Principal, Communications - MITRE National Security

The Mitre Corporation•McLean, VA

7d•$147,500 - $221,500•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE is seeking a senior, national security-fluent communications leader to serve as the embedded communications lead for MITRE National Security. The role develops and drives end-to-end communications strategy, setting priorities, defining audiences, shaping narratives, aligning internal and external channels, supporting executives and subject matter experts, managing reputational risk, and measuring whether communications build understanding, trust, and advocacy. The work helps sponsors, policy stakeholders, industry partners, employees, and other audiences understand the importance and mission impact of MITRE’s national security work. The position combines strategic counsel to senior leaders with hands-on communications practice. It works credibly with executives, sponsor-facing leaders, technical experts, government affairs partners, and communicators across MITRE. National security domain fluency is essential, including understanding mission priorities, sponsor perspectives, technical stakes, policy sensitivities, and audiences across defense, intelligence, homeland security, cyber, space, emerging technology, critical infrastructure, and related fields. The role is one of three senior communications positions aligned with MITRE mission executives and reports directly to the Vice President, Communications and External Affairs. The position requires working onsite at least four days per week. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government-issued security clearance within one year of hire.

Requirements

Typically requires at least 10 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; 8 years with a master’s degree; or a Ph.D. with 5 years’ experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs, political science, national security studies, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing end-to-end communications strategies for complex organizations, portfolios, programs, or mission areas, including narrative development, audience strategy, channel planning, content execution, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and measurement.
Ability to understand and communicate national security concepts, emerging technology, scientific research, data, and mission impact in relatable terms.
Experience supporting communications related to the Department of War, Intelligence Community, defense, homeland security, cyber, space, emerging technology, or other national security mission areas.
Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, including the ability to produce executive-ready content under tight timelines.
Experience translating technical, scientific, policy, or mission-oriented information into clear and compelling communications for non-technical audiences.
Ability to advise senior leaders and operate with credibility, discretion, and sound judgment in executive-level settings.
Experience managing multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deliverables in a dynamic environment.
Ability to select communications approaches suited to the objective, including executive and internal communications, media and public affairs, digital content, events, stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, and reusable messaging assets.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a strategic lead, partner to other communicators, and hands-on individual contributor.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government-issued security clearance within one year of hire.
Must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
Must work onsite a minimum of four days per week.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in or with FFRDCs, federal agencies, national security organizations, or other mission-driven technical environments.
Active Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government-issued security clearance.
Experience supporting strategic visits, executive engagements, public affairs, government affairs, congressional or administration-facing engagement, or policy-sensitive communications.
Experience building reusable messaging infrastructure, such as message frameworks, proof-point libraries, executive briefing packages, FAQs, talking points, and stakeholder-ready materials.
Experience measuring communications outcomes, not just activity or output.
Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and the ability to build trust across teams.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead end-to-end communications strategy for MITRE National Security, from priority-setting and narrative development through audience planning, channel strategy, content execution, executive support, stakeholder engagement, measurement, and after-action improvement.
Shape proactive communications campaigns around priority national security topics and mission outcomes, focusing resources where communications can improve understanding, trust, influence, and impact.
Use an audience-first approach by defining the priority audience, desired action or understanding, message, channel, messenger, and measure of success before creating content.
Advise MITRE National Security executives, leaders, and subject matter experts on messaging, narrative, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, media engagement, strategic visits, crisis communications, and reputational risk.
Translate complex national security, technical, policy, and mission content into communications products, including executive messaging, talking points, briefing materials, web and social content, stories, releases, videos, fact sheets, FAQs, presentations, proof points, and plain-language value propositions.
Coordinate across Communications and External Affairs, government relations, public affairs, digital, events, protocol, executive communications, and MITRE National Security teams to keep communications aligned, timely, consistent, and coordinated across channels and functions.
Develop reusable communications tools and operating rhythms, such as message frameworks, proof-point libraries, executive briefing materials, stakeholder-ready leave-behinds, content calendars, asset libraries, and campaign metrics.
Identify sensitive topics early, advise leaders and subject matter experts before external engagements, coordinate with public affairs and government relations when needed, and help respond quickly and thoughtfully to reputational or policy-sensitive issues.
Define and track practical measures of communications effectiveness, including message pull-through, stakeholder engagement, executive readiness, content reuse, audience understanding, campaign progress, and risk reduction.
Operate as the embedded communications lead for MITRE National Security while coordinating with the broader Communications and External Affairs function to ensure shared messaging, coordinated planning, consistent standards, and a unified voice.
Provide communications guidance and oversight for large external and internal events.
Oversee external surveys and data-collection needs supporting communications priorities.
Coordinate media engagement with the Media team, particularly with Defense, Aerospace, and Technology media organizations.
Build and sustain trusted relationships with sponsor and industry Public Affairs organizations and staff.