Senior Strategic Communications Specialist

Senior Strategic Communications Specialist
Location: U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, Massachusetts

Work Arrangement: Primarily onsite, with situational telework

Travel: Occasional CONUS travel for field studies, scientific conferences, demonstrations, and command events

Employment Type: Full-time

This positionrepresentsBLN24’s primary embedded communications role and will be supported by BLN24’s broader writing, design, multimedia, quality, and program management resources as needed.

Position Summary
BLN24 is seeking aSenior Strategic Communications Specialistto support the USARIEM Commander and Public Affairs Officer (PAO) in communicating the institute’s research mission. The specialist will translate complex scientific, medical, environmental, and human-performance research into clear, factual, and engaging communications for military leaders, Warfighters, researchers, partners, media, and the public.

The specialist will work independently while coordinating closely with the USARIEM PAO, Command leadership, scientists, researchers, clinicians, engineers, program managers, and other subject matter experts (SMEs). The role encompasses editorial planning, content development, social media, event support, photography, videography, and marketing material development.

Key Responsibilities

Maintain a forward-looking editorial and event calendar aligned with USARIEM research milestones, field studies, publications, leadership engagements, conferences, demonstrations, and Warfighter outcomes.

Research and propose story ideas that strengthen awareness of USARIEM’s research mission and organizational priorities.

Interviewscientists, researchers, clinicians, engineers, program managers, and other SMEs on complex technical and mission-related topics.

Write and edit publication-ready news stories, feature articles, newsletter content, press releases, web content, informational products, video scripts, captions, and executive communications.

Apply Associated Press (AP) style, plain-language principles, target-publication requirements, and web-writing best practices.

Develop platform-appropriate social media content for USARIEM and U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) channels.

Maintain a social media content calendar and route posts through SMEfact-checkingand PAO review and approval.

Support conferences, trade shows, research studies, field demonstrations, VIP visits, Command engagements, training activities, ceremonies, and other high-visibility events.

Coordinate event communications requirements, includingobjectives, audiences, messages, schedules, interview opportunities, shot lists, displays, and release considerations.

Capture high-quality photographs, video interviews, establishing footage, and B-roll during research activities and events.

Perform basic photo and video editing, captioning, formatting, and quality review to produce publication-ready content.

Organize, name, tag, store, andmaintainapproved photographs, videos, and source files on the USARIEM Public Affairsdrive.

Develop or support marketing materials such as fact sheets, one-pagers, brochures, posters, scientific displays, briefing slides, handouts, infographics, and digital assets.

Coordinate with BLN24’s team for advanced graphic design, animation, video editing, audio production, and surge support.

Apply Operations Security (OPSEC), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Section 508accessibility, Army, DHA, USAMRDC, and USARIEM standards to applicable communications products.

Manage multiple concurrent assignments,maintainvisibility into deadlines and approval status, and contribute to task tracking, quality control, and monthly status reporting.

Remain responsive to changing research schedules, leadership priorities, event requirements, and rapid-turn communications needs.

Qualifications

Five or more years of public affairs, journalism, strategic communications, or communications writing experience is preferred.

Experience supporting military, defense health, scientific research, medical research, environmental medicine, or human-performance missions is strongly preferred.

Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific or technical information into clear,accurate, audience-centered communications.

Strong news,feature, web, social media, and informational writing and editing skills.

Working knowledge of AP style and plain-language communication.

Required photography and videography experience, including event coverage, interviews, and B-roll capture.

Experience performing basic photo and video editing and preparing multimedia products for publication.

General knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere Pro is preferred.

Demonstrated ability to work independently,identifystory opportunities, manage competing priorities, and meet short deadlines.

Strong interpersonal and interviewing skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with scientists, senior leaders, military personnel, and other SMEs.

Experience supporting conferences, VIP visits, research demonstrations, trade shows, or other high-visibility events.

Familiarity with OPSEC, Section 508 accessibility, DoD public affairs processes, and Government content-clearance procedures is preferred.

Work and Travel Requirements

Ability to workonsiteat USARIEM in Natick, Massachusetts, Monday through Friday.

Ability to be onsite during USARIEM’s core hoursof9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Ability to travel within the continental United States for scientific conferences, field studies, demonstrations, and other Government-authorized events.

Ability to transport, set up, andoperatephotography, videography, and event-support equipment whenrequired.

Situational telework may bepermittedonly with Government approval andin accordance withapplicabletelework, responsiveness, CAC, and DoD network requirements.

Security and Onboarding Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen to obtain the DoD IT and system accessanticipatedfor this role.

Must be able to obtain andmaintaina favorablyadjudicatedTier 1 background investigation or equivalent suitability determination.

Must be eligible to obtain andmaintaina Common Access Card (CAC).

A security clearance is not currentlyrequired.

Must complete all required USARIEM, Army, DHA, cybersecurity, CUI, OPSEC, antiterrorism, counterintelligence, safety, and information assurance training.

Mustcomply withall Government nondisclosure, safeguarding, facility-access, and contractor-identification requirements.

What BLN24 brings to the Game
BLN24 benefits are gamechanging.We like our team to playhardand that means they need to be taken care of - physically, financially, and emotionally. We make sure to keep them in the game by giving them access to generous medical, dental, and vision plans.

You can join one of the fastest growing companies headquartered in the Washington DC Metro Area. We give you the opportunity to work in different sectors, so you have thechance atvariety whilemaintainingstability.

Flexibility at BLN24 allowseach individualthe opportunity to balance quality work and their personal lives.Depending on projects, we allow remote workingopportunitiesso you can always be in the game no matter where you call home.

BLN24 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We believe people are our strength andunderstanddiverse talentsarekey to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law.In accordance withapplicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

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