Public Relations Specialist, Junior

Description

Vistra is seeking two entry-level Public Relations Specialists to provide comprehensive marketing, public relations, and strategic communications support to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) within Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA). This role involves developing and executing comprehensive communications plans, conducting media surveillance, and managing outreach initiatives to promote SAPRO's mission of preventing sexual assault in the military and supporting survivors. The PR specialist will perform activities in support of various aspects of the program, ensure high-quality deliverables, and maintain professional interactions with stakeholders. The specialist will operate at a high tempo to address short or no notice taskers and adapt to emerging requirements.

The objective of this role is to assist SAPRO in performing its mission of promoting military readiness by reducing sexual assault through prevention, advocacy, and execution of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program policy, planning, and oversight across the Department of Defense (DoD) Community. This is a remote position working within 50 miles of the Mark Center in Alexandria, VA; anticipated on-site presence will be required.  

The PR Specialist will perform tasks related to the following program areas: 

Communications Planning:

• Participate in the development and execution of comprehensive communications plans and social marketing initiatives in support of SAPRO's mission.
• Contribute to the development of a plan of action and milestones for SAPRO's internal and external communications activities, including annual reports, leadership speaking engagements, conference attendance, and other public affairs opportunities.

Media Surveillance and Reporting:

• Conduct proactive media surveillance (print/online and social media) for news related to the DoD SAPR mission.
• Email daily reports of media stories within the current news cycle to a SAPRO-specified email address.
• Engage in social listening and social intelligence strategies to identify, analyze, report, and make recommendations based on target audience messaging.
• Email weekly reports of social media posts to a SAPRO-specified email address.

Content Creation and Management:

• Maintain a SharePoint library of information papers, slick sheets, and educational materials about the SAPRO mission.
• Create and update information papers, slick sheets, and educational materials with information provided by the Government.
• Implement and maintain SAPRO branding guidelines across all print, audiovisual, and electronic media.
• Design commercial quality communication materials including brochures, posters, pocket cards, magnets, flyers, banners, digital materials, and other promotional materials.
• Format materials and prepare documentation for transfer to the Defense Automated Printing Services (DAPS).

Executive Support:

• Draft talking points, speeches, and provide executive coaching for public appearances by SAPRO Leadership.
• Prepare talking points, briefing materials, and provide executive coaching for DoD press interviews, media round tables, and other press encounters.
• Assemble documentation for SAPRO to submit to DoD Public Affairs.
• Provide draft executive level meeting summaries and final executive summaries to SAPRO Leadership.

Social Media and Marketing:

• Participate in the development, tracking, and execution of a government-approved social media and marketing communication program.
• Create a quarterly calendar of weekly social media posts and collaborate with SAPRO on biweekly basis to refine social marketing outreach communications objectives.
• Implement, maintain, and update Government provided social marketing and outreach products (print/graphics/videos) and style guides.
• Maintain and disseminate the Government provided Service’s public affairs guides for outreach communication materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• One to three years of experience planning, directing, or coordinating comprehensive marketing, public relations, or strategic communications efforts within public or private sector organizations.
• Prior DOD experience, especially within Defense Human Resources Activity, the Office of Force Resilience (OFR), or with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD-P&R), strongly preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

US Citizenship Required: Due to the requirements of the federal contract that this position supports, U.S. citizenship is required. Citizenship will be confirmed via I-9/E-Verify at the start of employment.