Senior Strategic Communications Specialist

Noblis•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Noblis, we have excellent teams of smart, collaborative, proactive experts and professionals. We are actively seeking personnel to join our team of talented professionals who possess the experience, vision, commitment, and integrity to successfully support the strategic goals of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At DHS, our team supports the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate’s development, acquisition, and deployment of new technologies across a variety of technological domains. Sharing our successes and educating stakeholders and the public is key to effectively communicating the organization’s progress. This position offers opportunities to manage and participate in the development, preparation, review, revision, and maintenance of technical and non-technical communications products. You will develop and review products for internal and external audiences including, but not limited to briefing decks, feature articles, fact sheets, reports, strategic plans, Congressional and senior executive briefs, internal training materials, processes, and program artifacts. A successful candidate will think strategically, make connections with internal and external stakeholders, write compelling material to effectively promote S&T’s work, create dynamic artifacts in a variety of media, and review and edit program management and communications products to ensure technical accuracy, consistency, and adherence to organizational standards. The position works closely with the senior leadership team to shape strategic messaging/themes that will be shared across DHS. This position requires staff to be in-person at the DHS client site in Washington, DC (Anacostia metro station) and at additional locations in the National Capital Region (including TSA Headquarters in Springfield, VA) as needed in accordance with the requirements of the contract up to five (5) days per week. By applying for this position, you acknowledge that ability to work onsite is a requirement of this position and you will be readily available to do so. Role functions may include: Developing communication strategies, plans, resources, and outreach. Developing communication campaigns of various sizes leveraging a variety of techniques and approaches to reach both target and new audiences. Technical editing of reports on program office activities, strategy, execution, and more in response to regular reporting requirements and ad hoc requests from leadership. Preparation and polishing of presentations and talking points to support program office leadership engagements with DHS, interagency, state, local, international, industry, and public stakeholders, ensuring that messaging is impactful, concise, and compelling. Coordinating activities and priorities for high profile media events including managing speaker requests and interfacing with media representatives. Tracking metrics and outcomes from program activities and communication projects. Implementing plain-language best practices and ensuring program office communications are impactful and understandable to all readers regardless of technical familiarity. Assisting with office responses to regularly scheduled communications, ad hoc taskers, and other requests for information. Developing visual graphics/art for program office reports, presentations, and other publications. Tracking and organizing print and digital materials including data dashboards and extracting approved content for re-use. Coordinating publication of documents and maintaining records of cleared documents and those in progress. Originating new or refining draft briefings, posters, newsletters, website content, program fact sheets, standard training materials, white papers, and other communications products in accordance with prevailing DHS policies, templates, and guidance. Performing analyses to identify current and future potential communication channels; identify target audiences; define internal and external perceptions; and identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in those areas related to promoting DHS programs. Corresponding with clients, event speakers, participants, and event sponsors/exhibitors. Advising on sensitivity analysis and how to creatively share information that is interesting but also deemed publicly releasable. Advising on communications strategy; identifying target audiences, communications avenues, cadence, etc. Drafting guidance, SOPs, and other operational, policy, and strategic materials for use by Component, other agencies, and state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. Management and drafting of program-level artifacts including, but not limited to program/project management plans, transition plans, etc. Coordinating with policy, programmatic, and technical experts to ensure messaging of new or changing policies is effective and wide-reaching. Assisting with dry runs of presentations, speeches, and other event-related communications for leadership Preparing meeting agendas, capturing notes, and creating and disseminating meeting minutes. Facilitating and participating in client-led meetings with senior office and S&T leaders. Providing program and project management support to research and development projects, as needed.

Requirements

A Master’s Degree and 5 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s Degree and 10 years of relevant experience
Domain knowledge of communications.
Eligibility to receive a Secret Clearance and DHS Suitability.

Nice To Haves

Active DHS Suitability and a SECRET clearance is preferred.
Advanced degree in communications, journalism, or similar field.
Demonstrated experience providing communications support to programs and projects serving DHS or national security-focused mission areas.
Demonstrated experience distilling highly technical information into impactful, concise, plain-language work products, particularly for senior executive-level audiences.
Demonstrated experience designing, developing, implementing, and managing/executing strategic communication plans, initiatives, and campaigns.
Experience developing communication strategies and identifying current and future potential communication channels and target audiences.
Demonstrated excellent written, communication, collaboration, and presentation skills. Proven results-oriented problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrated experience with presentation graphics and/or spreadsheet tools.
Experience providing guidance, feedback, and consulting services to federal program managers or similar roles.
Ability to work in a dynamic team-oriented environment, demonstrate teamwork and initiative, and function productively in the face of new assignments and the re-prioritization of existing assignments.
Experience supporting DHS components and agencies either operationally or through project management. Relevant experience in the national security or intelligence communities is also of interest.
Experience with project tracking, collaboration, and work management tools such as Excel, SharePoint, PowerBI, and MS Teams.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously inclusive of demonstrated experience prioritizing, tracking, and adjusting work streams as required with sufficient attention to detail to ensure efficient follow-through to project completion.
Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment as well as creativity to propose new ideas to enhance communication products.
Experience and demonstrated expertise developing a variety of communications materials for publication, internet, strategic initiatives, training materials, white papers, reports, etc.

Responsibilities

Developing communication strategies, plans, resources, and outreach.
Developing communication campaigns of various sizes leveraging a variety of techniques and approaches to reach both target and new audiences.
Technical editing of reports on program office activities, strategy, execution, and more in response to regular reporting requirements and ad hoc requests from leadership.
Preparation and polishing of presentations and talking points to support program office leadership engagements with DHS, interagency, state, local, international, industry, and public stakeholders, ensuring that messaging is impactful, concise, and compelling.
Coordinating activities and priorities for high profile media events including managing speaker requests and interfacing with media representatives.
Tracking metrics and outcomes from program activities and communication projects.
Implementing plain-language best practices and ensuring program office communications are impactful and understandable to all readers regardless of technical familiarity.
Assisting with office responses to regularly scheduled communications, ad hoc taskers, and other requests for information.
Developing visual graphics/art for program office reports, presentations, and other publications.
Tracking and organizing print and digital materials including data dashboards and extracting approved content for re-use.
Coordinating publication of documents and maintaining records of cleared documents and those in progress.
Originating new or refining draft briefings, posters, newsletters, website content, program fact sheets, standard training materials, white papers, and other communications products in accordance with prevailing DHS policies, templates, and guidance.
Performing analyses to identify current and future potential communication channels; identify target audiences; define internal and external perceptions; and identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in those areas related to promoting DHS programs.
Corresponding with clients, event speakers, participants, and event sponsors/exhibitors.
Advising on sensitivity analysis and how to creatively share information that is interesting but also deemed publicly releasable.
Advising on communications strategy; identifying target audiences, communications avenues, cadence, etc.
Drafting guidance, SOPs, and other operational, policy, and strategic materials for use by Component, other agencies, and state, local, tribal, and territorial partners.
Management and drafting of program-level artifacts including, but not limited to program/project management plans, transition plans, etc.
Coordinating with policy, programmatic, and technical experts to ensure messaging of new or changing policies is effective and wide-reaching.
Assisting with dry runs of presentations, speeches, and other event-related communications for leadership
Preparing meeting agendas, capturing notes, and creating and disseminating meeting minutes.
Facilitating and participating in client-led meetings with senior office and S&T leaders.
Providing program and project management support to research and development projects, as needed.