Program Communications Specialist

Description:

The Hatcher Group is seeking a polished, highly organized communications specialist to support a large-scale government contract team. As the Program Communications Specialist, you will author consistent, clear, and effective communication between contract staff and government stakeholders. You will play a key role in improving program transparency, elevating how accomplishments are documented and shared, and developing high-quality communications products that support leadership briefings, stakeholder engagement, and ad-hoc requests.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer and communicator who can translate complex program information into clear, audience-appropriate messaging and enjoys collaborating closely with program managers and government partners in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Our flexible-first work culture empowers you to deliver your best work wherever you are. While remote work is regular part of our operations, candidates within commuting distance of our Bethesda, MD office are strongly preferred to support weekly in-person collaboration and team building.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will be responsible for supporting program communications through message alignment, content development, and stakeholder coordination. Key responsibilities will include:

• Aligning key messages between contract staff and government partners, particularly around program accomplishments, priorities, milestones, and contract changes.
• Improving transparency within the contract program team by developing and coordinating regular updates, including accomplishments, milestones, and other key developments.
• Supporting government partners in preparing updates and summaries of program accomplishments for leadership briefings.
• Coordinating with the Program Manager to support client responses to Congressional requests and other external inquiries, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and message alignment.
• Developing and maintaining core communications products.
• Creating program overviews, one-pagers, and stakeholder-facing resources in coordination with other project teams.
• Creating and maintaining a stakeholder log documenting preferred communication formats, program perception, key messaging needs, and stakeholder influence.
• Developing and maintaining a communications matrix outlining regular communications products, content, cadence, and audiences.
• Creating and updating visual communications products, including a monthly milestones graphic highlighting program progress and accomplishments.
• Developing and maintaining a keywords and acronyms cheat sheet to support consistent terminology across all materials.

Requirements:

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, journalism, or a related field.
• Active public trust clearance, or the ability to obtain such clearance.
• 5+ years of experience supporting communications for government programs, federal contracts, or similarly complex or regulated environments.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise messaging for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing briefing decks, one-pagers, and other stakeholder- or leadership-facing communications products.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple communications products with varying audiences and cadences.
• Experience creating visual communications products, including timelines, milestone graphics, or dashboards.
• Familiarity with communications planning tools such as stakeholder mapping and communications matrices.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with program managers, clients, and cross-functional teams.
• High attention to detail, particularly related to message consistency, terminology, and quality control.
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, and Monday.com).
• Must be a U.S. citizen and a fluent English speaker.

We are pleased to offer a competitive salary range of $77,000 to $92,000 per year based on experience and aligned with our internal standards. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes robust healthcare coverage, generous paid time off, and continuous learning opportunities. Plus, take advantage of monthly perks, a home office fund, and a supportive community with in-office snacks and social events.

About The Hatcher Group

We are catalysts for change, solution engineers, and champions of your mission.

A Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) headquartered in Maryland, Hatcher creates award-winning marketing and communications campaigns for clients from across our four sectors: education, environment, public health, and community and opportunity. For a quarter of a century, Hatcher has partnered with nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and other organizations committed to activating change and creating a better world.

Our diverse team of strategic experts in marketing, communications, media, and design brings their all to every project. We immerse ourselves in our client’s world, leaving no stone unturned to tailor solutions and elevate creative potential. By prioritizing authentic and trustworthy partnerships, we execute strategies that capture precise visions and advance meaningful missions.

Hatcher envisions a just and sustainable world where no person is left behind. We create for the social challenges of our time, uniting our clients’ messages with audiences that need to know. Powered by purpose, we are The Hatcher Group.