Strategic Communications Manager

Job Summary

Strategic Communications Manager

Job Summary

Aptive is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to lead a wide range of executive outreach efforts and to manage and develop a team of communications professionals. The ideal candidate is a self-starter, proactive problem-solver and action-oriented team leader with previous experience translating complex information into plain language. He/she must be committed to providing superior service, poised in a fast-paced environment and have a positive and flexible attitude.

In addition to producing executive-level communications products directly, this role sets standards for the team's work, assigns and balances workload against deadlines, reviews and approves deliverables before they reach senior leaders, and serves as the primary communications point of contact for client leadership.

This is a full-time remote position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop a team of communications specialists, including assigning work, setting priorities, balancing workload against competing deadlines, and managing team capacity.
• Serve as final reviewer and approver for team work products, ensuring quality, accuracy, and consistency before materials reach senior leaders or the client.
• Provide coaching, feedback, performance input, and professional development for team members; support hiring, onboarding, and retention.
• Establish and maintain team standards, style guidance, editorial workflows, review cycles, and version control practices.
• Serve as the primary communications point of contact for client leadership, managing expectations, escalations, and competing requests across stakeholders.
• Support congressional testimony preparation for a variety of federal senior leaders.
• Draft talking points, executive summaries and briefings both to and for senior leaders.
• Coordinate with subject matter experts, leaders and other stakeholders across our clients' organization to develop messaging for senior leaders on a variety of related topics.
• Translate complex messaging into plain language to ensure materials are easy to read, understand and use.
• Ensure content conveys critical information and reflects key messaging in a standardized and consistent tone and voice.
• Review documents for stylistic and formatting consistency.
• Ensure all content aligns with client style guides and federal plain language standards.
• Engage and identify targeted stakeholders to create and demonstrate implementation of decisions for executive communications.
• Establish and maintain communication channels that facilitate engagement between VHA Central Office, VISNs, and VA Medical Centers.
• Coordinate and participate in communications strategies, plans, and mission statements in collaboration with VA staff offices.
• Update, execute, and maintain the Communications Plan, ensuring it is comprehensive, covers all program communications initiatives and products, and integrates with EHR product and program plans.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8 years of related communications experience, including 2+ years supervising, leading, or mentoring communications staff.
• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing team workload, review cycles, and delivery against firm deadlines.
• Experience supporting complex projects and transformation efforts within the federal government.
• Experience creating, executing and measuring success of strategic communications plans.
• Comfortability with supporting complex client relationships.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a public trust clearance.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Desired Qualifications

• Strong critical thinking, analytical and time management skills.
• Proven ability to organize, prioritize and work well with others.
• Ability to communicate thoughts, ideas and solutions logically both written and orally.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to receive feedback from senior-level clients and implement changes quickly and effectively.
• Ability to get up to speed quickly on complex issues.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment.
• Demonstrated ability to give direct, constructive feedback and grow the capability of a team.
• Experience supporting VA, VHA, or other federal health communications, including change management and field-facing messaging.
• Familiarity with change management methodology such as PROSCI, and with Section 508 accessibility requirements for published content.

About Aptive

About Aptive. Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. Founded: 2012. Employees: 300+ nationwide.

EEO Statement

Aptive is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, age, disability, or any other protected class. Veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, and transitioning active-duty service members are highly encouraged to apply. About Aptive: Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. Founded: 2012. Employees: 300+ nationwide.