Lead Strategic Communication Specialist

Fairfax, VA
Full Time
Experienced
Position Summary
Prometheus Federal Services (PFS) is a trusted partner of federal health agencies, seeking a Lead Strategic Communication Specialist to guide the communication strategy and execution to support the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this role, the incumbent will lead a high-performing communication team to plan, design, and deliver narrative and multimedia content across digital and print channels, ensuring all communications are accurate, high-quality, and aligned with organizational values, tone, and visual identity standards. The incumbent will oversee executive communication, stakeholder engagement initiatives, and complex editorial workflows, translating scientific and technical concepts into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Lead Strategic Communication Planning: Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies tailored to diverse internal and external audiences, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and stakeholder needs.
  • Editorial Oversight and Quality Assurance: Edit and produce high-quality narrative and multimedia content in accordance with Associated Press (AP) style guidelines; maintain consistency, clarity, and accuracy across all deliverables.
  • Team Leadership and Performance Management: Direct and mentor a high-performing communication team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement to achieve project goals and deadlines.
  • Change Leadership Expertise: Apply change management principles to craft messaging that supports organizational transformation and stakeholder engagement, and to develop briefing materials for senior leaders, ensuring clarity, impact, and alignment with strategic priorities.
  • Multi-Channel Content Delivery: Manage the design and production of digital, print, and multimedia communication products, ensuring adherence to brand standards, tone, and visual identity guidelines.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Strategy: Develop and implement engagement strategies, including events, campaigns, and partnerships, to strengthen relationships and enhance program visibility.
  • Technical and Creative Tools Application: Utilize advanced word processing, spreadsheets, graphic design, and scheduling tools to streamline workflows and optimize content development processes.
  • Collaborative Review and Approval Process: Coordinate with authors and project teams to review communication materials, compile feedback, resolve conflicting inputs, and deliver final, publishable products.
  • Complex Information Simplification: Translate technical and scientific concepts into clear, accessible language for non-technical audiences, ensuring comprehension and engagement.
  • Quality and Compliance Assurance: Ensure all communication products meet industry standards, contractual requirements, and organizational quality benchmarks for accuracy, clarity, and professionalism.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
  • Ten (10) years of experience in communication, including at least eight (8) years of managing organizational communication strategy and execution.
  • Experience in organizational communication planning, AP style editing, and leading high-performing teams.
  • Experience collaborating with Agile teams and technical leaders in an iterative delivery environment to develop timely, accurate communications that reflect evolving scope, priorities, and outcomes.
  • Strong understanding of change leadership and experience supporting enterprise-level initiatives.
  • Ability to develop executive communication (key messages, speeches, talking points, briefing materials).
  • Expertise in digital, print, and multimedia content design and delivery, ensuring alignment with brand standards.
  • Skilled in stakeholder engagement strategies, including events, campaigns, and partnerships.
  • Proficiency with common word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, and scheduling tools.
  • Ability to simplify complex technical or scientific concepts for general audiences.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Authorized to work in the U.S. indefinitely without sponsorship.
  • Ability to obtain a public trust.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in a related field.
  • Experience supporting federal health agencies (e.g., VA/VHA).
  • Experience with communications measurement frameworks and analytics.
  • Professional certification (e.g., Prosci Change Management).
  • Experience managing large-scale campaigns and stakeholder partnerships.

Compensation & Benefits

PFS offers a benefits package that may include health, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; retirement plan; paid time off; and other programs to support employees and their families. Learn more about PFS Benefits.

PFS benefits, compensation, and bonuses are determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other status protected by law.

Accommodations

PFS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at recruiting@pfs.us. Reasonable accommodations are available to ensure applicants with disabilities have equal access to the hiring process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws.

Workplace Health, Safety, and Compliance

This position may be subject to client‑specific or government‑mandated vaccination, health, or safety requirements, which may change over time.

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