Public Relations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public affairs and strategic-communication plans that advance Walter Reed, DHA, Military Health System, and command priorities.
• Write and edit press releases, talking points, newsletters, speeches, briefings, articles, web content, social-media posts, and supporting communication materials.
• Coordinate media relations by responding to inquiries, arranging and moderating interviews, supporting media visits, and maintaining professional relationships with media outlets.
• Develop consistent messaging for internal and external stakeholders and advise leadership on communications for major issues and sensitive matters.
• Plan and support press conferences, media briefings, distinguished-visitor activities, community engagement events, and other public affairs activities.
• Provide crisis-communications planning and time-sensitive support for issues that may attract national media, senior leadership, or congressional interest.
• Monitor and assess media coverage, public perceptions, campaign performance, and stakeholder response and recommend effective communication approaches.
• Maintain and update authorized websites, intranet content, and social-media channels and coordinate content with DHA, network, and military treatment facility communications teams.
• Compile required weekly communications reports, issue logs, trackers, metrics, and analyses and submit products for Public Affairs Office review before release.
• Build cooperative relationships with subject matter experts, media outlets, medical organizations, military and veterans service organizations, federal partners, nongovernmental organizations, and community stakeholders.

Requirements

• Must have a bachelors degree in Communications, Public Relations, Project Management, or a related field.
• Must have at least five years of experience in public affairs, project management, or a combination of both areas.
• Must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and ad hoc suspense requirements in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be proficient with project-management and digital-communication tools and understand strategic communication methods, media relations, and social-media practices.
• Must satisfy all Tier II background, CAC, training, NDA, network-access, onboarding, and facility-access requirements.

Preferred

• Experience with healthcare systems, military communications, federal public affairs, or another regulated, high-visibility environment is highly preferred.
• Project Management Professional certification is preferred but not required.