Senior Public Affairs Officer

MANTECH; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MANTECH is seeking a mission-driven Senior Public Affairs Officer in Springfield, VA to lead the agency's public relations and communications strategy. This on-site role advises senior leadership, writes speeches and content, and oversees media relations and internal/external outreach to advance the agency’s mission.

The position requires 10+ years in public affairs or journalism, a bachelor’s degree, and strong leadership with crisis communications experience to manage high-profile events and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in public affairs or journalism in leadership roles.
• Bachelor’s degree required; 8+ years if no degree.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic communication plans.
• Strong writing, editing, and speechwriting skills.
• Ability to lead during high-pressure crisis situations.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior leadership on public positioning and long-term comms strategy.
• Serve as primary speechwriter for senior leaders and create content.
• Manage media lifecycle: press releases, inquiries, media prep, metrics.
• Develop AP Style deliverables across platforms.
• Plan and execute external campaigns and conferences for stakeholders.
• Oversee VIP visits including briefings and tours.

Skills

Speechwriting

Media relations

Crisis communications

Public relations leadership

Verbal/written communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Public Affairs, Journalism, or related field

Tools

AP Style

Job description

MANTECH seeks a mission-driven and detail-oriented Senior Public Affairs Officer to join our team in Springfield, VA . This role is 100% on-site.

The Senior Public Affairs Officer is responsible for developing, managing, and executing the agency’s comprehensive communication and public relations strategies. This individual will serve as an advisor to senior leadership on all matters concerning public affairs. They will direct and produce a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including news and media relations, executive communications, internal and external engagements, and community and academic outreach to advance the agency’s mission and enhance its public standing.

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Provide expert counsel to senior leadership on public positioning and long-term communication strategies aligned with agency goals.
• Serve as a primary speechwriter and content creator for senior leadership, drafting high-impact remarks, digital products, and internal messaging.
• Oversee the full media lifecycle, including drafting press releases, managing inquiries, providing executive media prep, and tracking performance metrics.
• Direct the development of AP Style deliverables—including articles, podcasts, video scripts, and social media—across all public and internal platforms.
• Lead the planning and execution of high-level external campaigns and conferences (e.g., GEOINT Symposium) for industry, academia, and DoD stakeholders.
• Manage end-to-end logistics for domestic and foreign VIP visits, including dry runs, briefing books, and formal agency tours.
• Serve as Secretary for the Hall of Fame Selection Board, overseeing the entire nomination, vetting, and annual awards ceremony process.
• Provide senior-level copy editing and quality control for all public affairs products while maintaining comprehensive media logs and trend analysis.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in public affairs or journalism, in a leadership capacity, managing complex communication initiatives and advising senior executives
• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, Public Affairs, Journalism, or a related field. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, the candidate must have 8+ years of direct public affairs or journalism.
• Proven ability to develop and execute sophisticated, multi-faceted strategic communication plans.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in public affairs or journalism.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a proven track record in speechwriting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead effectively during high-pressure crisis situations.
• Strong understanding of digital and social media platforms as tools for strategic engagement and reputation management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of formal DoW public affairs training (Defense Information School coursework) preferred.

Clearance Requirements

• Must have a current/active TS/SCI security clearance with the ability to obtain a polygraph.

Physical Requirements

• The person in this position must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time. Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, or to communicate with co-workers, management, and customers, via email, phone, and or virtual communication, which may involve delivering presentations.