Senior Communications Specialist

The Senior Communications Specialist supports the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (Code 103) Corporate Communications office by performing photography services for approximately 300-400 distinct events annually. The photography style should adhere to a journalistic (Associated Press) approach and be captured in digital format using a still digital camera system and Adobe Creative Suite. All photographs must undergo proper cropping, editing, and captioning. Photographs shall be assigned appropriate Visual Information Reference Identification Numbers, following Navy Style guidelines:

• Assist in the creation of both internal and external communication materials: this includes but is not limited to print and online products, social media content, and digital signage.

• Maintain a comprehensive calendar, as well as digital and hard copy archives of all events supported by photography.

• Ensure that all photographs are archived on the government's internal site via iNFUSION within the digital library.

• Supply imagery for the Command's annual report in April of each year, contributing to the report's visual content.

• Efficiently manage approximately 600 technical review documents on an annual basis; this task involves utilizing a government-provided database for tracking and processing.

• Respond to inquiries via phone calls or email concerning review status, monitor the progression of reviews throughout the evaluation process, dispatch correspondence to submitters as needed, and organize completed reviews and archive those older than three (3) years.

• Provide comprehensive communication engagement support. This multifaceted role involves orchestrating approximately 100 to 125 engagement events each year, aimed at fostering connections and synergies.

• Assist in the development and writing of an annual strategic communications plan to include research, data collection, metrics, and in-depth knowledge of communications strategy and execution.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications field, public relations, or marketing and four (4) years of related experience OR 10 years related experience in the field for public relations, public affairs or journalism.

• Experience in research, conducting interviews, writing, editing, and obtaining release/approval for articles, feature stories, news releases, and statements, including electronic, web based, and hard copy material.

• Proven ability to support employee communication programs and products, media relations programs, community relations, special events, and provide photography support; Newport Enterprise Realtime Development Server (NERDS) digital signage, Adobe Creative Cloud Production Premium, Microsoft Office Professional, AVS Video Converter, and screen capture software.

Required Clearance

Must possess a verifiable Department of Defense (DoD) Secret clearance.

EOE M/F/D/V