Public Affairs Specialist

SAIC is seeking a Public Affairs Specialist with an active Secret clearance to provide public affairs (PA) and outreach support for the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)). This role involves working within a team of public affairs analysts, graphic designers, and website developers to ensure cohesive and effective communication strategies across the organization. The position is located at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, with an on-site requirement of 5x weekly. 

Responsibilities:

• Integrate within a team of public affairs analysts, graphic designers, and website developers to ensure the effective execution of communication strategies. 
• Ensure visual and digital content aligns with OUSW(R&E) communication goals.
• Collaborate with team members to produce high-quality communication materials. 
• Meet deadlines and delivers consistent, accurate, and impactful messaging across all platforms. 
• Review, analyze, and recommend solutions to PA-related challenges, track issues and problems through to resolution, and respond to related questions and correspondence. 
• Serve as the social media manager for OUSW(R&E) by drafting, editing, and publishing LinkedIn posts in support of the OUSW(R&E) enterprise, subordinate organizations, stakeholders, and the Department of War. 
• Track media activities and the information environment, including the creation of daily media clips. 
• Develop and execute strategic communications and external communications activities in support of OUSW(R&E) responsibilities, priorities, and objectives. 
• Track public speaking engagements, media activities, and other external outreach for the entire OUSW(R&E) organization.
• Meet on a recurring basis with OUSW(R&E) leadership and OSW(PA) counterparts to ensure synchronization and coordination of public engagement, media, and other external outreach activities across the OUSW(R&E) enterprise. 
• Provide recommendations to OUSW(R&E) leadership on public affairs and strategic communications activities that will advance OUSW(R&E) messaging priorities. 
• Coordinate media activities, including interview preparations and the creation of quotes for senior leaders, in response to media queries. 
• Edit and create weekly activity reports for amplification to the OUSW(R&E) as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in English, journalism, or communications. Graduate degree in communications, journalism, or media, is preferred. 
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience, of which at least two (2) must be specialized in communications or public affairs. 
• Awareness of incorporating strategic-level communications priorities with organization communications priorities into digestible, easy-to-understand public affairs products. 
• Familiarization with operational-level strategic communications activities and coordination. 
• Understanding of Associated Press style guide. 
• Understanding of the DoW Public Affairs process, including how to engage with the media and via public events. 
• Demonstrated ability to interface with senior level officials within OUSW(R&E), OSW(PA), and across stakeholder organizations. 
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI required to maintain employment.
• US citizenship required.