Sr. Principal Customer Communications Representative (Falls Church VA)

Northrop Grumman; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Falls Church, VA is seeking a Sr. Principal Customer Communications Representative to lead integrated, strategic customer communications across the enterprise.

This role requires coordinating with business development, program teams, and government relations to position Northrop Grumman as an innovation leader in aerospace and defense. The ideal candidate will possess executive writing and advisory skills, strong project management, and the ability to translate complex

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree in Communications or related discipline with 6+ years of relevant experience
• Proven success developing and executing integrated communications strategies
• Experience leading complex, business-driven communications projects and collaborating across matrixed environments
• Executive-level writing and advising skills, with a systems-level mindset
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Experience partnering with senior leadership teams
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated customer communications plans across the enterprise.
• Translate enterprise and program strategies into clear, compelling communication approaches tailored to specific customer communities and missions.
• Conduct research on customer organizations, decision makers and mission priorities to inform communication strategies, talking points and engagement recommendations.
• Monitor customer news, industry developments, relevant policy or budget activities and customer feedback; summarize key insights and flag issues, risks and opportunities.
• Partner with sector and functional communicators to ensure customer messaging is consistent, accurate and aligned with company positioning across channels.
• Build strong working relationships with business development, program teams, government relations and functional partners, serving as a trusted communications point of contact.
• Actively participate in Customer Relations Team (CRT) and sector meetings to maintain awareness of priorities and inform planning.
• Develop and maintain core customer communication assets (e.g., key messages, one‑pagers, briefing materials) for assigned portfolios.
• Oversee development of executive briefings and other high‑visibility engagement products to align with enterprise messaging.
• Coordinate with trade show and media teams to develop related customer communication materials.
• Uphold Northrop Grumman standards for quality, ethics, security and brand.

Skills

Strategic communications

AP writing

Executive interaction

Project management

Strategic thinking

Attention to detail

Quality focus

Education

Bachelor's in Communications or related

Master's in Communications or related

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. Northrop Grumman is looking for an experienced Sr. Principal Customer Communications Representative to join our company’s enterprise communications team. In this role, this communications representative is responsible for working across our company teams to develop, plan, execute, and measure integrated, strategic customer communication efforts in support of business priorities. This position will be located in Falls Church, VA. Your communications expertise, knowledge of the national security environment, and business acumen will be vital as you help to position the company as an innovation and technology leader in aerospace and defense. The person selected for this role must be proactive and innovative, possess strong integrated communications skills from a strategic and tactical perspective, have outstanding professional presence, and very strong collaboration skills. Working within our matrix organization, the Senior Principal Customer Communications Representative must be able to advise and guide a wide range of partners across our company. Experience with our customer communities is very important, as is an understanding of the aerospace and defense business. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, collaborative communicator who can identify unique communication opportunities and translate strategy into coordinated action. The candidate must also have excellent research, writing and verbal skills that demonstrate an ability to comprehend and explain complex programs and initiatives to a broad range of audiences. If you are a strategic and savvy communications expert with an innovative spirit and passion for strategic thinking to achieve top performance in a dynamic, collaborative work environment, please read on.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated customer communications plans in support of business development priorities across the enterprise.
• Help translate enterprise and program strategies into clear, compelling communication approaches tailored to specific customer communities and missions.
• Conduct research on customer organizations, decision makers and mission priorities to inform communication strategies, talking points and engagement recommendations.
• Monitor customer news, industry developments, relevant policy or budget activities and customer feedback; summarize key insights and flag issues, risks and opportunities to the Customer Communications Manager and other stakeholders.
• Partner with sector and functional communicators to ensure customer messaging is consistent, accurate and aligned with company positioning across channels.
• Build strong working relationships with business development, program teams, government relations and functional partners, serving as a trusted communications point of contact.
• Actively participate in Customer Relations Team (CRT) and sector meetings to maintain awareness of business development priorities, identify key stakeholder engagement and communication opportunities, and inform planning.
• Develop and maintain core customer communication assets (e.g., key messages, one‑pagers, briefing materials, placemats, fact sheets) for assigned CRT portfolios, ensuring they are current, accurate and readily usable by stakeholders.
• Oversee development and/or enhancement of A‑level customer engagement materials for assigned CRTs and sectors (e.g., leadership briefing packages, executive decks and other high‑visibility customer engagement products) to ensure alignment with corporate strategy and enterprise messaging.
• Coordinate with the Sr Principal Trade Show Representative and sector teams to identify CRT trade show engagement and sponsorship opportunities and support development of related customer communication materials.
• Coordinate with the corporate media team to assist in development of media preparation materials for CRT leaders, ensuring alignment with customer engagement objectives and enterprise positioning.
• Uphold Northrop Grumman standards for quality, ethics, security and brand, ensuring all customer communications are accurate, compliant and aligned with company priorities.

Skills For Success

• Experience developing and executing strategic communications plans to achieve business objectives and advance thought leadership
• An ability to identify and leverage customer and news cycles to maximize opportunities and advance company thought leadership in priority focus areas
• Effective AP writing, editing and strong project management skills
• An ability to interact with executive leadership confidently and independently
• Comfort with change in a fast-paced, empowered work environment with strong collaboration and alignment to company prioritiesStrategic thinking, planning and decision-making
• High level of attention to detail and creativity
• A commitment to quality work and accountability for results

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree in Communications or related discipline with 6+ years of relevant experience
• Proven success developing and executing integrated communications strategies
• Experience leading complex, business-driven communications projects and collaborating across matrixed environments
• Executive-level writing and advising skills, with a systems-level mindset
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Experience partnering with senior leadership teams
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time; travel may include intra-office within the DC metro area, as well as other sites, as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a large, matrixed and/or geographically dispersed organization; U.S. Government experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in technology, aerospace, defense or other science