Description

Job Description:

ECS Federal LLC is seeking an experienced, full-time Communications and Outreach Specialist to support the NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology’s (ST) scientific portfolio with an emphasis on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). The candidate will work primarily out of the headquarters office in Silver Spring, MD, for the Director of ST, in consultation with NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Communications.

NOAA Fisheries’ ST advocates and ensures the sound scientific basis for NOAA Fisheries science programs and resource conservation and management decisions. MRIP is the state-regional-federal partnership responsible for developing, improving, and implementing surveys that estimate how many trips saltwater anglers take, and how many fish they catch. Effective, strategic communication of MRIP, including objectives, changes, advances, and results, is a critical agency need.

MRIP is led by ST with guidance provided by an Executive Steering Committee. Specific teams have been established to manage different tasks of the program including: Program Management, Survey Operations, Research and Evaluation, Communication and Education, and Transition teams. Effective collaboration with these teams and the ability to work with staff on all levels is an essential function of this job. The Communications and Outreach Specialist will directly support MRIP’s Communications and Education Team lead.

For more information about MRIP, please visit the MRIP website www.countmyfish.noaa.gov.

Responsibilities include:

Assisting the Communications and Education Team lead with updating, refining, and executing a strategic communications plan for MRIP, and other project-specific plans, under the direction of ST leadership and in consultation with NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Communications and NOAA Fisheries leadership. This includes helping to develop internal and external communications, outreach, and educational activities at the state, regional, and national levels.

Other responsibilities include:

• Developing strong working relationships with state and regional partners to provide communication guidance and support for various projects including Regional Implementation Plans, to develop consistent messages for use by MRIP regional partners, and to help clarify and amplify key MRIP messages, successes, and milestones.
• Traveling to NOAA Fisheries Regions to work side by side with regional partners in developing regional MRIP communications capability and to carry out regional MRIP communications activities on a limited high-priority basis (e.g., the Marine Resource Education Program).
• Promoting regular, effective communications with external partners and stakeholders to encourage broader understanding and support of MRIP goals, methods, uses, and limitations.
• Coordinating effectively with expert consultants who may be brought in on a part-time basis to assist with planning, execution, and/or review of specific MRIP strategic communications and education efforts.
• Advising on appropriate communications strategies for various situations.
• Providing advice and support to MRIP staff and other ST staff and contractors for execution of MRIP communications. This may include:
  • Conceiving and developing in-reach and outreach materials for MRIP including briefing materials, talking points, and presentations for leadership; collecting and organizing photos from the field to be used for publications, online, and in response to media organizations as needed; and consulting on video scripts.
  • Responding to formal and informal requests from stakeholders and partners for information on MRIP.
  • Helping to maintain MRIP’s online presence, including drafting, clearing, and posting web content in coordination with the Office of Communications and for any social media efforts.
  • Assisting with other communications projects such as newsletters and print products, rollout plans, priority documents, and ongoing outreach efforts.
  • Assisting NOAA staff in meeting Section 508 accessibility requirements for all web content.
  • Working collaboratively with the agency’s regional communications leads and regional recreational coordinators to respond to regional inquiries from partners and key stakeholders.
  • Playing an active role as a member of MRIP’s Communications and Education Team.
  • Becoming knowledgeable regarding the basic design and products of the various MRIP surveys, as well as their uses and limitations.  Applying that knowledge in dialogue with MRIP partners and key stakeholders, developing content of communication products, and presentations to partners and stakeholders.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of strategic communications experience.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Speaks and writes in English fluently.
• Proficient in MS-Office software and Google applications.

ECS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. ECS promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.

ECS is a leading mid-sized provider of technology services to the United States Federal Government. We are focused on people, values and purpose. Every day, our 2300+ employees focus on providing their technical talent to support the Federal Agencies and Departments of the US Government to serve, protect and defend the American People.