Engagement and Outreach Lead

Do you enjoy bringing people, ideas, and technical work together in meaningful ways?

Are you a creative, highly organized professional who can turn ideas into actionable plans and help carry them through successful execution?

Do you enjoy contributing to initiatives that strengthen workplace culture and reinforce shared values?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking an Engagement & Outreach Lead to join the Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD). As a member of the REDD Engagement & Outreach team, you will help execute department priorities and create meaningful opportunities to connect people with REDD's work, technical capabilities, and community.

You will support a diverse portfolio of engagement efforts, with a strong emphasis on strategic events and project management, while contributing to communications, technical engagement and storytelling, tours and other department initiatives. This role requires someone who can build strong relationships, communicate effectively, think creatively, and bring the organization and follow-through needed to move ideas into action.

• Project manage REDD engagement and execution priorities, working with stakeholders to develop plans, coordinate activities and resources, communicate progress, and move projects from planning through successful execution.
• Lead the development and execution of complex, high-visibility strategic events and engagement initiatives from early ideation and planning through event execution and follow-up.
• Build relationships with REDD technical staff and leadership to understand their work and priorities and develop creative opportunities to showcase REDD capabilities, research, and emerging technologies across APL.
• Contribute to REDD communications and internal web efforts, helping translate technical work, department priorities, and engagement opportunities into compelling content and visual materials for varied audiences.
• Lead engagement activities across REDD, including tours and visits, technical storytelling, experiential graphics, cultural initiatives, and staff engagement, while collaborating with partners across the organization to successfully execute department priorities.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Have demonstrated experience managing projects or initiatives from planning through execution, including coordinating multiple stakeholders, priorities, and deadlines.
• Are an effective communicator and relationship builder with strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Are highly organized, collaborative, adaptable, and able to take ownership of work in a dynamic environment.
• Have strong visual communication skills and the ability to translate ideas and information into effective presentations, digital content, print materials, or other engagement products.
• Are able to obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

• Have experience organizing complex, high-visibility events, engagement initiatives, or programs involving diverse stakeholders.
• Have experience working with scientific, engineering, research, or technical organizations and communicating technical work to varied audiences.
• Have experience facilitating collaborative discussions, developing creative engagement approaches, or creating visual communications and storytelling products.
• Have experience leading or hosting tours, visits, or engagements with senior leaders, external partners, or other high-level audiences.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage…