Job Description
Job Title: Public Relations Specialist
Location: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Anticipated Start Date: September 2026
Position Summary GD Resources is seeking a Public Relations Specialist to support strategic communications and public affairs activities at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The specialist will develop communication strategies, manage media and stakeholder engagement, prepare communication products, support leadership messaging, and evaluate the effectiveness of public affairs initiatives.
This position requires an experienced communicator who can manage multiple priorities in a high-tempo healthcare and military environment.
Key Responsibilities - Develop and execute public affairs, strategic communication, community-relations, and crisis-communication plans.
- Write and edit press releases, newsletters, talking points, speeches, briefings, web content, social media posts, and leadership messages.
- Respond to media inquiries and coordinate interviews, media visits, press conferences, and briefings.
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with news media, military organizations, healthcare organizations, federal agencies, and community partners.
- Maintain and update website, intranet, and social media content.
- Ensure that internal and external messaging is consistent with Walter Reed, Military Health System, and Defense Health Agency priorities.
- Monitor media coverage and public perceptions and recommend communication strategies in response to emerging issues.
- Support crisis communications and time-sensitive media matters, including issues that may attract national or congressional interest.
- Participate in strategic communication, access-to-care, emergency-management, DHA, and regional public affairs meetings.
- Support distinguished-visitor activities, leadership events, community-engagement programs, and other high-profile activities.
- Develop editorial ideas, identify communication opportunities, and coordinate content with subject-matter experts.
- Compile weekly communication reports, issue logs, trackers, campaign metrics, and performance analyses.
- Submit communication products to the Government Public Affairs Officer for review before publication.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, project management, or a related field.
- At least five years of public affairs, strategic communications, public relations, or related project-management experience.
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience developing communication plans and content for diverse audiences.
- Experience managing media inquiries, interviews, events, websites, or social media platforms.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet daily, weekly, and urgent deadlines.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and stakeholder-coordination skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain required Government facility, CAC, network, and background-investigation access.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience in healthcare, military public affairs, federal communications, or a related environment.
- Knowledge of the Military Health System or Defense Health Agency.
- Project Management Professional certification.
- Experience with crisis communications, congressional-interest matters, or executive-level communications.
Work Requirements The position is primarily performed on-site, Monday through Friday. Occasional after-hours support may be required for emergencies, media matters, major events, or contingency operations.
Job Tags
Full time, Monday to Friday