Strategic Communications Specialist

KWAAN; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kwaan Bear IT Solutions, LLC (KBITS) is seeking a Strategic Communications Specialist to develop, edit, coordinate, and deliver high-impact communications for public diplomacy leadership and stakeholders in Washington, DC. The role requires translating complex policy and technical information into clear content for senior officials, with exceptional editorial judgment and stakeholder coordination.

You will manage multiple high-priority assignments, support executive communications, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Relations, Public Affairs, International Relations, or a related field.
• Proven ability to translate policy/technical information into clear, concise communications for senior leadership.
• Experience with Department of State communications review and approval processes.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and adherence to editorial standards.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority assignments with discretion and detail.
• Experience coordinating messaging across multiple stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, CMS, and cloud-based email platforms.
• Ability to tailor content for diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and coordinate written communications for leadership messaging and announcements.
• Prepare speeches, remarks, talking points, press guidance, and media responses for senior officials.
• Monitor media and policy developments to identify messaging implications and advise on strategy.
• Coordinate with GPA, regional bureaus, overseas posts, and stakeholders to develop press guidance.
• Develop content for email campaigns, newsletters, and digital channels.
• Maintain PD@State Knowledge Base and other internal comms platforms.
• Support knowledge management products and PD Foundations volumes.
• Provide surge strategic communications support for regional or functional bureaus when needed.
• Provide editorial support for reports, guidance, and publications.

Skills

Strong writing and editing

Editorial judgment

Stakeholder coordination

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Relations, Public Affairs, International Relations, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

Content management systems

Cloud-based email marketing platforms

Job description

Job Title: Strategic Communications Specialist

Clearance Required: Top Secret

Location(s): Washington, DC

Position Overview

Kwaan Bear IT Solutions is seeking a Strategic Communications Specialist to develop, edit, coordinate, and deliver high-impact communications for public diplomacy leadership and stakeholders. The specialist will translate complex policy, technical, and operational information into clear, concise, and compelling content for senior officials and diverse audiences. This position requires exceptional editorial judgment, strong stakeholder coordination, and the ability to manage multiple high-priority assignments with discretion and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and coordinate written communications products for R/PPR, including internal communications, leadership messaging, and organizational announcements.


• Draft, edit, and coordinate speeches, remarks, talking points, press guidance, media responses, briefing materials, and other executive communications for the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, the R Front Office, R/PPR leadership, and other senior Department officials.


• Monitor media coverage, foreign policy developments, and public diplomacy issues to identify communications implications, recommend messaging strategies, and prepare timely analyses for senior leadership.


• Coordinate with the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA), regional and functional bureaus, overseas posts, and other Department stakeholders to develop, clear, and disseminate press guidance and support media engagements on behalf of the Under Secretary.


• Develop and edit content for email campaigns, newsletters, and other digital communications using cloud-based email marketing platforms, as required.


• Draft, edit, and maintain content for R/PPR digital platforms, including the PD@State Knowledge Base, SharePoint, and other internal communications channels.


• Develop and implement communications plans that promote awareness, adoption, and contributions to the PD@State Knowledge Base in coordination with the Knowledge Base Coordinator.


• Provide editorial, writing, and strategic communications support to R/PPR offices, including drafting, substantive editing, and copy editing of reports, guidance, publications, and other internal- and public-facing documents.


• Provide substantive and copy-editing support for the development, revision, and publication of PD Foundations volumes and other flagship R/PPR knowledge management products.


• When needed, provide surge strategic communications support for PD Regional or Functional bureaus on short-term detail.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Relations, Public Affairs, International Relations, or a related field.


• Demonstrated experience developing, editing, and coordinating strategic communications products, including speeches, remarks, talking points, press guidance, media responses, briefing materials, reports, correspondence, web content, and executive communications for senior leadership.


• Experience with Department of State communications review and approval processes.


• Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy, technical, or operational information into clear, concise, and compelling communications tailored to diverse audiences.


• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with expertise in substantive editing, copy editing, and ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, and adherence to established editorial standards.


• Experience supporting executive communications, public affairs, press operations, or media engagement, including coordinating messaging and obtaining approvals across multiple stakeholders.


• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority assignments in a fast-paced environment while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and attention to detail.


• Strong research, analytical, interpersonal, and oral communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with senior officials, subject-matter experts, and cross-functional teams.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, content management systems, cloud-based email marketing platforms, and other communications and collaboration tools.

Kwaan Bear IT Solutions, LLC (KBITS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. KBITS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at KBITS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. KBITS will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.