External Affairs Manager

Job Description

Job DescriptionAbout Akoya

We’re a woman-owned small business that delivers big results in strategic communications. For 25 years, Akoya has thrived in the government consulting landscape helping agencies launch new programs, leverage internal and external support, and drive their missions forward. Our strategic approach to communications increases the quality of services and makes Akoya a comfortable home for motivated communications professionals who value and rely on the idea-sharing and collaboration inherent in our corporate culture.

External Affairs Manager

We are hiring an External Affairs Manager to support a federal government contract in Washington, D.C. This role will work directly with senior executive leadership. As a contractor, this individual will advise and implement external engagement initiatives under the direction of senior leadership. This person will be part of an Akoya team with a contract manager and executive oversight. This role is ideal for a highly experienced science communications professional with exceptional writing, external affairs, and strategic communications skills who is deeply comfortable working alongside senior government leaders in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment in Washington, DC.

What You'll Do

• Serve as a trusted external affairs and strategic communications lead to senior leadership, providing daily support on external affairs strategy, stakeholder engagement, messaging, and reputational considerations to amplify leadership priorities; support high-level officials with public engagements; engage professionally and diplomatically with senior agency officials, handling sensitive conversations with maturity, political awareness, and executive savviness at all times.
• Support media relations activities in close coordination with and under the oversight of the agency’s Office of Public Affairs. Responsibilities include planning, executing, and analyzing complex media and engagement campaign strategies, which may include proactive media pitching, coordinating responses to media inquiries, media training, and developing press statements.
• Plan and support multiple speaking engagements per week on an ongoing basis; identify and cultivate opportunities for media engagement.
• Produce a consistently high volume of polished written communications under aggressive deadlines across a wide range of formats, including speeches, remarks, op-eds, talking points, newsletters, executive briefing materials, stakeholder correspondence, event materials, social media, and more.
• Build and sustain productive working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including intergovernmental agencies, and program offices agency-wide; serve as a reliable and trusted point of coordination across these offices; navigate sensitive inter- and intra-agency dynamics with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Collaborate actively as a team player within the Akoya team, coordinating with colleagues to delegate tasks, share workload, and ensure the highest quality, most responsive service to the client; provide flexible, client-first support across the full spectrum of need — from senior strategic advisory work to more executional tasks — with equal professionalism and a service-first mindset.

Requirements

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Affairs, Political Science, English, or a related field and at least 10 years of experience. Alternatively, must have a Master’s degree in a relevant field and 7 years of experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required with verbal and written fluency in English
• Must be able to receive and maintain a federal security clearance (public trust level)
• Must be based in Washington, D.C. This onsite role will report to the federal client location daily. Occasional support outside normal business hours should be expected. Future domestic and international travel with short notice is possible depending on client needs and budgets.
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and executing external affairs and strategic communications from ambiguous inputs for senior executives in a high-volume, high-visibility environment. Writing must be consistently publication-ready; a writing test will be required as part of the application process.
• Proven experience in external affairs communications, including prior work at a federal agency, science-focused public affairs firm, or federal contracting firm supporting government-related clients.
• Deep expertise designing and executing proactive media relations strategies that measurably increase targeted, high-impact press coverage (including top-tier national, trade, and broadcast media) to elevate the public profile as well as strategic priorities of senior leadership.
• Proven track record in serving as a trusted advisor to senior executives, offering real-time strategic counsel, and preparing leaders for high-profile media interviews through the development of key messages, Q&As, media training, and thorough briefing materials.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and executive presence; must be comfortable serving as a day-to-day trusted support contractor alongside senior federal leaders, with the ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion in a politically dynamic, high-profile government environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and consistency across all deliverables.
• Ability to manage own work progress and deadlines with limited oversight from the client and Akoya managers and executive team.
• Skills in implementing processes, tools, and workflows to ensure Akoya, contract, and federal agency compliance.
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles and practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience working directly with senior executives within a federal agency, public affairs firm, or federal contracting environment.
• Experience at or supporting a government agency or another Cabinet-level agency with a science mission.
• Established relationships with national, trade, or beat reporters covering science, government, or science and technology.

Base Compensation

• Base compensation: $140,000 to $150,000. Actual compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as location, education, years of experience, and candidate skillset.

Employee Benefits

Akoya provides generous benefits for its full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Eleven federal holidays
• Vacation and sick & personal time
• And more!

Akoya is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, in compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations, affords equal opportunities for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, age, creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.