Public Affairs Specialist (Strategies and Engagement - SME)

Public Affairs Specialist (Strategies and Engagement – SME)

Location: Pentagon (Onsite)
Clearance: TS/SCI
Education: MA/MS (or a BA/BS plus an additional 8 years of work experience, 4 of which must be work related)
Outcomes:
Formally track all tasks, to include: assigned by, suspense, status, and comments on all assigned tasks through completion and be prepared to brief upon request.
Develop digital continuity folders and files that include standard operating procedures, workflows and POC lists to accomplish all tasks.
Create 2-3 products beyond the client's requirements that positively impact the client to either increase efficiency, effectiveness, or innovation.
Master position tasks within 60 days and exceed requirements within 90 days.
Responsibilities:
On 06 April 2026, the Deputy Secretary of War officially established the Economic Defense Unit. The EDU Director is the principal advisor to the Deputy Secretary of War for Economic Competition across the Department. The EDU will lead, advise, coordinate, synchronize, analyze and assess economic competition across the DoW.
The Public Affairs Specialist SME supports the OSW EDIU with expert Public Affairs support, stakeholder coordination, messaging, to include coordination with congress and key interagency partner stakeholders. The Public Affairs Specialist SME engages with variety of customers to define strategic messaging and support the DoW and the EDU. Per PWS section 1.3.1.4 Strategy and Engagement Analysis, Planning, and Support, specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Provide SME Public Affairs support to the Director and Deputy Director of the EDI.
Create a plan for engagement and collaboration to identify strategic needs across the defense enterprise to include all of the functional areas ( RR# 24 ).
Analyze and develop long-term plans pertaining to strategy, modernization, force structure composition and disposition, doctrine, policy, and programming activities.
Collaborate with DoW EDU stakeholders to create Measures of Performance (MOPs), Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs), and decision matrices and frameworks. Construct and maintain, as required, logs and databases that allow for tracking and recording of events within strategic efforts and programs for the purpose of end-of-year analyses and performance report preparation ( RR# 25 ).
Analyze annual congressional authorizations and appropriations to determine potential strategic impacts to planned and ongoing EDU activities, and development of a Congressional tracker to account of EDU's appropriated budgets.
Organizational process development, requirements planning, and programming support with knowledge of various United States Government (USG) customers.
Provide SME expertise in the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW) processes, organization development, deliberate planning, programming, and strategy, support for development of engagement plans and messaging to effect resourcing support from EDU stakeholders and customers.
Qualifications:
The candidate must have the following qualifications:
Minimum of fifteen (15) years of related work experience,
Minimum of ten (10) years of specific work related experience in support of a DoW component.
Experience supporting strategic planning, conferences, and developing and supporting the implementation of strategic plans, initiatives, and programs that align with the OSW's stakeholders, including engaging with government agencies, industry partners, and international organizations, to foster collaboration, build partnerships and advance mutual interests.
Strong oral and writing communication skills to convey complex concepts, policies, and strategies effectively
Ability to think critically, anticipate challenges, and lead development of innovative engagement strategies aligned with the evolving defense landscape.
The following qualifications are desired:
Experience supporting OSW /EDU.
Experience supporting the Air Force
Writing samples or published research may be reviewed.
Skills and knowledge of Generative AI tools and methods.
Advanced Excel and other data analytic visualization skills.
Travel: Minimal travel

Other Requirements:
This employer participates in E‑Verify. We will provide the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's Form I‑9 to confirm work authorization
We seek:
Highly motivated self-starters
Resourceful individuals with extraordinary intellectual capability and the ability to rapidly learn and apply new concepts.
Individuals who have a "let me try" attitude and are resilient, present an opinion/position, justify it, and then accept whatever decision is made and charge forward.
Individuals who view criticism as an opportunity to improve ("let me try again")
Individuals who think and create, enhancing the company with a steady flow of fresh ideas, perspective, and energy.