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Scientific Photographer

The position is hybrid, with potential for full-time at the client site in Alexandria, VA.

PORTFOLIO IS REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION.

Spire Communications is hiring a full-time photographer to support strategic communications for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This role captures high-quality photography that supports NSF’s mission, programs, leadership, and scientific community across digital and print communications. The photographer will produce professional imagery for conferences, events, executive communications, organizational storytelling, and internal and external engagement initiatives.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical photography skills with an understanding of visual storytelling, brand standards, and the unique requirements of photographing scientific, government, and executive environments. This role requires the ability to anticipate important moments, work effectively with diverse audiences, and deliver polished photography assets that accurately represent NSF’s people, mission, and impact.

Spire Communications is a woman-owned strategic communications and creative firm based in Alexandria, VA that supports science, technology, and engineering organizations within the government and private sectors.

This position is hybrid, with the potential to be fully onsite, based at the client site in Alexandria, VA. The opportunity is contingent upon contract award.

Salary range: $80,000-$95,000

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What You’ll Do

  • Plan, coordinate, and execute photography sessions at NSF headquarters and on location, including conferences, meetings, panels, keynote presentations, ceremonies, and other events.
  • Capture compelling imagery that accurately represents NSF’s mission, scientific research, programs, people, and impact across internal and external communications.
  • Photograph groups, teams, award recipients, delegations, executives, staff, and other NSF stakeholders.
  • Photograph official portrait and headshot sessions, including lighting, composition, background setup, and subject coordination.
  • Set up, operate, break down, and maintain professional photography equipment, including cameras, lenses, lighting, and related accessories.
  • Apply standard post-capture image adjustments, including color correction, cropping, resizing, and basic retouching, and prepare final images for distribution.
  • Manage photography assets using digital asset management systems, including Acquia DAM and Brightcove, ensuring proper organization, metadata, archiving, and documentation of permissions and usage rights.
  • Respond to internal and external requests for photography assets, identifying, preparing, and delivering appropriate images for communications needs.
  • Collaborate with communications, creative, web, and content teams to ensure photography supports NSF’s brand, messaging, and digital communications goals.
  • Participate in special projects and photography assignments as requested.

What You’ll Bring to Spire

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in photography, visual communications, communications, or a related field.
  • 6+ years of professional photography experience, including event, portrait, and organizational photography.
  • Demonstrated portfolio showcasing professional photography for events, groups, executive portraits, and institutional communications.
  • Experience planning and executing photography sessions in professional, government, corporate, academic, scientific, or other complex environments.
  • Strong technical knowledge of digital photography, including camera operation, lighting, composition, exposure, and image processing.
  • Experience using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar tools for image editing and optimization.
  • Comprehensive experience using digital asset management systems, including Acquia DAM and Brightcove, to organize, archive, and distribute digital assets.
  • Working knowledge of copyright, licensing, permissions, and best practices for media usage.
  • Ability to manage image requests, coordinate assignments, and deliver high-quality assets within established deadlines.
  • Demonstrated experience communicating scientific and technical subject matter, with expertise in one or more NSF focus or technology areas (e.g., Biology, Engineering, Computing, AI, Cybersecurity); federal or federally funded research experience is a plus.

Our benefits

Medical (United Healthcare), dental (CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield), and vision (United Concordia) plans paid at 100% (employee premium) plus 30% contribution to family premium

Monthly $50 “wellness” stipend for gym memberships, spa services, etc.

Life and disability insurance (short- and long-term)

18 days PTO and 8 federal holidays per year (+Veterans Day for those who have served)

Flexible home/office environment

Home office expense reimbursement

401(k) plan with automatic 3% of salary employer contribution

Employee referral bonuses

Annual stipend for employee and/or job-related training

About Spire

We are a boutique, woman-led agency that specializes in technology, health, and science. Our clients are federal agencies and contractors charged with advanced R&D and vital national programs that make life better for all Americans. Our team is committed to the work of these pioneers and public servants. We believe in their missions, marvel at their innovations, and delight in telling their stories.

Every member of our team is a senior-level communicator. This means every assignment is an opportunity to work with and learn from the best strategists and storytellers—designers, videographers, writers, editors, media relations leads, social media managers, and web developers.

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1. Contact Information

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2. Personal Details

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4. Submit Application

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Spire Communications is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

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