Marketing and Communications Team Lead

LMI is seeking a Marketing and Communications Team Lead to provide both operational and strategic communications support for the DoD SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. This includes leading a well-established team of professional communicators, driving communications and outreach campaigns, and overseeing the development of innovative communication products. This position requires regular engagement with senior leadership and close collaboration with a diverse range of personnel and subcontractors. While this role offers the flexibility of being fully remote, occasional travel to events and/or client meetings in Tysons Corner, VA, will be required.

LMI is a consultancy dedicated to improving the business of government, drawing from deep expertise in advanced analytics, digital services, logistics, and management advisory services. LMI is a trusted consultant to federal, civilian and defense agencies, free of commercial and political bias. We believe government can make a difference, and we seek talented, hardworking people who share that conviction.

LMI administers the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program. SMART's mission is to produce the next generation of highly skilled DoD science and technology (S&T) leaders. SMART is a scholarship for service program that provides academic funding to undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for exceling in STEM fields. In exchange, students complete a period of full-time employment with the Department of Defense (DoD) where they are provided opportunities to further their work and research in civil service roles. SMART is the largest education to workforce program offered by DoD STEM.

KEY QUALITIES

Leadership & Team Management: Provide strong leadership to an established team, ensuring clear communication, motivation, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Project Management: Lead multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met, resources are optimized, and client objectives are achieved.
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, fostering a collaborative, positive, and productive team environment.
• Strategic Oversight: Oversee and refine team processes, identifying opportunities for improvement to enhance efficiency and performance.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Exhibit sound judgment in making decisions, managing risks, and resolving challenges effectively.
• Mentorship & Development: Provide mentorship to team members, encouraging professional growth and skill development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with project and organizational objectives.
• Client Management: Manage client relationships by proactively addressing needs, delivering tailored solutions, and ensuring high levels of satisfaction through consistent communication, strategic guidance, and responsive support.
• Change Management: Lead the team through change initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions and high levels of adaptability.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Lead a team of communication professionals, delivering clear, concise, and impactful messaging across all platforms, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering strong stakeholder relationships through exceptional communication skills.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the Marketing and Communications Team Lead for the Outreach team (internal and external stakeholders); managing a team of communication specialists and graphic and multimedia designers to oversee product development.
• Lead the development and execution of communication strategies to support the client's mission, including briefs, advertising, product designs, SEO, and data analysis. Oversee the outreach team in producing reports, presentations, web content, social media campaigns, marketing materials, and press releases.
• Manage enterprise-level internal and external communications, products, and partnerships. Provide communications services to promote and disseminate information on initiatives, collaborating with stakeholders to develop communications products and plans.
• Oversee the design, content, and inventory of SMART promotional materials, including print and swag. Responsible for shipping and printing of promotional and marketing items.
• Provide updates to the Outreach Program Manager regularly and assists with monthly status reports and project reviews as needed
• Work closely with Outreach Program Manager and University and Events Lead to develop quarterly deliverables, meetings, plans, reports and briefs.
• Assist Outreach Program Manager in the budget forecasting and management, performance reviews, and strategic team meetings as necessary.
• Attend events and outreach engagements as necessary; provide information sessions as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of experience executing large-scale communication strategies
• Experience supporting and briefing executive level government leadership, preferable DOD leadership
• Experience managing a team with multiple complex projects, simultaneously
• Experience designing, developing, and delivering strategic communications through a variety of media, including print and digital.
• Experience with communications principles, methods, practices, and techniques, including skill in presenting ideas in speech and in written form to inform and persuade audiences.
• Experience developing and executing strategic engagement plans for building and maintaining relationships with government client stakeholders.
• Experience developing and executing advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Exceptional communication (oral and written) and presentation skills, with proficiency in multiple methods of visual communication.
• Experience with video development support (writing scripts, story boarding, editing, assisting videographers with filming and production, etc.)
• Must possess a strong attention to detail, demonstrating the ability to quickly identify and rectify inconsistencies across various products and materials. A keen eye for detail will be essential in maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and consistency of marketing materials. This role involves more than just proofreading and editing; it requires a meticulous approach to ensuring that messaging is error-free and aligned with brand standards.
• Must be able to adapt to changing environments within DoD and be flexible with expectations to communication outreach tasks.
• Proficiency with the use of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Attend events and outreach engagements as necessary and hold a valid driver's license. Perform additional duties as assigned to support outreach efforts.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• Experience with portal design incorporating UI/UX and human centered design, content, functionality and ensuring SEO Optimization
• Graphic design capabilities and proficiency with the use of Adobe products including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.
• Human Centered Design experience
• Experience with conference and event support.

Target Salary Range: $110,000 - $137,000. Disclaimer: The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation. Individual salaries are determined by various factors including, but not limited to location, internal equity, business considerations, client contract requirements, and candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, skills, and security clearances.