Strategic Communications Manager

Accountabilities

• • Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop a team of communications professionals, including assigning work, setting priorities, balancing workloads, and managing team capacity against competing deadlines.
  • Establish and maintain team standards, editorial guidelines, communication workflows, review cycles, style guidance, and version-control practices.
  • Serve as the final reviewer and approver of communications deliverables, ensuring accuracy, quality, consistency, formatting, and alignment with applicable style guides and plain-language standards.
  • Act as the primary communications point of contact for senior client leadership, managing expectations, escalations, competing priorities, and stakeholder requests.
  • Provide coaching, feedback, performance input, and professional development opportunities while supporting hiring, onboarding, and retention activities.
  • Develop executive-level communications products, including talking points, executive summaries, briefings, strategic messaging, and materials supporting congressional testimony.
  • Partner with subject matter experts, senior leaders, and stakeholders to develop clear and compelling messaging across complex topics and initiatives.
  • Translate technical, operational, and policy information into concise, accessible plain-language communications that senior leaders and broader audiences can easily understand and use.
  • Ensure communications consistently convey critical information while maintaining a standardized tone, voice, style, and organizational message.
  • Identify and engage targeted stakeholders to support executive communications and facilitate implementation of organizational decisions.
  • Establish and maintain communication channels that strengthen engagement across central offices, regional organizations, and medical centers.
  • Support the development and execution of communications strategies, plans, and mission statements in collaboration with federal stakeholders.
  • Maintain and execute comprehensive Communications Plans that incorporate program initiatives, communications products, and broader transformation or technology program plans.
  • Review and improve communications materials for stylistic, formatting, accessibility, and content consistency.
  • Support communications strategies associated with organizational change, transformation efforts, and field-facing initiatives.

  Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, or a related field.
  • At least 8 years of professional communications experience, including 2+ years supervising, leading, or mentoring communications professionals.
  • Demonstrated experience managing team workloads, review processes, competing priorities, and delivery against firm deadlines.
  • Experience supporting complex projects, transformation initiatives, or strategic programs within the federal government.
  • Proven experience creating, implementing, and measuring the effectiveness of strategic communications plans.
  • Experience managing complex client and stakeholder relationships, including interactions with senior-level leaders.
  • Strong ability to translate complex information into concise, logical, accessible, and audience-appropriate messaging.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate ideas, recommendations, and solutions clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Strong critical thinking, analytical, organizational, and time-management skills.
  • Ability to prioritize effectively, work collaboratively, and remain composed in a fast-paced environment with shifting requirements.
  • Demonstrated ability to receive feedback from senior stakeholders and implement revisions quickly and effectively.
  • Ability to learn complex subject matter rapidly and translate it into useful communications products.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to provide direct and constructive feedback and develop team capabilities.
  • Experience supporting federal healthcare communications, including Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, change management, or field-facing messaging, is preferred.
  • Familiarity with change management methodologies such as PROSCI is desirable.
  • Knowledge of Section 508 accessibility requirements for published content is preferred.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

  Benefits

  • Full-time employment.
  • Fully remote work environment.
  • Opportunity to lead communications initiatives supporting complex federal programs and senior government stakeholders.
  • Leadership and professional development opportunities through management of a communications team.
  • Opportunity to contribute to strategic transformation, change management, and executive communications initiatives.
  • Collaborative environment involving senior leaders, subject matter experts, and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
  • Opportunity to work on mission-focused programs that improve the delivery and experience of government services.
  • Equal opportunity workplace committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.