Strategic Communications Specialist

Company Description The Clearing is a management consulting firm that helps leaders solve complex challenges by turning insight into action. We specialize in diagnosing the root causes of organizational friction across people, processes, and technology, then configuring proven solutions that accelerate meaningful, measurable progress. Our approach blends analytical rigor with human-centered design. Whether we're enabling change, optimizing workflows, or guiding smart technology adoption, we build everything to scale, repeat, and deliver value. We work across public, private, and mission-driven sectors, partnering with clients to modernize how they lead, work, and deliver. Our team brings deep experience across disciplines, including change management, strategic planning, organizational design, leadership development, behavioral science, and more. What unites us is a shared belief: real progress happens when we focus on what's not working, define what's possible, and deliver outcomes that stick. If you're excited by purpose-driven work, energized by solving problems at their roots, and passionate about building solutions that last, we'd love to meet you. Position Overview The Strategic Communications Specialist supports senior federal and Department of War stakeholders through strategic communications, executive-level briefing development, digital content creation, and coordinated project delivery. The position requires a communications professional with substantial federal-sector experience, strong writing and visual storytelling capability, and an active Top Secret security clearance. The Specialist develops clear, audience-appropriate communications products that advance organizational priorities, inform senior leaders, and support stakeholder engagement. This role combines strategic communications planning, project management, executive briefing support, social-media content development, and production of polished written and visual materials. The ideal candidate can translate complex federal programs, policies, technical information, and organizational initiatives into concise, accurate, and compelling products for senior leaders, internal stakeholders, external audiences, and digital platforms. The individual must be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, client-facing environment and managing multiple concurrent assignments with discretion and attention to detail. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute strategic communications plans that align messaging, products, audiences, timelines, and stakeholder-engagement objectives. Plan, coordinate, track, and deliver communications projects from initial requirements through review, approval, publication, and closeout. Prepare senior-level briefing materials, including executive briefings, talking points, read-ahead materials, decision memoranda, presentations, fact sheets, meeting materials, and communications plans. Apply senior-leader briefing methods to organize complex material into concise, decision-ready, and visually compelling products tailored to executive audiences. Draft, edit, and proofread communications products for accuracy, clarity, grammar, tone, consistency, and compliance with organizational style requirements. Create and manage content for professional social-media platforms, with particular emphasis on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). Develop social-media calendars, campaign concepts, platform-specific copy, graphics, engagement messaging, and performance-informed content recommendations. Translate technical, policy, programmatic, and operational information into accessible content for internal, external, and senior-level audiences. Produce and format presentations, documents, spreadsheets, trackers, briefings, and other communications products using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Create, adapt, and refine visual communications products using Adobe Creative Cloud tools, including Illustrator and Photoshop. Coordinate with subject-matter experts, program managers, government personnel, communications teams, and other stakeholders to gather information, validate content, and obtain timely reviews and approvals. Maintain project schedules, action-item trackers, content calendars, production schedules, and status reports to support visibility, accountability, and on-time delivery. Support the development of communications materials that meet federal accessibility expectations, including learning and applying Section 508 document and presentation tagging practices. Demonstrate a working understanding of Department of War and broader federal-government operations, organizational structures, decision processes, and stakeholder environments. Handle sensitive information appropriately and comply with all applicable security, information-handling, and client-site requirements associated with an active Top Secret clearance. Requirements Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations, marketing, media studies, or a closely related field. Relevant professional experience may substitute for the education requirement. At least six years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications and project management. At least six years of experience supporting a federal government organization, Department of War organization, federal contractor, or federal consulting engagement. Demonstrated experience preparing communications products and briefing materials for senior leaders, executives, or other high-level decision-makers. Demonstrated knowledge of senior-level briefing methods, including development of concise executive narratives, leadership talking points, decision-support materials, briefings, and presentation decks. Demonstrated content-development experience for social-media platforms, particularly LinkedIn and X. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Working familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, particularly Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Basic understanding of Department of War and federal government operations, organizational environments, and communications requirements. Willingness and ability to learn Section 508 accessibility-compliance tagging for documents, presentations, and other digital communications products. Active Top Secret security clearance. Desired Qualifications Experience supporting senior leaders within the Department of War, military services, defense agencies, intelligence community, or other federal executive-branch organizations. Experience developing communications strategies for high-visibility programs, organizational change initiatives, workforce-engagement efforts, modernization programs, or public-facing federal initiatives. Familiarity with federal visual identity standards, government correspondence formats, executive correspondence, and government publishing or approval processes. Experience building and maintaining editorial calendars, digital content strategies, campaign performance reports, or social media analytics dashboards. Experience creating executive-ready PowerPoint presentations with strong visual hierarchy, data visualization, graphics, and concise messaging. Experience preparing accessible Microsoft Office products and applying Section 508 accessibility practices. Familiarity with additional Adobe Creative Cloud tools, such as InDesign, Premiere Pro, Acrobat Pro, or Adobe Express. Strong client-service orientation, sound judgment, discretion, and ability to work independently in a sensitive or high-tempo environment. Core Competencies Strategic communications planning Executive and senior-leader briefing support Project planning, coordination, and delivery Professional and technical writing Editing, proofreading, and quality assurance Social-media strategy and content creation Visual communications and presentation development Stakeholder engagement and coordination Federal and DoW environment awareness Time management and multi-project prioritization Attention to detail and responsivenessSecurity awareness and professional discretion Work Environment and Conditions This position will require work in a secure federal or Department of War environment and compliance with all applicable personnel-security, information-security, and facility-access requirements. The successful candidate must maintain an active Top Secret security clearance, with SCI eligibility for the duration of employment, as required by the client or contract. The role may involve a hybrid, on-site, or client-site work arrangement depending on program requirements. Up to 25% travel will be required; attendance at stakeholder meetings and support for time-sensitive senior-leader engagements may be required. #J-18808-Ljbffr