Strategic Communications Specialist 5 (FEMA)

**39337BR****Requisition ID:**39337BR**Business Unit:**TSU**Job Description:**This position is for a strategic communications and facilitation expert looking to use their passion for communication to provide high quality documents and teach others communications best practices. You will join CDM Smiths growing, cross-discipline strategic communications team as a subject matter expert, leading a team developing communications for FEMA resiliency and risk reduction projects.Projects you may work on include planning and facilitating meetings, adapting policy into plain language materials, developing presentations for internal and external stakeholders and helping develop guidance and communication strategies for FEMA programs.With a strong sense of plain language and the ability to tailor to any audience, you dig deep into material to ensure it communicates its key message. Passionate about organizational efficiency, you think through processes to ensure the right people get the right information at the right time. When someone thinks something cannot be done, your first instinct is to find a solution anyway. You are comfortable jumping from one technical topic to another and applying your expertise to different scenarios.The core of your work will be writing and producing documents tailored to specific audiences to help communities make resiliency decisions. Tasks you will generally be assisting with will include:Creating and implementing communications plans to ensure stakeholders receive information needed appropriately when being asked to make a decisionFacilitating discussions within your respective programs and creating plans to promote better organizational coordination and managementWriting and editing documents to specific reading levels while ensuring they meet brand and style guidanceTranslating highly technical textual information into a visual story that the audience can relate to and make decisions aboutProving highly detailed quality control and readability reviewsManaging and mentoring junior staff working on project communicationsTeaching technical staff communications best practicesInteracting with the public, especially disadvantaged communities, via virtual and on-the-ground community forumsProviding communications support with program stakeholders, including state, territories, federally recognized tribal nations, and local governmentsFacilitating community engagement forums, like public meetings, hearings, and listening sessionsWorking with social media and electronic methods of survey and data collectionCreating forums to brainstorm and act on ideas to improve FEMAs communication best practices, and/or creatively address specific client challengesContributing to proposals to win more work, including writing public-engagement related scope, building up a team, and estimating costSome weekend and evening hours may be required to attend project public engagement events. Your work will support strategic communications efforts for FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs across the nation.Excellent written and oral communication skills are necessary.Ability to see the big picture, then connect disparate dots of activities to meet an end goal;Ability to build internal and external relationships;Ability to translate highly complex technical information into content the general public can understand;Ability to adapt to quickly changing technologies;Strong organization skills;Ability to manage a project scope, schedule, and budget;Confident working in a virtual team atmosphere;Strong facilitation skills.**Job Title:**Strategic Communications Specialist 5 (FEMA)**Group:**PSF**Employment Type:**Regular**Minimum Qualifications:**Bachelor's degree. 7 years of related experience. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.**Preferred Qualifications:**Internal and public meeting facilitation training and experience, experience with controversial situations a plusExperience in internal and external communicationsExperience writing and producing content for varied audiences at low reading grade levelsExperience with graphic design and Adobe SuiteAbility to speak multiple languages, including Spanish, is a plus**EEO Statement:**We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, genetics, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.**Why CDM Smith?:**Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! (https://www.cdmsmith.com/en/Video/Meet-CDM-Smith)**Join Us! CDM Smith where amazing career journeys unfold.**Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where its a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.**Job Site Location:**Virginia - Fairfax**Agency Disclaimer:**All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Recruitment Center Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Recruiting Center Team (RCT) will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.**Amount of Travel Required:**20%**Assignment Category:**Fulltime-Regular**Visa Sponsorship Available:**No - We will not support sponsorship, i.e. H-1B or TN Visas for this position**Skills and Abilities:**Strong knowledge of corporate governance practices, organization design principles, accounting principles, finance, supply chain management, and organization management. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to understand highly complex technical, professional and business materials.**Background Check and Drug Testing Information:**CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as CDM Smith) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.**Consumer Report, Investigative Consumer Report and Drug Testing Information:**CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as CDM Smith) reserves the right to require consumer reports or investigative consumer reports containing information about you in connection with your application for employment. The consumer report or investigative consumer report will provide information including but not limited to verification of employment, education and licensure, etc. as well as credit when applicable for certain positions. If this position is subject to a consumer report or investigative consumer report related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of the report. CDM Smith may also conduct drug testing for designated positions. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional consumer reports or investigative consumer reports, as well as drug testing.**Additional Compensation:**All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.**Work Location Options:**Fully Remote or Hybrid Work Options may be considered for successful candidate.