Communications Specialist

McKing Consulting; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

McKing Consulting is seeking a Communications Specialist to support FEMA with a broad range of strategic communications. The role emphasizes independent work, hybrid remote duties, and potential engagement in Washington, D.C. as needed.

You will compose, edit, and publish executive communications, develop internal newsletters, track inquiries, and translate technical material for diverse audiences while ensuring accessibility and 508 compliance.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience (4+ years if you possess an advanced degree)
• Experience with internal/external communications and marketing
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field
• Strong written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Effective project management skills to create and deliver under tight deadlines
• This position requires candidate to be eligible for a DHS Public Trust Clearance

Responsibilities

• Compose and edit internal, media, and external executive communications, including writing, designing, and editing external executive communications (PowerPoint presentations, briefs, and talking points), fact sheets, web content, blogs, invitations, agendas, conference reports, and/or Congressional briefings.
• Develop and publish recurring internal communications such as weekly reports, monthly newsletters, and/or internal webpage.
• Track and monitor day-to-day official communications including task traffic, deadlines, and questions.
• Assist with planning and evaluation of communications strategies.
• Develop new article, product, social media, or other communications product ideas and pitch to team and client.
• Translate technical information into clear, readable documents to be used by technical and non-technical personnel.
• Review and analyze written material for objectivity, style, presentation, coherence, sentence structure, grammar, and readability.
• Ensure digital/web content, text, prints, and audiovisual products are properly published on the agencies internal and external sites; to include SharePoint.
• Ensure that written materials are accurate (fact checking), logically consistent, well organized, well researched, and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Convert or create 508 compliant documents.
• Organize material according to standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
• Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by government agency staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Public relations

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English/Communications

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

SharePoint

Job description

The Communications Specialist will support a wide range of strategic communications activities supporting our client, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Communications Specialist will perform a variety of outreach and public affairs, and strategic communications functions, including developing communications materials. Our client’s mission is to effectively communicate and coordinate with stakeholders across the agency, government, and private sectors. You must be able to work independently with minimal guidance. This position is a hybrid role primarily working remotely, with potential client engagement activities in Washington D.C.

• Compose and edit internal, media, and external executive communications, including writing, designing, and editing external executive communications (PowerPoint presentations, briefs, and talking points), fact sheets, web content, blogs, invitations, agendas, conference reports, and/or Congressional briefings.
• Develop and publish recurring internal communications such as weekly reports, monthly newsletters, and/or internal webpage.
• Track and monitor day-to-day official communications including task traffic, deadlines, and questions.
• Assist with planning and evaluation of communications strategies.
• Develop new article, product, social media, or other communications product ideas and pitch to team and client.
• Translate technical information into clear, readable documents to be used by technical and non-technical personnel.
• Review and analyze written material for objectivity, style, presentation, coherence, sentence structure, grammar, and readability.
• Ensure digital/web content, text, prints, and audiovisual products are properly published on the agencies internal and external sites; to include SharePoint.
• Ensure that written materials are accurate (fact checking), logically consistent, well organized, well researched, and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Convert or create 508 compliant documents.
• Organize material according to standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
• Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by government agency staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience (4+ years if you possess an advanced degree)
• Experience with both internal/external communications and marketing
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field
• Strong written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Effective project management skills to create and deliver under tight deadlines
• This position requires candidate to be eligible for a DHS Public Trust Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Federal government and/or management consulting experience preferred
• Knowledge of strategic communications best practices
• Knowledge of public affairs requirements including 508 accessibility requirements
• Familiarity with graphics design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, or similar tools.