Public Relations Specialist

Fidelity Partners; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Fidelity Partners, an Inc. 5000 USA company, seeks a Public Relations Specialist for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

You will lead strategic communications, craft messaging, manage media relations, and support crisis communications while coordinating with DHA and national stakeholders. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in communications or related field and at least five years in public affairs or project management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Project Management, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in public affairs, project management, or a mix of both.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple high‑priority projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and ad hoc suspense requirements in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency with project‑management and digital‑communication tools and knowledge of strategic communication methods, media relations, and social‑media practices.
• Experience in healthcare systems, military communications, federal public affairs, or a regulated, high‑visibility environment is highly preferred.
• Project Management Professional certification is preferred but not required.
• Strong relationship‑building, interviewing, prioritization, time‑management, analytical, and consensus‑building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public affairs and strategic‑communication plans aligning with DHA, Military Health System, and command priorities.
• Write and edit press releases, talking points, newsletters, speeches, briefings, articles, web content, and social media content.
• Coordinate media relations, respond to inquiries, arrange interviews, support media visits, and maintain media relationships.
• Advise leadership on communications for major issues and sensitive matters with consistent messaging for internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan and support press conferences, media briefings, VIP activities, and community engagement events.
• Provide crisis‑communications planning and timely support for issues attracting national media or congressional interest.

Skills

Written and oral communication

Project management

Media relations

Strategic communication

Stakeholder management

Digital communication tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Public Relations/Project Management or related field

Tools

Project management tools

Digital communication tools

Job description

Public Relations Specialist

Hospital Communications and Executive Secretariat Support Services

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda Maryland

This Position Is Contingent Upon Contract Award

Position Details

• Customer: Defense Health Agency (DHA).
• Work Location: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889.
• Number of Positions: One full-time position (1.0 FTE; 1,912 productive hours per contract year).
• Type of Employment: Full-time.
• Estimated Total Compensation: $50.15 per hour.
• Working Hours: Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays and Government-directed facility closures. The exact daily shift is not specified. Occasional support may be required outside normal duty hours for contingency activations or exercises.
• Work Arrangement: On-site at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Remote or telework authorization is not specified.
• Period of Performance: Base period from December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2027, followed by two potential one-year option periods through November 30, 2029.
• Security and Access: All work is unclassified. Employment is contingent upon a favorable Tier II non‑critical sensitive background investigation, completion of the applicable SF-85 or SF-86 process, Common Access Card eligibility, identity verification, a nondisclosure agreement, security and HIPAA training, network‑access approval, and all DHA and facility onboarding requirements.
• Travel: No routine travel requirement or separate travel line item is specified.

Summary of Services

The Public Relations Specialist will lead strategic communications and high-impact public affairs projects for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The role develops coordinated messaging, communications plans, media relations, crisis communications, digital content, events, community engagement, and performance analysis for diverse internal and external audiences.

Mandatory Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Project Management, or a related field.
• Must have at least five years of experience in public affairs, project management, or a combination of both areas.
• Must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage multiple high‑priority projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and ad hoc suspense requirements in a fast‑paced environment.
• Must be proficient with project‑management and digital‑communication tools and understand strategic communication methods, media relations, and social‑media practices.
• Experience with healthcare systems, military communications, federal public affairs, or another regulated, high‑visibility environment is highly preferred.
• Project Management Professional certification is preferred but not required.
• Must possess strong relationship‑building, interviewing, prioritization, time‑management, analytical, and consensus‑building skills.
• Must satisfy all Tier II background, CAC, training, NDA, network‑access, onboarding, and facility‑access requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public affairs and strategic‑communication plans that advance Walter Reed, DHA, Military Health System, and command priorities.
• Write and edit press releases, talking points, newsletters, speeches, briefings, articles, web content, social‑media posts, and supporting communication materials.
• Coordinate media relations by responding to inquiries, arranging and moderating interviews, supporting media visits, and maintaining professional relationships with media outlets.
• Develop consistent messaging for internal and external stakeholders and advise leadership on communications for major issues and sensitive matters.
• Plan and support press conferences, media briefings, distinguished‑visitor activities, community engagement events, and other public affairs activities.
• Provide crisis‑communications planning and time‑sensitive support for issues that may attract national media, senior leadership, or congressional interest.
• Monitor and assess media coverage, public perceptions, campaign performance, and stakeholder response and recommend effective communication approaches.
• Maintain and update authorized websites, intranet content, and social‑media channels and coordinate content with DHA, network, and military treatment facility communications teams.
• Compile required weekly communications reports, issue logs, trackers, metrics, and analyses and submit products for Public Affairs Office review before release.
• Build cooperative relationships with subject matter experts, media outlets, medical organizations, military and veterans service organizations, federal partners, nongovernmental organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Protect HIPAA‑regulated information, PHI, PII, and other sensitive information while meeting daily, weekly, and ad hoc deadlines.
• Complete required orientation, annual training, security awareness, HIPAA training, and other Government‑directed training and comply with all WRNMMC and DHA policies and procedures.
• Duties and responsibilities are subject to change if work schedules, locations, and/or priorities change based on Government or program needs.

Required Candidate Submission Documents

• Current resume documenting at least five years of qualifying public affairs, communications, or project‑management experience.
• Copy of the required bachelor's degree or supporting education documentation.
• Representative writing, communications‑planning, or public affairs work samples, if requested.
• Copy of current PMP certification, if applicable.
• Any background, identification, security, HIPAA, training, NDA, CAC, network‑access, or onboarding documents requested by Fidelity Partners or the Government/client.

About Us

Fidelity Partners is an Inc. 5000 USA company that provides medical, technical, logistical, and administrative services to the federal government and commercial clients across the country. Fidelity offers competitive salaries and benefits packages.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to learn more about us at www.fidelitypartners.org, call us at [phone], or visit our careers page to join our team.

Fidelity Partners provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws (EOE).