About the Role
VAAS Professionals is a Management & Consulting Firm looking for top-quality talent to join our growing team. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a workplace culture built on mutual respect, teamwork, diversity, inclusion, and a desire for continuous career progression. We are seeking an experienced Communications Specialist to provide a broad range of Communications Support to one of our federal clients.
The salary for this role will be based on the experience, education, and skill set of the individual for the position. Total compensation and benefits consist of: Competitive Salary, Group Health Plan Benefits,
Life, STD & LTD, 401(K) with employer match, Flexible Paid Time Off, and Parental Leave.
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in Biology, Public Health, or a related field and three years of related professional experience, Master of Public Health is preferable.
Experience in content development and copywriting internal communications, plain language communication and social media management.
Organizational skills including a keen attention to detail and documentation; the ability to follow instructions and recognize when to seek assistance from senior managers.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as organizational and independent judgment to support high level environment driven by teamwork.
Employment is contingent on passing a mandatory Background Investigation.
About the Company
Under the direction of the Program Manager, the successful candidate will perform the following responsibilities including but not to be limited to:
Writer/Editor/Content Specialist Support
a. Research, write, and edit complex materials in a variety of subject areas to interpret and explain a range of difficult subjects.
b. Articulate, interpret, and explain highly complex and important branch policies and programs.
Support the development of written standard operations and procedures based on branch policies and programs.
c. Write and participate in the development of informational documents, manuscripts, social media materials, and high-level one-pagers that are often share across and outside of the Agency.
Plan and organize scientific communications activities, including but not limited to develop and package scientific communications materials, and ensure materials are written at a level appropriate for the target audience, and that client style/specifications/guidelines have been followed.
d. Formulate ideas and prepare the appropriate materials to communicate information and inform potential stakeholders. Revise documents and information to improve clarity and accuracy, confirm sources, and verify facts, dates, and other scientific information of all documents created under this acquisition. Analyze the subject matter information provided on global health security laboratory, epidemiologic, and surveillance and present the information and data collected, clearly and accurately, adapting content, style, and format most appropriate for the audience.
e. Proactively identify opportunities within the agency that encourage dissemination of the Branch scientific results through the promotion of increasing and using scientific writing skills.
Work with subject matter experts to finalize the material that should be used, organize the material, and produce written documents. This task includes but is not limited to performing quality assurance (QA) editing on previously drafted documents and other written materials. Review content for completeness, accuracy, and correctness of language use and revise materials to meet predetermined standards of style and format. Rewrite text as appropriate, according to established standards and instructions.
f. Coordinate communications projects from the planning stage; providing additional or missing materials; and editing for content format, flow, and integrity.
g. Maintain technical proficiency required to perform job functions of technical writing, editing, and content management.
h. Record and curate meeting minutes and reports as needed. These may be weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or ad hoc progress reports that include but are not limited to: meeting minutes, brochures, success stories, digital newsletters, presentations, and draft protocols.
i. Create or revise standardized templates for Branch content sharing for internal and external stakeholders.
Social Media Support
a. Assist with creating an expanded media presence by developing Branch communication materials in collaboration with the Division's communication teams for release online via social media.
Plan and coordinate media campaign launches related to global health security activities.
Repackage content for multi-platform media campaigns (including the Agency's inter- and intranet webpages, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other communications platforms as appropriate).
b. Assist the Branch and liaise across the agency in developing social media cards, infographics, and other visual materials that clearly and effectively communicate data, results, outcomes, etc.
Submit report out for each social media campaign, infographic, and data visualization created for the Branch
Communications Management
a. Collect information on branch activities in countries around the world, including global health emergencies and outbreaks, post-response activities, surveillance and laboratory systems, and capacity building programs to inform the development of Branch communications products.
b. Provide communications technical assistance and guidance on branch communication products, including content development, format, media type, dissemination plans, etc., and coordinating Branch review and clearance of Branch communication products.
c. Support internal communications activities for the Branch in coordination with communications division staff. Including:
highlighting branch accomplishments,
sharing information on branch scientific reports, such as the Division monthly bulletin and the Branch's quarterly monitor,
and Updates From the Field newsletter, and other communications channels as identified.
d. Support internal communications activities for Ethe Branch, as follows: organize division, branch and country information SharePoint, and identify ways to ensure information accessibility.
Conduct a quarterly review of the Branch's SharePoint website to ensure the most accurate SOPs and information is uploaded.
e. Support communications activities for the Branch retreats and other high-level meetings as needed, by collecting, synthesizing, analyzing and developing communications materials. Submit written and/or visual:
f. Inventory, maintain and catalogue the Branch programmatic communication and media products and tools including presentations, informational briefing brochures and materials, articles and stories, videos, social media products, infographics, fact sheets, newsletters, and other materials as references for internal and external use.
g. Ability to travel to the Branch countries as determined by communications needs.