Public Affairs Specialist-Full Performance

About the role

The position serves as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) within the Business Plans and Operations (BPO) directorate at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). OPA is responsible for internal and external corporate communications, providing tailored messaging products to communicate the NRO mission and its contributions to national security to various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic communication and public affairs initiatives at the NRO, performing duties in a diverse range of public affairs functional areas, including internal and external communications, public and media relations, and social media engagement.
• Develop and execute strategic communication plans and media products that are disseminated to multiple audiences through various media.
• Research topics, conduct interviews, write news, feature and explanatory articles for NRO publications, websites, and blogs to facilitate understanding of the agency’s mission, goals, and strategies.
• Serve as a communications consultant to NRO senior leadership to provide substantive advice and counsel on communications development.
• Identify opportunities for leadership to speak either virtually or in-person for events internally and externally across the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW).
• Prepare read-ahead materials such as agendas, bios, and talking points.
• Cultivate and maintain productive working relationships with staff in other organizations in the IC, DoW, and, as appropriate, members of the media, community leaders, policy groups, and concerned constituencies.
• Produce and manage content across all NRO platforms, including internal websites, emails, external websites, social media, brochures, and more.
• Work with subject matter experts to produce speeches and talking points for NRO leadership.
• Work with graphics designers to draft, edit, and design original and unique information products.
• Secure classified information in accordance with E.O.13526.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• Subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• Subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of the principles of public affairs/public relations and the role of the public affairs function in a government organization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to produce concise products that clearly and logically convey complex information and ideas.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to think strategically, to identify needs and requirements, and to develop recommendations and solutions.
• Proven ability to work with senior officials, to build and sustain professional networks in a diverse, fast-paced, multi-task environment, and to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Excellent public speaking skills, depending upon assignment.
• Experience in public affairs operations with full understanding of public affairs concepts, event planning, matrix management, and broad intelligence community interests and issues.
• Demonstrated exceptional strong writing skills, including the ability to proofread, research, write articles, and often rewrite or extensively edit articles submitted by others.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work requirements by continuously evaluating the needs of the organization's mission against on-going work.
• Working knowledge of the laws and regulations regarding the release of information.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in communication strategy development and brand journalism approach to content creation (AP Stylebook).
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement innovative communication strategies for initiatives and programs.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and customer service skills, including the ability to work effectively, independently, and in a team or collaborative environment.

Skills

• Public affairs/public relations principles
• Communication strategy development
• Brand journalism approach to content creation
• AP Stylebook
• Public speaking
• Writing and editing
• Research and analysis
• Project management
• Event planning
• Matrix management
• Intelligence community interests and issues

Pay

2026 Salary Range For The Washington, DC Area: GG-13: $121,785 - $158,322

Schedule

MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.