Strategic Planner

Aptive is seeking a Strategic Planner to provide direction and guidance across program operations in support of SAMHSA's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Awareness initiative. Working closely with SAMHSA's 988 Communications Team, the Program Manager, and key internal stakeholders, the Strategic Planner leads the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans that drive the program's communications, marketing, and engagement workstreams. This role serves as a critical connective function across the program, translating high-level priorities and campaign objectives into coordinated, executable work plans and ensuring that logistics, timelines, and team activities are well-organized and aligned with SAMHSA's mission to increase awareness and utilization of 988 among individuals at risk for suicide or substance misuse.

Key responsibilities include developing and maintaining integrated work plans across task areas such as paid media campaign planning, organic digital and social media strategy, partner engagement, event planning, and performance metrics reporting. The Strategic Planner will work closely with logistics coordinators and subject matter specialists to ensure activities are sequenced effectively and executed on schedule, while maintaining visibility into dependencies, risks, and upcoming milestones. Additional responsibilities include supporting the development of campaign strategies, contributing to meeting agendas and planning documents, and providing operational planning support to inform priority digital and communications actions. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, collaborative professional with a strong background in strategic planning for communications or public health programs and a demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder operations within a federal contracting environment.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public health, marketing, public administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 8 years related experience
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic direction and guidance for program, task, or event operations across complex, multi-workstream initiatives
• Proven ability to develop and implement integrated work plans in close collaboration with government clients or senior stakeholders
• Experience working with logistics coordinators and cross-functional team members to develop and execute operational plans on time and within scope
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, track dependencies, and anticipate and mitigate risks
• Experience supporting communications, marketing, or public health programs, including planning activities across paid media, digital, social media, and/or event workstreams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing planning documents, meeting agendas, status reports, and briefing materials for government or senior-level stakeholders
• Ability to adapt plans and priorities quickly in response to shifting program needs or client direction
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance (Tier II)

• Prior experience supporting federal health communications programs, particularly with SAMHSA
• Familiarity with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, behavioral health, suicide prevention, or substance use public awareness initiatives
• Experience supporting integrated marketing campaign planning, including coordination across paid media, organic digital, social media, and earned media workstreams
• Familiarity with federal program management requirements, including deliverable scheduling, quality control planning, and COR coordination
• Experience developing or contributing to campaign strategy documents, creative briefs, audience segmentation analyses, or needs assessments
• Familiarity with partner engagement and toolkit management, including coordination with grantees, states, territories, or tribal entities
• Experience planning and supporting federal or large-scale public events, including logistics coordination, agenda development, and post-event reporting
• Knowledge of Section 508 accessibility requirements and the Plain Writing Act as they apply to federal communications materials

Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. ​

We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. ​

Founded: 2012
Employees: 300+ nationwide

Aptive is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, age, disability, or any other protected class.

Veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, and transitioning active-duty service members are highly encouraged to apply.