Join Our Editorial Communications Talent Pipeline!

Altarum • Silver Spring, MD

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This posting is for a talent pipeline for experienced writers and editors interested in future embedded communications opportunities supporting a military health facility in Bethesda, Maryland. Altarum's Palladian Partners team collaborates with federal health and public affairs clients to produce clear, accurate, and compelling communications for public health missions. By applying, candidates express interest in potential future opportunities as client and contract needs evolve. These roles are expected to focus on either writing (developing feature stories, long-form content, leadership communications, and public affairs materials) or editing (managing editorial review for accuracy, clarity, consistency, and compliance). The positions involve working within an embedded communications team at a military health facility, collaborating with public affairs leadership, medical professionals, and subject matter experts. These roles require onsite work at the client site in Bethesda, Maryland, five days a week, with no remote or hybrid options anticipated.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Communications, Journalism, English, or a related field
• Approximately 5+ years of relevant professional experience
• Deep expertise in either professional writing or professional editing
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong command of grammar, punctuation, and professional writing standards
• An organized, proactive, action-oriented, and adaptable approach to managing projects and deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Demonstrated attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy and quality
• The judgment and discretion required to work with sensitive information
• An understanding of HIPAA and the safeguarding of Protected Health Information (PHI), or the ability to quickly develop that knowledge
• Comfort working onsite five days per week at a military health facility in Bethesda, Maryland

Nice To Haves

• Experience in healthcare communications, military public affairs, federal communications, or another regulated, high-visibility environment
• Experience in journalism, communications, editing, copyediting, technical writing, or public affairs
• Experience managing editorial calendars and multiple projects with competing deadlines
• Experience working directly with senior leaders, clients, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders
• Experience applying AP Style and professional editorial standards
• Experience translating complex, technical, or medical information into clear, accessible communications
• Experience managing work that requires a high level of accuracy, judgment, discretion, and attention to detail
• For Writer/Journalist opportunities, demonstrated experience in interviewing, narrative storytelling, feature writing, and long-form journalism.
• For Editor opportunities, demonstrated expertise in substantive editing, copyediting, fact-checking, source verification, and managing complex editorial review and approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage editorial calendars for print and long-form digital communications
• Lead feature stories from initial concept and research through interviews, writing, multimedia coordination, review, and publication
• Proactively identify compelling story ideas related to clinical advancements, research, patient experiences, staff achievements, and organizational priorities
• Conduct thoughtful, sensitive interviews with patients, families, clinicians, military and civilian personnel, senior leaders, and subject matter experts
• Develop news angles and balanced stories using information from multiple sources
• Write and edit feature articles, news releases, web content, leadership messaging, speeches, briefings, and other communications
• Apply Associated Press (AP) Style and established journalistic standards
• Collaborate with photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and other communications professionals on multimedia story packages
• Support media relations activities, including media inquiries, interviews, visits, briefings, and press events
• Craft messaging for internal and external stakeholders
• Support public affairs campaigns, crisis communications, community engagement activities, and leadership communications
• Build strong relationships with internal subject matter experts and external communications contacts
• Manage the end-to-end editorial lifecycle for public-facing written communications
• Review, edit, and proofread articles, reports, web content, leadership messaging, and other materials for clarity, accuracy, grammar, consistency, and tone
• Ensure content complies with AP Style, organizational style guides, applicable regulations, and client requirements
• Conduct rigorous fact-checking and source verification, including review of medical and technical information
• Work closely with clinical and administrative subject matter experts to validate content
• Coordinate feedback and revisions among authors, subject matter experts, legal counsel, and public affairs leadership
• Track multiple documents through complex review, revision, clearance, and approval processes
• Develop, maintain, and apply organizational editorial and style standards
• Manage editorial calendars and competing deadlines across multiple authors and projects
• Prepare finalized materials for senior public affairs review and approval before public release
• Help protect the consistency, credibility, and accuracy of communications across platforms

Benefits

• Opportunity to bring communications expertise to work that supports an important military health care mission
• Collaborative, mission-driven communications team
• Values excellent storytelling, editorial rigor, thoughtful client partnership, curiosity, adaptability, and high-quality work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level