Public Affairs Specialist
Title: Public Affairs Specialist
Location: Washington, DC (on site)
Min Education Requirement: BA in political science, international affairs, communications, or related field
Clearance Required: Active Secret Clearance preferred; must be able to obtain Secret
About the Opportunity
Inalab has an immediate opening for a Public Affairs Specialist on our contract with the Department of State supporting the mission of press and public affairs offices in the R family of bureaus, in the regional bureaus, and in other functional bureaus.
Essential Responsibilities:
Duties include:
Drafts, coordinates, and implements strategic messaging and media engagements to help build public understanding of U.S. foreign policy in assigned area of responsibility.
Works with posts, the Department, and the interagency to produce unified public messaging on the U.S. government’s policies.
Translates complex policy information into press guidance.
Drafts press products including press guidance, statements, and media notices related to the assigned area of responsibility and manages the clearance process for these products.
Drafts remarks, talking points, statements, scripts, and other content for Department Principals.
Coordinates and staffs press engagements by senior leadership.· Drafts and implements press plans for high level diplomatic engagements with countries in assigned area of responsibility.
Briefs senior leadership on breaking news.
Serves as primary point of contact with the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA), interagency public affairs representatives, and spokespersons at embassies within assigned area of responsibility.
Briefs the Department Spokesperson multiple times per week Coordinates with digital engagement teams on social media strategies.
Liaises directly with journalists.
Responds to press inquiries.
Responds to inquiries from U.S. missions overseas to support their messaging efforts Monitors Department Press Briefing for questions related to area of responsibility.
Monitors media coverage of assigned area and reactions to U.S. messaging.
Compiles USG statements and messaging resources into easily digestible formats for daily, weekly, and ad hoc dissemination.
Required Skills:
Excellent written and verbal communications
Excellent organization and time-management skills
Strong interpersonal skills
An understanding of current world affairs (desired)
Ability to receive and maintain a Secret security clearance
Willingness to travel, if required
Flexible scheduling dependent on the needs of the Bureau
Education and Experience:
BA in political science, international affairs, communications, or related field
2-3 years of work experience managing messaging and communications for a large organization
Prefer candidates with previous Department of State experience and knowledge of the South Central Asia.