Communications Specialist

Job Opportunity With DRT StrategiesThis position is associated with a future business opportunity and is currently in the pre-proposal phase. Hiring is contingent upon contract award.DRT Strategies delivers expert management consulting and information technology (IT) solutions to large federal agencies, state and local government and commercial clients in health care, technology, and financial services industries. The three letters of our name, DRT, stand for Driving Resolution Together, which is the core philosophy on which the company was founded. That is, we collaborate with our clients to solve their most pressing challenges - together. We are problem solvers dedicated to your success, combining Fortune 500 experience with small business responsiveness. We have established a reputation with our clients as a forward-thinking consulting firm with demonstrated success in implementing solutions that lead to meaningful results. Our world-class consultants unite people to work collaboratively to achieve project goals and make vision a reality.Project Description: This opportunity supports a national public health program within the Department of Veterans Affairs, focused on disease surveillance and rapid response to emerging health events across the VA system. The work involves epidemiologic investigations, large-scale patient lookback and notification efforts, and specialized public health laboratory testing in support of clinical care and outbreak response. Personnel collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, data analysts, and communications staff to investigate potential exposure events and deliver timely, accurate findings. This is an onsite role based in Northern California, with occasional travel to affiliated medical facilities in the surrounding region.Ideal candidates bring prior experience in a federal health, public health, or clinical research setting and are comfortable handling sensitive patient information in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.Job SummaryOversees all investigational communications activities, including communication plans, media relations, and the writing/editing/proofreading of internal and external materials across print and electronic formats on behalf of the program.Oversee all investigational communications activities, including the development of communication plans.Manage media relations and both internal and external communications.Write, edit, and proofread materials in print and electronic formats, including reports, schedules, catalogs, brochures, direct mail, emails, newsletters, press releases, articles, web content, presentations, posters, and exhibits.Draft planning documents, correspondence, briefing materials, speeches, talking points, and introductory remarks on behalf of the program.Prepare and compile comprehensive reports and presentations that communicate outcomes and recommendations from analytical studies.Tailor messaging for diverse, high-stakes audiences, including community members, leadership, and oversight stakeholders.Required ExperienceExperience developing communication plans and writing/editing planning documents, correspondence, briefing materials, speeches, talking points, and introductory remarks.Experience drafting messages for diverse high-stakes audiences; community members, Congress, and agency/VHA leadership.Experience preparing, compiling, and designing comprehensive reports and presentations that communicate outcomes and recommendations from analytical studies.Demonstrated writing, editing, and proofreading across formats: reports, newsletters, press releases, articles, web content, presentations, posters, exhibits, direct mail, and email.Experience managing media relations and internal/external communications.Preferred ExperiencePrior communications work on a VA/VHA contract, with VHA central-office communications, or with a VA medical center public affairs office.Experience in health, risk, or crisis communications — particularly patient-notification or public health emergency messaging.Experience coordinating with a central office communications directorate to drive recognition of key events and press releases.Strong portfolio of published or produced communications materials.Education & TrainingBachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, public health, or a related field required; advanced degree a plus.Work Authorization, Clearance Requirement, & Additional InformationThis position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Public Trust clearance. Due to contract requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to be eligible.No agencies, third parties, or Corp-to-Corp submissions.Salary Range$60,000 - $75,000Salary commensurate with experience.DRT Strategies, Inc. (DRT) follows the guidelines outlined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to provide all employees and qualified applicants employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.Reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities will be provided. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io, or by dialing View phone number on click.appcast.io.