Public Affairs Specialist (Speechwriter)

Indian Health Service • Rockville, MD

15h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Public Affairs Staff, Office of External Affairs, Office of the Director, Indian Health Service (IHS), at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. The specialist serves as the Agency-level technical authority for executive speechwriting and message development, advising the Director of Public Affairs and senior IHS leadership on communication formulations, timing, tone, and public affairs implications.

The specialist develops executive communications for the IHS Director and other senior officials, including speeches, keynote remarks, talking points, statements, message frameworks, and briefing materials. The work covers IHS programs, policies, services, priorities, and emerging issues, requiring the specialist to synthesize complex, sensitive, or conflicting policy, scientific, clinical, operational, legislative, and stakeholder information into clear and accurate messaging.

The position develops communication approaches for high-visibility, sensitive, controversial, or unprecedented issues; anticipates audience reactions; and recommends framing and supporting information to advance Agency objectives. It ensures communications align with IHS and HHS policy, cleared positions, public affairs requirements, and Agency leadership priorities. The specialist independently researches issues, identifies information gaps and communication risks, leads cross-Agency development and clearance, and exercises discretion with predecisional, sensitive, embargoed, or confidential information.

The specialist also reviews high-level Public Affairs Staff products, advises senior management on communication considerations, evaluates messaging effectiveness, represents the staff in high-level planning discussions, maintains working relationships with officials and stakeholders, provides technical guidance to communicators, and develops and improves Agency resources. The position is subject to federal suitability and security requirements, including a background investigation and financial history review. A REAL ID-compliant document is required if a state-issued ID or driver's license is presented for appointment identification.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in Federal service.
• Experience developing speeches, executive remarks, talking points, briefing materials, and other strategic communications for senior leadership on complex or sensitive organizational programs and issues.
• Experience researching, analyzing, and synthesizing policy, programmatic, technical, and stakeholder information to develop clear and accurate public affairs messaging.
• Experience coordinating development, review, and clearance of executive communications with senior officials, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders.
• Experience advising management on communication strategies, audience considerations, messaging approaches, and public affairs implications of proposed or emerging issues.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete a federal background investigation and meet suitability requirements, including financial suitability review.
• Must complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Must present two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver's license used must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must set up direct deposit.
• Federal competitive-service merit promotion candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements, including one year at the next lower grade; this does not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• Must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Agency-level technical authority for executive speechwriting and message development.
• Advise the Director of Public Affairs and senior IHS leadership on communication formulations, articulation timing, tone, and public affairs implications.
• Plan, develop, and produce speeches, keynote remarks, talking points, statements, message frameworks, briefing materials, and other executive communications for senior IHS officials.
• Integrate complex and potentially conflicting policy, scientific, clinical, operational, legislative, and stakeholder information into clear, accurate communications.
• Develop communication approaches for high-visibility, sensitive, controversial, or unprecedented issues; anticipate audience reactions and recommend framing, sequencing, emphasis, and supporting information.
• Ensure executive communications align with IHS and HHS policy, cleared positions, public affairs requirements, and Agency leadership priorities.
• Research and analyze Agency programs and issues; identify information gaps, conflicting interpretations, reputational risks, public-understanding risks, and matters needing leadership resolution.
• Lead cross-Agency development and clearance of executive remarks, coordinating with senior executives, Area Directors, program directors, subject matter experts, HHS public affairs officials, and other offices.
• Handle predecisional, sensitive, embargoed, or confidential information with discretion and determine appropriate use in public affairs products under applicable policies and clearance requirements.
• Review and edit high-level Public Affairs Staff products for Agency voice, message architecture, policy positions, accessibility, and strategic communications objectives.
• Advise senior management on communication considerations for proposed or emerging policies, programs, events, and issues.
• Evaluate executive messaging effectiveness using audience feedback, stakeholder input, media coverage, engagement data, and lessons learned.
• Represent the Public Affairs Staff in high-level planning discussions and maintain working relationships with officials and stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance to public affairs staff and Agency communicators on executive writing, message development, audience analysis, strategic framing, and clearance practices.
• Develop and improve Agency resources.

Benefits

• Federal annual leave accrual is based on federal service, at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period.
• IHS may grant newly appointed federal employees credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed