Institute for Defense Analyses

Director - Corporate Communications

Institute for Defense Analyses$195K — $312K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in communications leadership, 5-7 years in federal governmental affairs.
  • BS/BA required; Master's preferred in relevant fields like Communications or Political Science.
  • Deep expertise in strategic communication and media relations.
  • Thorough understanding of congressional rules and operations is advantageous.
  • Proven ability to craft and deliver messages for targeted audiences.
  • Extensive collaborative experience in implementing communication strategies.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with executive leaders to shape strategic communication programs.
  • Provide legislative support to the Office of the General Counsel through document handling.
  • Develop proactive communications strategies to enhance brand trust and affinity.
  • Lead media relations strategies that boost corporate reputation while reducing risks.
  • Identify crisis communication needs and create effective response strategies.
  • Collaborate to present complex technical content through diverse media channels.
  • Mentor and develop a high-performing communications team with clear performance metrics.

Benefits

  • Competitive salary with diverse health insurance options.
  • 10% employer contribution for retirement plans.
  • Generous parental leave policy with 6 weeks 100% paid.
  • 20 days of paid time off annually plus relocation reimbursement.
  • Mission-driven work that supports national defense and public service loan forgiveness eligibility.
  • Professional development opportunities including tuition reimbursement.
  • Work-life balance with a commitment to 40-hour workweeks and flexible schedules.
  • State-of-the-art working environment with modern facilities and amenities.
  • Accessible location near public transport, dining, and retail.
Full Job Description
Overview

Senior communications strategist and advisor to the President and corporate executives, providing leadership and counsel on corporate reputation, brand identity, organizational values, and culture across all audiences. Designs and executes complex, enterprise-wide communication strategies that support organizational objectives and strengthen institutional positioning.

Responsibilities
  • Partners with the President and executive leadership to develop and execute comprehensive, goal-oriented strategic communications programs aligned with corporate mission, values and institutional priorities.
  • Provides legislative and congressional support to the Office of the General Counsel, including drafting, reviewing, and editing responses to congressional inquiries, reports and testimony requests.
  • Leads proactive, transformative communications strategies, and initiatives designed to inform, inspire trust and strengthen IDA brand affinity.
  • Leads a comprehensive media relations and media engagement strategy that enhances corporate reputation and mitigates risk through effective policies, protocols and communications standards.
  • Identifies potential crisis communications situations, develops response strategies and maintains a strong crisis communication framework.
  • Collaborates across operations and research teams to develop and effectively present technical content through various media including websites, social media, graphics and publications to create an operational environment that ensures IDA's mission success.
  • Builds, mentors, coaches and develops a best-in-class team of savvy communications professionals who employ advanced communications strategies and technologies.
    Establishes performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness and continuously adjust activities to ensure maximum impact.
  • Serves as the senior corporate media spokesperson.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
  • Minimum of 10 years of communications leadership experience including 5 - 7 years of recent federal-level governmental affairs experience at a think tank, research organization, association or state or local government.
  • BS/BA required; Master's preferred in Communications, Political Science, Journalism or other relevant field.
  • Expertise in strategic communication.
  • Comprehensive understanding of congressional rules, procedures and operations is a plus.
  • Experience in strategic communications planning, messaging and media relations. Proven understanding of national security issues and/or governmental activities preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to take knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messages and then deliver it to the right audiences through the best distribution channels.
  • Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies.
  • Superior writing/editing and verbal communication skills.
  • A strong track record of managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required.
  • Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.

Why work at IDA?
  • Competitive salary and benefits, including diverse health insurance options, generous 10% contribution to retirement, 6 weeks 100% paid parental leave, 20 days paid time off, and relocation reimbursement.
  • Mission-oriented work at a non-profit that supports and protects our Nation's warfighters; as a non-profit, IDA employees are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL).
  • Professional development including tuition reimbursement, internal and external trainings, and funding for researcher-pitched projects and publications.
  • A strong employee and corporate culture of work-life balance, including commitment to average 40-hour work weeks through flex time, partial telework options, and expectation of communication only during core business hours.
  • Located in Alexandria's high-tech corridor, IDA's brand new Potomac Yard facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, workspaces, cafeteria and gym.
  • Easy access to local dining and shopping, the Potomac Yard Metro stop and the Potomac Yard DASH bus stop. Employer contributes $340/month (IRS max) to commuter benefits.

Compensation

We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $195,521 - $312,401. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent's experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.

U.S. Citizenship is required

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required

About Institute for Defense Analyses

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a non-profit corporation that provides scientific and technical research and analysis to the United States Department of Defense and other federal agencies. IDA was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The organization employs over 1,200 scientists, engineers, and analysts who conduct research in a variety of fields, including national security, science and technology, and social sciences. IDA is governed by a board of trustees, which is composed of senior executives from the defense industry, academia, and government.
Learn more about Institute for Defense Analyses
Size
1,200 employees
Industry
Founded
1956

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