New

Communication and Engagement Associate

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, Pasadena
Oct 30, 2026
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community. Job Summary The Communication and Engagement Associate is part of the team responsible for increasing the adoption of ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) and contributes to efforts to share the Caltech Seismological Laboratory's science with communities on and off campus. This position requires collaboration with colleagues located at different universities along the West Coast as well as at the US Geological Survey and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The Communication and Engagement Associate's primary responsibility is to increase adoption of ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning use by establishing relationships with potential and existing alerting partners and by connecting users to alerting services that best fit their needs. This involves keeping up to date on the evolution of ShakeAlert technologies and capabilities and translating that information for different user audiences. There are many opportunities to work on projects to innovate communication products and methods to enhance ShakeAlert Communication, Education, and Outreach (CEO&TE) capabilities. It is important that the Communication and Engagement Associate serves as a liaison between the ShakeAlert CEO&TE working groups and the Caltech Seismological Laboratory. In addition to responsibilities pertaining to ShakeAlert EEW, the Communication and Engagement Associate will work to amplify the science of the Seismological Laboratory and the Center for Disaster Resilience. This involves working with the communication team to create digital content (including photos, vertical video, and text) for social media and website publication. It also involves representing the Lab and Center to organizations and community groups, providing tours of the Lab, and organizing and coordinating events. Essential Job Duties Cultivate and manage relationships with potential partners and users of ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning. Participate in ShakeAlert Communication, Education, and Outreach meetings. Engage with a variety of publics to communicate and educate about earthquakes, earthquake information tools (particularly early warning), and disaster resiliency. Represent the Caltech Seismological Laboratory to the greater ShakeAlert community as well as to other Caltech departments and at designated off-campus events. Regularly report to Lab leadership on ShakeAlert engagement efforts and activities and incorporate leadership instruction into engagement work. Support relationships and communication (for example, workshops and trainings) with various partners in Southern California. Keep abreast of Caltech research priorities and projects related to the Seismological Laboratory and the Center for Disaster Resilience in order to communicate them to various publics. Contribute to the Lab's digital communications, including social media channels. Assist in coordinating and facilitating Seismological Laboratory tours, as well as organizing and coordinating events. Other duties as assigned. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in a field related to communication and/or physical science and/or engineering. Minimum of three years of experience communicating about science. Comfortable communicating online and in person about complex topics to a wide range of audiences. Skilled in communicating effectively and professionally with diverse audiences across various backgrounds, age groups, and organizational levels. Able to travel locally (varies) and regionally (approximately twice annually). Experience creating social media content and contributing to digital engagement strategies. Highly organized and detail-oriented. Preferred Qualifications Knowledgeable about earthquakes and other natural hazards in Southern California. Master's Degree in earth science or communication with significant coursework in the other. Experience using both Microsoft and Google workspaces; experience with Atlas products (Confluence, Jira, and Atlas CRM) is a plus. Fluency in a language other than English, particularly Spanish. Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Hiring Range $70,300 to $89,000 per year The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks. EEO Statement Caltech is an equal opportunity employer and, as a federal contractor, takes affirmative action to employ qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disability Accommodations Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position. If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu. Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.