Strategic Communications Outreach Specialist

Position Overview

Location: Hybrid; McLean, VA and Washington, DC

Travel: Limited local travel with occasional CONUS travel to conferences, stakeholder events, and outreach activities

Background Investigation: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain required USDOT facility and network access

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday during standard business hours with flexibility to support events, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement initiatives

Employment Type: Full-Time

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic communications, stakeholder outreach, and engagement plans supporting FHWA research programs and initiatives.
• Lead development of integrated marketing and communications campaigns across digital, print, web, email, and social media channels.
• Create messaging, outreach materials, communication plans, and campaign content for diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Support efforts to increase readership, subscriptions, and engagement for FHWA publications and communication products.
• Develop content for websites, newsletters, social media platforms, presentations, fact sheets, and promotional materials.
• Conduct audience analysis, market research, stakeholder assessments, and reader surveys to support communication strategies.
• Analyze performance metrics and engagement data to evaluate communication effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Support stakeholder outreach activities involving State DOTs, industry partners, transportation organizations, researchers, and other key audiences.
• Coordinate communication support for conferences, trade shows, webinars, and public outreach events.
• Assist with development and implementation of branding and messaging standards.
• Collaborate with editors, writers, graphic designers, multimedia specialists, web content specialists, and Government stakeholders to ensure consistency across communication products.
• Monitor communications trends, digital engagement strategies, and industry best practices to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for client leadership regarding outreach performance and stakeholder engagement activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience in communications, public affairs, marketing, stakeholder engagement, or outreach.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans and outreach campaigns.
• Strong writing, editing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience creating content for digital, print, web, email, and social media platforms.
• Experience conducting audience research, communications assessments, or campaign performance evaluations.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, engaging content for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and digital communications platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• FHWA, USDOT, or other Federal civilian agency communications experience.
• Experience supporting transportation, infrastructure, engineering, or research-related programs.
• Experience with GovDelivery, Granicus, social media management platforms, or stakeholder engagement tools.