Communications Specialist - Senior Associate

Join our team of high-end strategy and management consultants and professionals who have served on the front lines of homeland security, law enforcement, criminal justice, emergency management, and the military. Have an immediate impact and grow your career quickly at the same time!

Lafayette Group is seeking a dynamic and experienced Communications Specialist to develop and execute strategic communications that amplify the release of cybersecurity products, guidance, alerts, and other public-facing materials for government stakeholders. The Communications Specialist will help craft communications across multiple platforms, including social media, press releases, stakeholder emails, web content, Gov Delivery notifications, and more. This role requires a strong writer, strategic thinker, and communications professional who can translate complex cybersecurity information into clear, targeted messaging for external audiences while collaborating effectively, maintaining meticulous attention to detail, and supporting fast-moving communications efforts that remain aligned with agency priorities, key messages, and stakeholder needs.

• Develop strategic communications plans and messaging to support the release of cybersecurity products, guidance, alerts, advisories, reports, tools, and other public-facing materials.
• Craft targeted external messaging for a range of CISA stakeholders, including government partners, critical infrastructure owners and operators, industry, cybersecurity practitioners, media, and the public.
• Write, edit, and coordinate communications products across multiple channels, including social media posts, press releases, stakeholder emails, web content, email alert notifications, talking points, briefing materials, and message maps.
• Translate complex cybersecurity information into clear, accurate, audience-appropriate language that supports stakeholder awareness, understanding, and action.
• Partner with technical subject matter experts, product owners, program leads, external affairs staff, external stakeholders (e.g., U5, interagency), and other communications partners to shape product release strategies. Additionally, work across CSD to connect dots and fill information gaps to optimize customer service, stakeholder relationships, and information sharing.
• Create and manage Microsoft Teams chats and coordination channels for product and messaging alignment across the division, External Affairs, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to support a cohesive communications approach and ensure teams are prepared for release-day rollout.
• Develop and maintain key messages, stakeholder-specific talking points, and communications materials that align with CISA priorities and external affairs objectives.
• Recommend the most effective communications channels, timing, and tactics to reach intended audiences and amplify product visibility.
• Support integrated communications campaigns that connect cybersecurity product releases to broader agency initiatives, priorities, and public messaging.
• Coordinate with social media, web, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and internal communications teams to ensure consistent messaging across platforms.
• Monitor cybersecurity news, stakeholder priorities, and emerging issues to inform communications planning and product release messaging.
• Support rapid-response communications for time-sensitive cybersecurity products, alerts, vulnerabilities, and emerging threat information.
• Ensure external communications are accurate, clear, timely, accessible, and consistent with approved style, branding, plain language, and clearance processes.
• Track communications tasks, timelines, reviews, and approvals to support coordinated and timely product releases.
• Provide guidance and quality control for communications products developed by junior staff or supporting team members.

• Ability to obtain and maintain DHS Suitability (EOD).
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public affairs, public relations, journalism, marketing, English, or a related field.
• Six or more years of experience in communications, public affairs, public relations, media relations, external affairs, or strategic communications.
• Experience developing external messaging for public-facing campaigns, announcements, releases, or stakeholder communications.
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and message development skills.
• Ability to…