Remote Strategic Communications Manager (Federal Programs)

Aptive; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Aptive is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to lead a broad portfolio of executive outreach efforts and to manage a team of communications professionals. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with a track record translating complex information into plain language and delivering superior service in a fast-paced setting.

This is a full-time remote position, with responsibilities spanning team leadership, client-facing communications, and collaboration across federal health

Qualifications

• 8 years of related communications experience, including 2+ years supervising communications staff.
• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a public trust clearance.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop a team of communications specialists, including assigning work, setting priorities, balancing workload against deadlines, and managing team capacity.
• Serve as final reviewer and approver for team work products, ensuring quality, accuracy, and consistency before materials reach senior leaders or the client.
• Provide coaching, feedback, performance input, and professional development for team members; support hiring, onboarding, and retention.
• Establish and maintain team standards, style guidance, editorial workflows, review cycles, and version control practices.
• Serve as the primary communications point of contact for client leadership, managing expectations, escalations, and competing requests across stakeholders.
• Support congressional testimony preparation for a variety of federal senior leaders.
• Draft talking points, executive summaries and briefings for senior leaders.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts, leaders and other stakeholders to develop messaging for senior leaders on related topics.
• Translate complex messaging into plain language to ensure materials are easy to read and understand.
• Ensure content aligns with client style guides and federal plain language standards.
• Engage and identify targeted stakeholders to implement executive communications decisions.
• Establish and maintain communication channels that facilitate engagement between VA offices and centers.
• Coordinate and participate in communications strategies, plans, and mission statements with VA staff offices.
• Update and maintain the Communications Plan, ensuring it covers all program communications initiatives.

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Aptive is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to lead a broad portfolio of executive outreach efforts and to manage a team of communications professionals. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with a track record translating complex information into plain language and delivering superior service in a fast-paced setting.

This is a full-time remote position, with responsibilities spanning team leadership, client-facing communications, and collaboration across federal health