Communications Specialist II (Gov't Tech)

Communications Specialist II (US- Remote) Team members at Sikich have a lot in common while also being part of a rich and varied group of contributors, creating a distinct and thriving culture. Chief among our commonalities is a desire for growth and a shared unity of purpose in our professional lives. We believe that through diverse perspectives, challenging the status quo and rewarding action, we accelerate innovation and drive growth – for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities. The professional services landscape continues to evolve. For Sikich, this means we have an opportunity to further cement our leadership position in this industry and continue to grow our organization in increasingly exciting ways. This growth is meaningful for every team member at our company because larger companies simply see more interesting client opportunities and can attract impressively talented individuals like you. Through a dedicated focus on key business priorities and intentionally creating rewarding employee experience, Sikich has developed into a highly regarded provider of professional services and a sought-after employer of choice. Do you want to work with other skilled and agile practitioners who thrive on challenge and growth? We believe everyone has untapped potential. That's why we lead with vision and act fast, pairing deep expertise with practical solutions. Our teams cut through complexity and deliver real impact. It's our hope that you find more than just a job. At Sikich, you'll find optimism, clear insights and genuine warmth, without egos. Are you ready to grow with us? Position summary The Communications Specialist supports enterprise-scale communications and stakeholder engagement across CMS/CCSQ programs and Lines of Business (LOBs). Working under the direction of the Communications Lead, this role develops written, visual, and multimedia content; maintains knowledge repositories; manages distribution channels; and ensures all communications products comply with Section 508 and WCAG accessibility standards. The Communications Specialist operates within a high-volume, fast-paced federal health IT environment, supporting both planned program communications and ad-hoc, time-sensitive needs for ISG leadership, program offices, and external stakeholders. What will you do in this role? Enterprise Communications Execution Develop and deliver operational and end-user communications including downtime notices, system upgrade announcements, release notifications, and change alerts for QualityNet Shared Services and LOB systems. Tailor communications to specific audiences across LOBs, teams, and initiatives using written, visual, and multimedia formats. Deliver communications through CMS-approved channels including email, Slack, and the QualityNet website. Coordinate with technical, program, and leadership teams to validate all content prior to release. Support enterprise communications planning, scheduling, and intake processes under the direction of the Communications Lead. Serve as a senior contributor to communications strategy planning, coordinating closely with the Communications Lead on high-visibility deliverables, content calendars, and cross-program messaging alignment. Training and Informational Materials Produce and distribute training and informational materials to support adoption of new tools, system enhancements, and process changes, including videos, graphics, user guides, and microlearning assets. Develop content aligned with CMS plain-language, branding, and accessibility standards as maintained in the Communications Toolkit in Confluence. Help onboard and mentor junior communications specialists on training and informational content development. Knowledge Management and Distribution Maintain communications-related and supporting reference content in Confluence, the QualityNet website, and other knowledge repositories to provide guidance, reference materials, and training content for internal and public-facing use. Manage and maintain enterprise email listservs, distribution lists, and Slack channels to ensure accurate targeting, access control, and minimization of misdirected or unauthorized communications. Apply process improvements and automation (e.g., UiPath) to streamline the creation and management of listservs, distribution lists, and Slack channels. Submit content management requests through QualityNet ServiceNow as applicable. Guide knowledge article creation and manage communications-related Confluence repositories to ensure accuracy, currency, and usability. Branding, Visual Communications, and Executive Materials Develop branding assets and visual materials, including logos, templates, and style elements, in alignment with CMS branding standards. Produce executive briefings, presentations, and stakeholder engagement materials for CCSQ leadership and program offices. Design graphics, infographics, and multimedia content using tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva for Teams. Lead the development and quality review of written and visual content across the communications team, ensuring alignment with program messaging and enterprise branding standards. Accessibility and Standards Compliance Ensure all communications products, including end-user notifications, web content, surveys, training materials, and multimedia assets, comply with Section 508 and WCAG accessibility standards prior to release. Apply universal design principles throughout content development to ensure materials are usable by individuals with disabilities. Ad-Hoc Communications Support Provide timely communications development and distribution support for emerging, unplanned, or time-sensitive needs including executive briefings, governance materials, user notifications, and internal stakeholder engagement content. Support CCSQ leadership, CCSQ OD, and program offices with tailored communications outside planned schedules while maintaining alignment with enterprise standards. What do you need to succeed in this role? Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Public Affairs, or related field. 5+ years of experience in communications, content strategy, or stakeholder engagement in a federal IT or health IT environment. Demonstrated ability to lead content development, manage repositories, and guide junior team members. Strong proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and other visual communications tools. Experience with enterprise-level distribution list and listserv management. The Communications Specialist shall be proficient in or able to quickly learn the following approved tools: Collaboration & PM: Atlassian Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Lucid Web & Distribution: QualityNet website, QualityNet Mailer, QualityNet ServiceNow, SurveyMonkey Design & Multimedia: Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva for Teams, 123RF licensed media library Automation: UiPath (for listserv and channel management automation) Productivity: Adobe Pro, Microsoft Office Suite Knowledge in the following areas preferred: Prior experience supporting CMS/CCSQ programs (e.g., PM3 II, QualityNet, iQIES, HQR, QPP, EQRS, CQP). Experience with QualityNet Mailer, QualityNet ServiceNow, or QualityNet website content management. Familiarity with UiPath or other RPA/automation platforms for workflow support. Experience supporting monthly town halls or large-scale stakeholder engagement events (e.g., QNet Chat). Knowledge of SAFe Agile framework and PI Planning communications support. Experience conducting annual pulse-check surveys and synthesizing results for program improvement. In compliance with this state's pay transparency laws, the base compensation range (25%-50%-75%) for this role is $70,000-$77,500 - $85,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on several factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. Compensation ranges for roles in our Government Services pillar are determined by contract with the specific government agency Sikich is servicing. In addition, specific skills/experience required are as follows: Servant Leader – You are hyper focused on engaging employees, fostering their development, and building a positive culture. Solutions Focused – You see opportunities in every business problem and can develop, articulate, and implement solutions. Collaboration – You are a relationship builder across all levels of the organization and across all business units. Instills Trust - You do what you say, and you follow through on commitments, you act with integrity, you are consistent and are perceived as credible. Impact & Influence Thinking – You gain support for ideas, proposals, and solutions, and get others to act, with or without formal authority, to advance initiatives/objectives. About Sikich Sikich offers the public and private sectors a diverse platform of professional services across consulting, technology, and compliance. Highly specialized and hands-on teams deliver integrated Sikich