Communications Specialist; O-Billet) Non-Supervisory

Summary

Communications Specialist supports IHSC by developing internal communication plans, drafting and editing leadership messages, newsletters, web content, briefings, and other products; managing digital distributions and projects; coordinating with subject matter experts; ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and style consistency; and supporting town halls and onsite communication needs.

Communications Specialist supports IHSC by developing internal communication plans, drafting and editing leadership messages, newsletters, web content, briefings, and other products; managing digital distributions and projects; coordinating with subject matter experts; ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and style consistency; and supporting town halls and onsite communication needs.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

• Develops and implements strategic internal communication plans for IHSC, using broadcast messages, digital platforms, newsletters, magazines, communication work groups, and live Town Hall meetings to enhance communication across the organization.
• Coordinates planning, content development, review, and quarterly publication of the IHSC Communicator magazine, and oversees its dissemination to field facilities.
• Drafts, edits, and reviews a wide range of communication products, including speeches, web content, magazines, newsletters, briefings, pamphlets, handbooks, training materials, manuals, regulations, guidebooks, standard operating procedures, and other written materials to convey complex IHSC information clearly and accurately.
• Uses Adobe design programs and Microsoft Office products to write, edit, design, format, and maintain content in appropriate style for both print and online mediums.
• Works closely with staff across IHSC and the Office of the Chief of Staff, providing excellent customer service while coordinating information needs, reviewing messages prior to dissemination, and responding to service requests.
• Collaborates with teams and subject matter experts to produce content that is timely, accurate, and consistent with agency policy, standards for style, format, and accessibility, and applicable laws, regulations, and internal review and approval processes.
• Manages communication projects and assigned tasks from inception through completion, including planning, timelines, resource coordination, and workload management to meet inflexible deadlines and organizational priorities.
• Sends and manages distribution of messages, announcements, and other communication products across digital platforms and internal communication channels.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and refinement of IHSC communication policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to junior communications staff and contractors, and may serve as a team or project lead on major communication initiatives.
• Deploys for up to 30 days per year to internal facilities, as needed, through IHSC's TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS) Program to support onsite communication needs.

Civilians are not eligible for this position.

• Applicants without a USPHS commission must begin the USPHS Commissioned Corps application process before applying to this position. Applicants must review the USPHS application requirements and submit an application hs.gov/apply-now/.
• Continued employment is contingent upon appointment to, and maintenance of, active-duty status in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.
• PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.