Senior Communications Manager, Homeland Security

Description

Leidos is seeking a seasoned communications powerhouse to lead all communications and marketing activities for a key national security and critical infrastructure-focused business area in our Homeland sector. Reporting to the Vice President, Homeland Communications Director, this individual will develop and execute integrated strategies that elevate our visibility, strengthen our reputation, and position Leidos as a trusted leader with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, key agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and allied partners.

This is an experienced, hands-on individual contributor role for developing and executing integrated strategies across earned, owned, and paid channels. The role will manage complex communications projects and priorities across teams, serving as a strategic advisor to senior leadership while maintaining alignment with corporate brand standards. The successful candidate will bring exceptional writing skills and excellent judgment along with their proven marketing expertise.

The ideal candidate will reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area and work in the Leidos Global Headquarters in Reston, VA. Strong preference will be given to local candidates.

Primary Responsibilities

• External Communications:
  Develop high-impact content (press releases, op-eds, feature articles, website copy and social media posts) that demonstrates thought leadership and supports business and campaign objectives.
• Strategic Communications Planning:
  Design and implement comprehensive, integrated communications and marketing campaigns that reinforce Leidos' leadership in national security and technology.
• Media Relations:
  Working closely with corporate and media colleagues, develop proactive media engagement, including cultivating relationships with trade reporters, pitching stories, managing inquiries and coordinating public statements.
• Executive & Leadership Communications:
  Partner with business area leadership to draft and refine speeches, talking points, presentations and commentary for homeland security focused audiences, conferences and publications. Create clear, compelling internal communications that keep employees informed about business priorities, sector achievements and leadership perspectives. Collaborate with Corporate Communications to drive employee engagement and ensure message alignment.
• Internal Communications & Employee Engagement
  Develop internal communications that inform and engage employees around business priorities and customer impact, ensuring internal audiences are considered and aligned as a core stakeholder group. Act as primary administrator for select intranet pages, ensuring information is accurate, current and engaging.
• Events & Thought Leadership:
  Develop messaging and provide on-site support for major trade shows, customer forums, employee town halls and industry events.
• Issues & Crisis Communications:
  Provide counsel and content support for sensitive issues, including drafting holding statements and coordinating responses with leadership and corporate teams.
• Collaboration & Alignment:
  Coordinate with the broader Corporate Communications team, other sector and business area communicators and external partners (e.g., national security associations, coalitions) to ensure consistency and maximize visibility.
• Measurement & Reporting:
  Track communications performance and provide metrics-driven insights to refine strategies and demonstrate impact.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or related field and 12+ years of progressive experience in communications, with a strong focus on critical infrastructure, technology and/or government agencies. Additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with mastery of AP style and the ability to translate complex technical and policy topics into compelling narratives.
• Experience collaborating with senior executives as a strategic communications advisor.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing integrated communications strategies.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration platforms (Teams, SharePoint).
• Ability to operate with initiative, discretion and sound judgment in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting national security, aviation security, border protection, law enforcement or critical infrastructure missions.
• Established media relations experience and relationships, particularly with national or homeland security trade reporters.
• Familiarity with U.S. government customers, acquisition cycles and the competitive landscape.
• Experience working with and supporting global colleagues in allied countries.
• Eligibility for a U.S. government security clearance, if needed.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.