Communication Specialist

McKing Consulting Corporation is a veteran-owned professional services corporation offering innovative management consulting support to the Federal and state government and private industries. McKing operates full-service project offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Rockville, Maryland. Currently, McKing provides a wide range of technical assistance to multiple federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies. More corporate information can be found at www.mcking.com.

The Communication Specialist will work on the Strategic Communication Team supporting the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it’s 28 websites, four branches, two social media channels, and 80+ state and local grantees. This position will provide communication expertise and guidance to branch staff and assist in the development of a wide range of communication products, web and social media messaging, media information, promotional materials, and other written resources. In addition, the position includes liaising with branch staff and facilitating branch and division promotions.

Specific responsibilities include a mix of the following depending on expertise:

Product Development:

• Consult with division staff on product development, layout, and design at the onset of projects.
• Work with division subject matter experts to develop and disseminate creative new content and visuals to effectively reach specific target audiences
• Provide pre-clearance writing, editing, and formatting to ensure content quality is based on accepted communication principles, methods, and practices
• Work with division staff and communication team to develop creative briefs to guide product design and delivery on larger communication products. Keep stakeholders engaged in the creative process; obtain approvals.
• Provide graphics and design coordination with CDC’s Creative Design Services in developing division products.
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Public Relations:

• Develop responses to media and/or CDC-INFO public inquiries; coordinate responses and/or interviews with division subject matter experts as appropriate.
• Work with division subject matter experts and communication team to develop and disseminate creative new content and visuals to effectively reach specific target audiences.
• Develop communication tools for staff to use in delivering consistent messages about the division’s work and priority issues (e.g., talking points, Q & A’s, science briefs, fact sheets, PowerPoints, etc.)
• Use online tools to conduct media analysis on division topics.

Promotions:

• Advise branches on communication planning and guide implementation of communication strategies.
• Assist in planning, developing, and coordinating promotion of division releases, campaigns, or other communication materials.
• Assist in managing a social media content calendar in coordination with other team members.
• Research division topics, priorities, and audiences; understand details; and translate into compelling and accurate content that drives social media and web ‘end users’ to act.
• Help develop creative social media content and visuals; monitor and measure the effectiveness across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and emerging channels.
  

Qualifications and Education Requirements

               Master’s/3 years’ experience

               Bachelor’s/5 years’ experience

Preferred Skills

Professional Competencies Preferred:

• Superb writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills for lay and professional audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of social marketing, marketing, and/or health communication.
• Demonstrated experience in writing in plain language. 
• Business-to-business and/or consumer marketing experience.
• Creative product design training and skills.
• Understanding of search engine optimization and its relation to social marketing engagement.
• Strong analytical, organizational, project, and time management skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to effectively multitask.
• Experience developing culturally competent, research-informed messaging.
• The ability to work independently, as well as with a team.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)
• Federal Government Experience is desired but not essential.