Scientific Communication Specialist

Overall Position Summary and Objectives

​The purpose of this contract is to engage an experienced science writer to provide federal agency with compelling and scientifically accurate content that will be distributed on internal and external communication channels for use by federal agency audiences. Our audiences include all internal and external persons and organizations who or are may be affected by federal agency research and activities. This position may also be responsible for drafting talking points, speeches and scientific presentations for federal agency leadership.

Deliverables:

• ​Weekly reports to IC FTL - Weekly
• Presentations for the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR), at least 3 per year - Ad-Hoc
• Funding opportunity notices - Ad-Hoc
• Public notices - Ad-Hoc
• Technical assistance webinars - Ad-Hoc
• Policy documentation - Ad-Hoc
• Publications - Ad-Hoc
• Extramural research proposals and concepts - Ad-Hoc
• Long-form written content on research related to the federal agency Strategic Plan - Ad-Hoc
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) - Ad-Hoc
• Scientific and technical writing tip sheets applicable to communicating about nursing research - Ad-Hoc
• Federal Agency-funded researcher interviews - Ad-Hoc
• Communications outreach and engagement plans - Ad-Hoc
• Speeches, talking points and presentations for federal agency leadership. - Ad-Hoc
• Health communication messages and content for web and other digital formats. - Ad-Hoc

Work Details:

• Research, write and edit scientific and technical information in a variety of formats, including articles, blog posts, factsheets, one-pagers, brochures, presentations and speeches, workshop summaries, reports, briefing materials, press releases, content for digital media in online and print format. 1
• Develop talking points, presentations and speeches for leadership based on research findings, currently funded grants and Institute priorities. 2
• Review and provide edits to a variety of external communication and informational materials to ensure scientific and technical accuracy and completeness. 3
• Prepares scientific and technical materials for publication.
• Research, write and edit policy papers featuring recommendations based on original research findings and conclusions.
• Prepare technical summaries of proposed, ongoing or concluded research projects and studies for circulation within and among scientific elements within the government.
• Conducts advanced literature reviews and prepares reports, summaries and presentations on findings.
• Perform literature reviews of scientific and technical literature to identify methodologies, findings and conclusions of significance and prepare summaries and reports for distribution among research and medical staffs.
• Maintain credentials to standard databases, repositories, libraries, and search engines to ensure access to the most recent domestic and international publications, dissertations, research reports, etc.
• Assess proposed and ongoing programs, projects and studies and conduct literature reviews to support researchers and study staff inform, guide, validate, refute, etc. findings and conclusions.
• Prepare summaries, reports, dashboards and presentations on results of literature reviews to researchers and staffs.
• Creates and maintains databases of all research materials, literature reviews, and publications.
• Enter references from PubMed into a Reference Manager database on a routine basis and review usage data.
• Use Reference Manager Software to place references into the text, with style and formatting appropriate for the journal.
• Develops and edits official program management reports, official correspondence and audit reports.
• Assist program and project managers draft and edit scientific documentation related to research and operational projects.
• Review and provide comment on the scientific and technical accuracy of a variety of reports, presentations and correspondence.
• Provide scientific and technical writing expertise to assist researchers and staff prepare documentation.
• Assist researchers develop scientific and technical documentation, providing insights, guidance and recommendations to improve products.
• Research and recommend scientific and technical writing tools and resources available to researchers and staff and assist in obtaining credentials and learning to use.
• Design and maintain templates and detailed usage instructions for preparing common documentation, such as posters, presentations, reports, proposals, abstracts, etc.
• Finalizes documents and prepares materials for publication.
• Proofread all documents (drafts and final forms) for scientific and technical accuracy and completeness prior to submitting them for review and approval or acceptance.
• Cross-check original and referenced data and verify cited content from source documents, and perform originality reviews or all scientific and technical writing.
• Critically review draft documents, synthesize comments, and incorporate appropriate comments from other reviewers into successive drafts to prepare final documents.
• Provides expert guidance, direction and support to executives in the development and distribution of scientific and technical written materials.
• Provide expert advise for general health and science communications activities that involve content creation for health communication and outreach projects, scientific and technical publication, promotional materials and online events.
• Provide expert advice and consultation to staff on issues related to scientific and programmatic written articles.
• Advise executives and program managers on written materials to be developed and present strategies for maximizing impact and performance toward organizational and programmatic goas and objectives.
• Mentors, coaches and trains writers, editors and staff on scientific and technical writing and editing practices and procedures.
• Prepares training materials and job aids for distribution among research and operational staff to assist in their day to day writing and editing activities to increase the quality and consistency of scientific and technical writing.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5represents priority rankings, where 1 is highest priority and 5 is lowest priority of those ranked

Minimum Education

Master's

Software

• Drupal content management system (CMS)
• MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel)

Skills

• Expertise in communicating complex scientific ideas to the general public in clear, concise language
• Expertise in writing and editing technical and scientific documents, reports and publications
• Expertise in identifying and reviewing academic literature and manuscripts as source material for communications products
• Experience with drafting materials for leadership positions. This may include talking points and presentations.
• Expertise in writing and editing health and science communication products.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Salary: $53.00 - $57.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Bethesda, MD: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: On the road