Media Relations Specialist

Contracting Resources Group, Inc. (CRG) is a Woman-Owned Small Business, specializing in several core markets within the Federal Government. Our professional services depth includes program management and evaluation, strategic communications, acquisitions management, and IT solutions. CRG is a leading management consulting firm, in part because of our ability to attract the highest quality team members through our emphasis on culture, competitive compensation, and benefits packages. Since 2002, CRG has consistently received top performance ratings from customers and teaming partners and industry awards, including Inc. Magazine’s 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America, the Department of Labor HireVets Platinum Medallion award, and the Washington Business Journal, Inc. 5000, and Baltimore Sun’s Best Places to Work awards.

Description: This position is for a media relations specialist on the Defense Health Agency Communications and Public Affairs team. The team supplies strategy, planning, video, news writing, graphic design, social media, media relations, outreach, web, and administrative support to one of the largest communication programs in the Department of Defense. The purpose of the position is to conduct media relations activities to advance Defense Health Agency objectives and priorities by building understanding and support among key external audiences.

Job Duties

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with Headquarters level subject matter experts (SMEs), leaders, staff, and public affairs personnel as well with SMEs and public affairs personnel at lower echelons.
• Identifies communications, risks, opportunities, goals, and objectives within assigned area.
• Researches, plans, executes, and assesses media relations activities to advance organizational priorities and objectives.
• Identifies, researches, and pitches sometimes complex topics to a variety of media outlets.
• Establishes and maintains productive relationships with the media.
• Plans, executes, and assesses media engagements, to include conducting subject matter expert (SME) and senior leader prep/training.
• Writes and coordinates Public Affairs Guidance, talking points, questions and answers, issue papers, press releases, media advisories, SME prep materials, and related products.
• Assesses media engagements, communicates findings to leaders, and makes recommendations for future courses of action to advance organizational goals.
• Coordinates media relations activities with internal information, community outreach, social media, and other communication functions as part of an overall strategic communication effort.
• Ensures products comply with Section 508 of the Individuals with Disabilities Act requirements.

Qualifications

• Mastery of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of communication that enable the public affairs specialist to function as a technical authority within the assigned area of responsibility for the research, planning, execution, and assessment of proactive media relations activities.
• Ability to conduct and/or lead media relations activities related to a variety of topics.
• Experience and/or education in identifying, researching, and effectively pitching complicated topics to a variety of outlets, both trade and mainstream media,
• Experience and/or education in establishing and maintaining relationships with the media.
• Experience and/or education in planning, executing/facilitating, and assessing media engagements, to include conducting thorough subject matter expert (SME) and senior leader prep/training.
• Experience and/or education in writing and coordinating Public Affairs Guidance, talking points, questions and answers, issue papers, press releases, media advisories, SME prep materials, and related products.
• Experience and/or education in oral and written communications.
• Experience and/or education in assessing media engagements and communicating findings/recommendations for future directions to leaders.
• Experience and/or education in identifying and recommending media engagement courses of action to advance organizational goals.
• Experience and/or education in coordinating media relations activities with internal information, community outreach, social media, and other communication functions as part of an overall strategic communication effort.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment both independently and as a team.

Preferred but not Required

• Experience working with the Department of Defense. Direct experience supporting the DHA and MHS is preferred.
• Experience with media intelligence suites (e.g. CISION, Meltwater, PublicRelay)

• PRSA certification

CRG is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a protected veteran, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, or local law.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.