Strategic Communications SME

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) seeks a Strategic Communications Advisor/SME to lead enterprise-wide messaging across MEIA, coordinating executive communications for senior government officials and safeguarding classified information.

You will develop talking points, strategic narratives, and engagement materials for partnerships with government and industry, ensuring compliance with classification guidance while driving high-visibility engagements.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in strategic communications, executive engagement, or enterprise messaging.
• Master's degree in Strategic Communications, Public Policy, National Security Studies, International Relations, Journalism, or related field; Bachelor's + 5 years substituted may apply.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications efforts at senior government levels (DoD, JCS, Combatant Command).
• Proven ability to develop executive-level briefing materials, talking points, and strategic narratives.
• Extensive knowledge of security classification guidance and information protection procedures across levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for concise executive communications products.
• Experience coordinating communications across diverse organizations and senior forums.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead and synchronize internal and external strategic communications across the MEIA enterprise.
• Serve as principal communications advisor to MEIA leadership and External Engagements Director.
• Develop executive talking points, speeches, narratives, guardrails for senior officials.
• Ensure all communications comply with security classification guidance and protection requirements.
• Prepare leaders for high-visibility engagements with OSD, Joint Staff, and senior forums.
• Develop engagement strategies and materials for collaboration with partners, labs, and industry.

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive engagement

Policy & briefing development

Security classification knowledge

Written & verbal communication

Stakeholder coordination

MS Office Suite

Clearance TS/SCI

On-site collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Strategic Communications or related field

Bachelor's degree + 5 years substitution

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM. SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have an immediate need for a Strategic Communications Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide onsite support out of the Pentagon and Mark Center in Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities

The Strategic Communications Advisor/SME will lead and synchronize all internal and external strategic communications activities across the Mission Engineering and Integration Analysis (MEIA) enterprise. Serve as the principal communications advisor to MEIA leadership and the External Engagements Director, developing and executing enterprise-wide messaging strategies that align communications across the Front Office, Action Group, Portfolio Managers, Directorates, and Mission Capabilities Analysis Teams (MCATs). Develop executive talking points, speeches, strategic narratives, communication frameworks, and messaging guardrails for senior government officials operating across Public, Unclassified, CUI, Secret, and TS/SCI/SAP/SAR environments. Ensure all communications products comply with applicable security classification guidance and information protection requirements, preventing the unauthorized disclosure of mission engineering assessments, capability gaps, Joint Operational Problems, mission threads, and pre-decisional requirements and resourcing deliberations. Prepare senior leaders for high-visibility engagements with the Office of the Secretary of War, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Military Departments, Intelligence Community organizations, and senior executive forums, including Executive Steering Groups (ESGs), Executive Steering Councils (ESCs), and Requirements and Resourcing Alignment Boards (RRABs). Develop engagement strategies, executive briefing materials, and stakeholder communications products supporting collaboration with international partners, government laboratories, FFRDCs, UARCs, defense industry partners, and academia. Lead the development, quality assurance, and delivery of authoritative external engagement products, including partnership briefing materials, education packages, MCAT starter kits, Industry Day materials, executive communications products, and strategic content for public-facing communication platforms. Translate complex technical, analytical, operational, and strategic information into concise, decision-quality narratives that support senior leader understanding and decision-making.

Qualifications

Required:

• 15+ years of experience supporting strategic communications, executive engagement, and enterprise messaging within the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, or other national security organizations.
• Master's degree in Strategic Communications, Public Policy, National Security Studies, International Relations, Journalism, or a related technical or management discipline; Bachelor's degree plus five additional years of relevant experience may be substituted.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications efforts at the Office of the Secretary of War, Joint Staff, Combatant Command, Military Department Headquarters, or similarly complex enterprise organizations.
• Proven ability to develop executive-level briefing materials, talking points, strategic narratives, and communications strategies for senior government officials.
• Extensive knowledge of security classification guidance, derivative classification requirements, disclosure policy, and information protection procedures across multiple classification levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical and analytical concepts into concise, actionable executive communications products.
• Experience coordinating and synchronizing communications across diverse organizations, stakeholders, and senior decision-making forums.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and collaboration platforms used for executive communications.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with eligibility for SAP nomination and access.
• Able to work fully onsite based on client requirements.

Desired:

• Experience supporting mission engineering, capability development, force design, requirements, resourcing, or defense analysis organizations.
• Experience developing both classified and unclassified communications products for executive audiences.
• Experience supporting senior leader engagement with FFRDCs, UARCs, defense industry partners, government laboratories, and international stakeholders.
• Professional certification or advanced training in Strategic Communications, Public Affairs, Change Management, Executive Communications, or Program Management.
• Demonstrated ability to assess priorities, balance competing demands, and execute high-visibility communications activities in dynamic, classified environments.
• Previous experience supporting organizations within the Pentagon, Joint Staff, OSD, or Combatant Command headquarters environments.

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Virginia, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $140,000.00/Yr. - USD $170,000.00/Yr.