Junior Media Relations & Public Affairs Associate

Leidos; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Junior Media Relations/Public Affairs professional to support DHA/MHS media relations from Reston, VA, and a customer site in Falls Church, VA. The role focuses on responding to media inquiries, monitoring news, preparing interview materials, and supporting daily public affairs products for a fast-paced defense environment.

The position emphasizes strong writing and research skills, ability to work with Government customers, and ability to meet tight deadlines with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Political Science, or a related field and a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience in media relations, public affairs, strategic communications, journalism, or a related discipline.
• Experience may include professional employment, internships, fellowships, military public affairs assignments, or other relevant communications experience.
• Demonstrated writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with media relations, public affairs, journalism, news cycles, or strategic communications principles.
• Ability to research information from multiple sources and develop clear, concise, and accurate written products.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and the ability to identify relevant news coverage and emerging issues.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet established deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to follow established processes, templates, editorial standards, and Government direction.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team and communicate professionally with Government customers, communications professionals, leaders, and subject matter experts.
• Ability and willingness to support early-morning media monitoring and reporting requirements associated with daily communications products.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, online research, social media, or communications management tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist Government public affairs officers with execution of the DHA/MHS media relations mission, including receiving, researching, tracking, and supporting the development of responses to daily media inquiries.
• Conduct research to support media responses and ensure information is accurate, relevant, and coordinated in accordance with established Government procedures.
• Assist with development of media interview preparation packages for leaders and subject matter experts, including anticipated questions and recommended responses, reporter background, previous related engagements, and relevant media coverage.
• Conduct daily and overnight monitoring of national, industry, and other relevant news sources to identify media coverage affecting DHA, the Military Health System, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
• Support preparation of the MHS Early Bird, a daily news clips product containing relevant media coverage for distribution to Military Health System leaders and public affairs teams worldwide by 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time each workday.
• Assist with preparation of Medical Media Highlights, an executive-level daily report identifying the three to six most significant media stories for MHS and DHA communications leadership.
• Monitor breaking news throughout the workday and assist in identifying and elevating emerging stories that may affect DHA, MHS components, or senior leadership.
• Support development of special-topic media monitoring reports as requested by Government leadership.
• Assist with preparation and distribution of the daily media Situation Report (SITREP) summarizing open media inquiries, press releases, media advisories, and priority media coverage.
• Conduct topical research to support proactive media outreach, including identifying potential story angles, media opportunities, and relevant reporters or publications.
• Assist with development of media pitches, talking points, background materials, and other media preparation products.
• Support media training and interview preparation activities for leaders and subject matter experts.
• Assist with media analysis by tracking coverage, media placements, message penetration, and accuracy of reporting.
• Review media coverage and help identify emerging communications issues, opportunities, and trends.
• Maintain organized records of media inquiries, engagements, media pitches, monitoring products, and other public affairs activities.
• Coordinate with Government public affairs officers, communications professionals, subject matter experts, and other team members to ensure assigned products are accurate, timely, and properly formatted.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Research

Verbal communication

Media relations

Public affairs

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Microsoft Office

Media monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Political Science, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Media monitoring tools

Job description

Leidos is seeking a Junior Media Relations/Public Affairs professional to support DHA/MHS media relations from Reston, VA, and a customer site in Falls Church, VA. The role focuses on responding to media inquiries, monitoring news, preparing interview materials, and supporting daily public affairs products for a fast-paced defense environment.

The position emphasizes strong writing and research skills, ability to work with Government customers, and ability to meet tight deadlines with