Type of Requisition:
Regular
Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
None
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
None
Public Trust/Other Required:
MBI (T2)
Job Family:
Program Delivery and Execution
Job Qualifications:
Skills:
Detail-Oriented, Organization, Project Management, Scientific Communications, Stakeholder Relationship Management Certifications:
None Experience:
8 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required:
No
Job Description:
GDIT is seeking an experienced, scientifically fluent Senior Communications & Outreach Specialist to support a government contract with the NIH Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA). GDIT is your place to make meaningful contributions to challenging projects and grow a rewarding career.
At GDIT, people are our differentiator. The Specialist will lead end-to-end planning and execution of scientific workshops and webinars, serve as a primary liaison to senior researchers and workshop organizers, and provide senior-level communications and administrative leadership for the program team. The Specialist will report to the team's Communications Lead and will work alongside 3-4 teammates. This role is well suited to a scientifically trained professional who combines strong technical credibility with excellent interpersonal skills, independent judgment, and the initiative to identify solutions in undefined situations.
HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:
Event Leadership
Lead end-to-end planning and execution of scientific workshops and webinars, partnering with project team members, scientific staff, steering committees, speakers, vendors, and client stakeholders to establish responsibilities, coordinate dependencies, and deliver events that advance scientific exchange and program goals
Manage speaker coordination, steering committee engagement, agenda development, travel sponsorship, audiovisual and venue logistics, materials preparation, registration, multichannel promotion, budget tracking, accessibility accommodations, on-site execution, and post-event reporting, while ensuring alignment with applicable government contracting requirements and client procedures
Serve as a highly organized, reliable, and personable point of contact for workshop organizers and invited speakers, coordinating 40 or more speakers across concurrent workshops and working with steering committees of 10–20 members to keep participants informed, aligned, and prepared
Draft substantive correspondence and materials for organizers and speakers, exercising judgment on tone, technical accuracy, and stakeholder sensitivities
Facilitate communication among organizers, speakers, scientific staff, and project team members by clarifying roles, documenting decisions, tracking action items, and following up on dependencies that could affect event readiness
Own tracking of multiple concurrent projects and deadlines using task management tools (e.g., Microsoft Planner), proactively identifying, communicating, and mitigating risks before they affect scope, budget, or timelines
Communications & Technical Writing
Independently draft and send professional, policy-compliant email responses to public and stakeholder inquiries, in accordance with NIH communication guidelines
Write and edit public-facing website content, newsletter content, and other outward-facing materials, translating complex scientific content for non-technical audiences
Draft white papers, meeting notes, and summary documents as needed, condensing technical discussions for a range of audiences
Edit staff manuscripts and abstracts for clarity, accuracy, and style prior to submission or publication
Revise documents to ensure they meet accessibility standards (e.g., PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoint decks) prior to publication on government websites
Program Leadership & Administrative Oversight
Lead scheduling, agenda-setting, and minute-taking for committee meetings, often involving senior scientific stakeholders and requiring tact, confidence, and…