Social Media Specialist III

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus  ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus‑like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

As part of JPL's Strategic Communications organization, the Social Media Specialist III position serves as a social media specialist on the Digital Content team. The role helps set the direction and day‑to‑day rhythm of the NASAJPL accounts while contributing to the NASAUniverse accounts through a cross‑center partnership with NASA Goddard.

The Social Media Specialist III position requires strong editorial and visual judgment, enthusiasm for NASA and JPL, and the confidence to turn broad goals into platform‑ready content. The successful candidate will stay current on social platforms and audience behavior, bring forward ideas that keep JPL's content fresh, and use performance data to improve future work. They must be comfortable taking ownership while working closely with managers, communicators, designers, scientists, engineers, and NASA partners in an environment where priorities and sensitivities can change quickly.

• Helps lead content strategy, planning, creation, publishing, and ongoing account stewardship for NASAJPL across major social platforms.
• Leads day‑to‑day community management for NASAJPL by monitoring conversations, responding to audience questions and comments, identifying opportunities for meaningful engagement, and escalating sensitive or technical issues as appropriate.
• Maintains a forward‑looking view of the NASAJPL content pipeline, identifies gaps and opportunities, and advances work with appropriate independence while keeping collaborators informed.
• Works closely with NASA Goddard colleagues to develop and publish coordinated content for NASAUniverse, aligning on editorial priorities, responsibilities, and timing.
• Translates complex scientific and technical information into accurate, accessible content without losing the substance or significance of the work, connecting JPL missions, science, engineering, people, and institutional stories with public audiences.
• Creates and edits platform‑ready assets, including Instagram carousels, short‑form video and Reels, graphics, captions, thumbnails, and other visual content, while maintaining NASA and JPL brand standards.
• Tracks platform trends, emerging formats, audience behavior, and cultural moments; evaluates which opportunities fit NASA's voice, goals, and public‑service responsibilities.
• Monitors account and content performance, identifies meaningful patterns, and turns data into specific recommendations for content strategy, formats, timing, and audience development.
• Develops clear reports and presentations that communicate performance, audience insights, lessons learned, and recommended next steps to colleagues and leadership.
• Responds calmly and flexibly to breaking news, mission events, approval requirements, and changing organizational priorities while protecting accuracy and public trust.
• Builds relationships with communications colleagues, creative teams, mission stakeholders, and institutional partners to identify opportunities, gather and verify information, and…