serve as hubs for industry engagement and technology validation. This role ensures ESTD's digital platforms effectively represent these capabilities, increase discoverability among prospective partners, and support growth in technical collaborations.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead external website performance and optimization within WordPress, with emphasis on industry-facing content and technical collaboration programs.
• Improve discoverability for ESTD facilities and programs (MDF, BTRIC, CFTF, GRID-C, NTRC) through structured content architecture, SEO, metadata standards, internal linking, and AI search optimization best practices.
• Structure web content for performance in generative search environments and evolving AI-driven discovery platforms.
• Conduct content audits to identify outdated material, performance gaps, and opportunities to strengthen calls to action and collaboration pathways.
• Recommend and help develop new web content that addresses strategic gaps and strengthens industry positioning.
• Work directly with scientists, engineers, and program managers to gather technical information and translate complex material into accurate, web-optimized formats.
• Draft and edit web content to ensure clarity, technical accuracy, and alignment with search and performance strategies.
• Collaborate with writers, multimedia strategists, and designers to ensure digital products meet standards for discoverability, accessibility (WCAG), and user experience (UX).
• Analyze website and digital engagement metrics, interpret trends, and recommend improvements to enhance industry visibility and engagement.
• Develop and maintain a SharePoint site serving as a leadership dashboard for digital performance metrics, including website analytics and media monitoring.
• Monitor ESTD-related social media activity and engagement trends; provide backup support to the social media lead as needed to ensure continuity of operations.
• Apply principles of effective web design, visual hierarchy, and user-centered layout within ORNL governance frameworks.
• Provide guidance to team members on web standards, optimization practices, and analytics interpretation.
• Collaborate across the Digital Communications Team to ensure alignment with laboratory governance and enterprise standards.
• Comply with environment, safety, health, and quality requirements and uphold laboratory values and ethics.
• Align behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in communications, information science, web development, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum three years of experience managing and optimizing digital platforms, particularly WordPress websites.
• Demonstrated experience implementing SEO, structured content strategies, metadata standards, and analytics-driven improvements.
• Experience analyzing digital engagement metrics and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience working with technical subject matter experts to translate complex information.
• Strong writing and editing skills for clear, technically accurate, performance-oriented web content.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder digital projects.
• Understanding of UX principles and digital accessibility standards.
• Demonstrated experience applying effective web design practices that enhance usability and engagement within a CMS.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience optimizing content for AI-driven or generative search environments.
• Experience conducting content audits and gap analyses.
• Experience developing SharePoint sites or dashboards.
• Familiarity with web analytics tools and benchmarking methodologies.
• Experience implementing structured data/schema markup within a CMS.
• Experience developing concepts or content strategies for email newsletters, social media and short-form video in coordination with multimedia teams.
• Demonstrated ability to improve workflow systems and introduce structured processes within communications teams.

Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email:ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.