External Affairs & Communications Specialist

 The External Affairs & Communications Specialist plays an integral role in supporting the implementation and execution of the day-to-day marketing, communications, and public relations operations in support of Inomedic Health Applications. The External Affairs & Communications Specialist serves as the single point of accountability for execution of the External Affairs program under the Hanford Occupational Medical Services (OccMed) contract.

The role is responsible for ensuring all externally facing communications, materials, and deliverables meet contractual requirements, align with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expectations, and reflect a consistent, professional, and unified standard across the entire contract.

Operating as an individual contributor with enterprise-wide influence, this position integrates branding, messaging, and communication standards across all contract functions, including clinical operations, occupational health programs, performance assurance, safety, and administrative services, to ensure a cohesive and compliant external presence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the designated lead for the External Affairs program, ensuring full execution of contract requirements related to external communications, stakeholder engagement materials, and externally facing deliverables
• Ensure integration and consistent application of External Affairs standards across all contract functions, including clinical, operational, safety, quality, and administrative areas
• Act as the single point of accountability for coordination, quality, and consistency of all externally facing materials, regardless of originating department or program
• Ensure all materials and communications align with contractual requirements, DOE expectations, and applicable policies governing public information, stakeholder engagement, and professional standards
• Design, develop, and produce high-quality materials including executive briefings, reports, educational and training materials, and stakeholder communications required to support contract performance
• Translate complex clinical, operational, and regulatory information into clear, accurate, and visually effective formats appropriate for external audiences
• Establish, maintain, and enforce standardized templates, style guides, and visual identity requirements to ensure a unified look and feel across all deliverables
• Serve as the final quality control and review authority for externally facing materials prior to release, ensuring accuracy, clarity, professionalism, and alignment with contract scope and expectations
• Partner with leadership, subject matter experts, and program teams to ensure messaging is accurate, defensible, and aligned with operational intent and contract performance objectives
• Support development of materials for DOE briefings, audits, stakeholder engagements, and required external reporting, ensuring readiness and professionalism in high-visibility settings
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with inconsistent, unclear, or non-compliant communications that could impact stakeholder confidence or contract performance
• Maintain organized repositories of approved materials, templates, and communications to support audit readiness, traceability, and efficient reuse
• Provide guidance, coaching, and informal training to staff on communication standards, branding expectations, and development of externally facing materials
• Exercise sound judgement in the preparation and coordination of sensitive or high-visibility information, collaborating with leadership as appropriate
• Coordinate with leadership to ensure External Affairs activities support overall contract performance, stakeholder confidence, and alignment with the Hanford Site mission
• Perform additional duties as outlined in the Occupational Medical Services Contract that arise on an occasional basis.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Graphic Design, Public Affairs, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 4-7+ years of experience in communications, graphic design, brand management, or related field
• Demonstrated experience supporting externally facing deliverables in a regulated, contractual, or high-accountability environment
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint (expert-level required) and Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent design tools
• Proven ability to translate complex information into clear, polished, and professional materials for external audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal contracts, DOE environments, or occupational health/healthcare programs
• Familiarity with contract-driven communication requirements and structured deliverables
• Experience implementing and maintaining brand and communication standards across multiple teams or functions

Core Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail and quality
• Strong visual design and layout expertise
• Ability to influence and drive consistency without direct authority
• Organizational and coordination excellence across multiple functions
• Clear, concise, and professional communication
• Sound judgment and discretion in high-visibility environments  
• Ensure full execution and integration of External Affairs requirements across all contract functions, including clinical operations, occupational health programs, performance assurance, safety, and administrative services, so that all externally facing communications and deliverables are consistent, compliant, and aligned with contract expectations.
• Serve as the contract-level owner of brand consistency across all external facing materials.
• Translate complex clinical, operational, or regulatory content into clear, visually compelling formats.
• Partner with subject matter experts (clinical, operations, safety) to refine messaging and improve clarity.
• Establish and maintain templates, style guides, and visual standards for:
• Presentations
• Educational materials
• Reports and deliverables to DOE
• Workforce communications with external visibility
• Ensure a single, cohesive look and feel aligned with IHA and DOE expectations

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the minimum educational credentials from an accredited school, college or university and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. 

• The External Affairs &Communications Specialist shall possess a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations or other related field.
• Excellent communications skills, able to communicate effectively and thoughtfully are required.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Superior organizational skills with strong attention to detail is required.
• Excellent time management.
• Proven ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects and prioritize tasks.
• Fluent in multiple social media platforms.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and individually.
• Enthusiasm for OMS’s mission and work is a must.
• Acute sense of judgment, tact, and professionalism.
• Self-starter with the ability to take initiative and problem solve.
• Typing skills of 45 wpm or higher preferred.
• Excellent telephone customer service skills, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a healthcare environment.
• Ability to stand/sit for extended periods.

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: The External Affairs & Communications Specialist shall have at least 2 years of relevant marketing, communications and/or public relations, policy experience; management, policy, and event planning experience preferred. 

• Experience in a healthcare organization preferred. 
• Experience working with federal agencies is preferred. 

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Physical Demands: 

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to walk, sit or stand for extended periods of tim
  e; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear; have sufficient manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, calculator, telephone and other such office equipment as necessary; may occasionally move and/or lift up to 25 pounds. The ability to drive to various project sites and offices is required; specific visual abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Mental limitations: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines. Must be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people and able to answer questions and provide guidance in a professional and friendly manner. 
• Work environment: Work will mainly be performed at the Hanford Occupational Health Services Clinic and will involve frequent contact with other project employees, customers, clients, representatives and vendors; work may be stressful at times; interaction with others is frequent and may be interruptive; may occasionally work hours outside of typical work schedule to accommodate needs; opportunities for local and domestic travel may occur; the noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.