Junior Public Affairs & Media Relations (DHA/MHS)

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

Job summary

Leidos seeks a Junior Media Relations/Public Affairs professional to support the Defense Health Agency mission, working between Reston, VA and Falls Church, VA customer site. You will aid government public affairs officers with media inquiries, monitoring, interview prep, and daily reporting.

The role focuses on developing accurate written materials, researching topics, and coordinating with a cross-functional team in a fast-paced government environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 1 year of relevant media relations/public affairs experience.
• Experience including internships, fellowships, or military public affairs assignments.
• Strong writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with media relations, journalism, news cycles, or strategic communications principles.
• Ability to research across multiple sources and produce clear written products.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and identifying relevant coverage.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to follow established processes, templates, and government direction.
• Ability to work with government customers and subject matter experts professionally.
• Willingness to support early-morning monitoring and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist public affairs officers with DHA/MHS media relations tasks, handling daily inquiries.
• Research to support media responses and ensure accuracy and relevance.
• Prepare media interview packages with anticipated questions and responses.
• Monitor national and industry news for coverage affecting DHA/MHS.
• Help produce the MHS Early Bird daily news clips by 6:30 a.m. ET.
• Assist with Medical Media Highlights daily reports for leadership.
• Identify emerging stories from breaking news and advise on next steps.
• Support development of topic-specific media monitoring reports.
• Prepare and distribute the daily SITREP summarizing media activity.
• Conduct topical research for proactive media outreach and story angles.
• Assist in developing media pitches, talking points, and background materials.
• Support media training and interview preparation activities.
• Track media coverage and evaluate message penetration and accuracy.
• Review coverage to identify issues, opportunities, and trends.
• Maintain organized records of inquiries, engagements, and pitches.
• Coordinate with government officers and teammates to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

Skills

Writing

Research

Verbal communication

Media monitoring

Editorial standards

MS Office

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Leidos seeks a Junior Media Relations/Public Affairs professional to support the Defense Health Agency mission, working between Reston, VA and Falls Church, VA customer site. You will aid government public affairs officers with media inquiries, monitoring, interview prep, and daily reporting.

The role focuses on developing accurate written materials, researching topics, and coordinating with a cross-functional team in a fast-paced government environment.