Senior Strategic Communications Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Communications Specialist to support a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) advanced development aviation program. You will work directly with PAE, Program, and O-6/GS-15 leadership to advise and develop strategies that communicate program priorities, plans, status, and key themes to DoD leadership and resource sponsors. You will be responsible for creating presentations and program messaging for diverse audiences to include Congress, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, other government agencies, and industry. Work will occur on site at Patuxent River NAS. 

You will join AVIAN’s cadre of creative professionals who specialize in strategic communication, graphic design, marketing, multimedia production and more. Our creative team supports each other through constructive peer reviews, shares professional resources and regularly gathers for continuing education sessions

Join a Company Where You Can Make a Real Impact – and Own a Piece of the Future

Are you energized by the idea of helping a company grow smarter, serve our customers better, and connect more deeply? Do you thrive in an environment where your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your work drives real results? If so, we’d love to meet you.

We’re a mid-sized, employee-owned company on a mission to create meaningful value for both our employees and our customers. That means we’re not just looking for someone to fill a seat — we’re looking for someone who wants to build, innovate, and evolve with us.

Our company primarily serves the Navy and other Department of Defense clients, offering a dynamic environment where your expertise will make a difference.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute comprehensive communication strategies in alignment within the customer objectives.
• Identify and introduce methods of delivery, communication channels, modes, and approaches that will effectively engage target audiences.
• Plan strategy for development of content management processes to ensure accurate, relevant and timely information under the guidance of the customer.
• Develop message maps, story boards, and scripts as needed to ensure the appropriate tone, content, and delivery of information that reflects the desired message of the customer to achieve strategic goals and objectives.
• Establish and evaluate strategy that allows for continual process improvement.
• Work closely with the customer and industry partners to develop a comprehensive approach to communications.
• Obtain the appropriate information for service requests and provide any additional assistance necessary to meet the needed requirements.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish a rapport with customers; including the ability to create and sustain a positive relationship; regardless of circumstances or environment.

Required Experience & Skills: 

• Education: Candidate must have a High School diploma.
• Experience: Candidate must have at least four (4) years of experience in strategic communications.
• Candidate should be proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and have experience with Adobe Acrobat and share point style file sharing systems.
• Candidate must have demonstrated outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Candidate should have experience working in a dynamic, schedule constrained, and complex security environment.  Special Access Program experience is a plus but not required.

Desired Experience and Skills:

• Candidate should have experience working with OPNAV staff.
• Candidate should have knowledge of Navy TACAIR aircraft, systems, and weapons.
• Candidate should have the ability to communicate concepts to a variety of audiences, both in person and in writing.
• Candidate should have strong interpersonal skills, collaboration and teambuilding skills, and the ability to interact effectively with various stakeholders.
• Candidate should have the ability to build relationships with multiple teams to support cross collaboration.
• Candidate should have keen flexibility and creativity; ability to identify and respond to evolving priorities and identify solutions to problems.

Clearance Requirement:  A current SSBI or Federal Investigative Standard Tier 5 (T5) or Tier 5 Reinvestigation (T5R) within the last 5 years.  A final DoD Top Secret clearance is desired, but an Interim Top Secret or Final SECRET will be considered for otherwise qualified candidates.  Eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartment Information (SCI) in accordance with Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704 and Special Access Program (SAP) in accordance with SAP Nomination Policy (SAPNP) with no disqualifying security issues that will deem a candidate ineligible for access. 

• Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Salary range: $90,000 - $135,000 (The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.) 

About being a part of Team AVIAN

As an employee-owner, you’ll be a catalyst for progress — helping us find new opportunities with current or new customers, company efficiencies, streamline processes, and bring people and ideas together in smarter ways. Whether it’s helping us optimize workflows, enhancing the employee experience, or delivering more impactful solutions to our customers, your inputs will have reach and relevance across the organization.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of our AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn’t stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

You’ll Succeed Here If You...

• See opportunities where others see routine
• Are curious, collaborative, and passionate about making things better
• Enjoy connecting dots across teams, tools, and tasks
• Believe in doing the right thing the right way — even when no one’s watching
• Play an active role in our growth, using your ideas and initiative to shape how we work, serve, and succeed together
• Embrace a “one team” mindset knowing we are stronger together through trust, transparency and teamwork.
• Understand the power of ownership — and are excited to be part of an employee-owned culture

Why Join Us?

• Employee Ownership: We’re not just building a company — we’re building a legacy. As an employee-owner, you’ll share in our success and have a direct stake in our future.
• Real Growth: We’re expanding, evolving, and exploring new ways to serve. Your contributions will shape our direction and help us grow stronger.
• Purpose-Driven Work: Every improvement you help make is one that adds value — not just for us, but for the people and missions we support.
• Culture of Collaboration: We’re big enough to take on meaningful challenges, but small enough that everyone still knows your name.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being, our health and wellness benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with telemedicine services and a TRICARE supplement for veterans.
• Flexible Leave Benefits: we prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally and offer flexible and paid time off, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave.

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran’s status.