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Senior Communications Project Manager Jobs in Washington

AKOYA

Senior Communications Project Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Communications Project Manager Akoya is looking for a Senior Communications Project Manager to support Department of Energy engagements. In this role, you will help oversee the day-to-day ...

HDR

Strategic Communications Project Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

... projects at once. Preferred Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations ... Comfortable and competent while working with senior leaders and managing cross-functional efforts

HDR

Strategic Communications Project Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

... projects at once. Preferred Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations ... Comfortable and competent while working with senior leaders and managing cross-functional efforts

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Senior Communications Project Manager information

What does a senior communications project manager do?

A Senior Communications Project Manager oversees and coordinates complex communication projects within an organization. They are responsible for planning, executing, and delivering communication initiatives, such as campaigns, public relations activities, or internal communications, on time and within budget. Their role involves leading cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring that all communication materials align with the organization’s goals and brand standards. They also analyze project outcomes to improve future communications strategies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior communications project manager?

To thrive as a Senior Communications Project Manager, you need expertise in strategic communications, project management, and a background in communications or related fields, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with project management tools like Asana or Trello, digital communication platforms, and certifications such as PMP or PRINCE2 are commonly required. Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and excellent written and verbal communication are essential soft skills for excelling in this role. These skills ensure effective project delivery, clear messaging, and successful coordination across teams and clients.

What are some typical challenges a senior communications project manager faces when coordinating cross-functional teams?

Senior Communications Project Managers often encounter challenges related to aligning diverse stakeholders, managing competing priorities, and ensuring consistent messaging across multiple channels. They must balance strategic oversight with attention to detail, while navigating tight deadlines and evolving project scopes. Effective collaboration, proactive issue resolution, and strong organizational skills are essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering successful communication initiatives.

What is the difference between Senior Communications Project Manager vs Communications Coordinator?

AspectSenior Communications Project ManagerCommunications Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field; often with PMP or similar certificationsBachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field; no specific certifications required
Work EnvironmentLeads projects, manages teams, and oversees strategic communication initiativesSupports communication activities, assists with content creation, and coordinates events
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in corporate, agency, and nonprofit sectors for managing complex projectsCommon in organizations for supporting communication efforts and daily operations

The main difference is that Senior Communications Project Managers oversee strategic communication projects and lead teams, while Communications Coordinators support daily communication tasks and assist with project execution. The senior role involves more responsibility, planning, and leadership, whereas the coordinator role focuses on execution and support.

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Senior Communications Project Manager jobs near you

Senior Communications Project Manager

AKOYA

Washington, DC • On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

About 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.

Senior Communications Project Manager

Akoya is looking for a Senior Communications Project Manager to support Department of Energy engagements. In this role, you will help oversee the day-to-day operations of complex federal contracts, ensuring compliance with requirements and supporting the consistent delivery of high-quality communications, engagement, and outreach services.


You’ll serve as one of the primary points of contact for DOE clients while leading execution across multiple concurrent workstreams. This is a hands-on role that blends operational leadership with direct contribution—you’ll help set priorities, manage team workload, track progress against milestones, and step in to support deliverables when needed to keep work on track.


The right person is an operator: someone who brings structure to ambiguity, builds and manages detailed plans for deliverables, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. You are an exceptional communicator who can translate complex information for different audiences, facilitate collaboration across teams, and navigate sensitive conversations with confidence and professionalism. You are also proactive, accountable, and decisive—able to guide a team through shifting demands while maintaining momentum under tight deadlines.


What You'll Do
  • Own day-to-day execution of DOE engagements, overseeing contract operations to ensure compliance with requirements and consistent delivery of high-quality services.
  • Lead delivery across multiple concurrent workstreams, coordinating tasks, timelines, and dependencies to ensure all work is completed on time and to standard.
  • Manage a team of communications contractors, actively monitoring workload, setting priorities, and rebalancing resources to meet evolving demands.
  • Serve as one of the primary day-to-day client contacts, driving status discussions, managing expectations, and ensuring transparency into contract performance and progress.
  • Develop and maintain integrated project schedules and trackers, enabling proactive planning and execution rather than reactive delivery.
  • Advise clients on communication approaches for sensitive issues, emerging priorities, and organizational initiatives.
  • Draft, edit, and coordinate a wide range of strategic communications products, including speeches, talking points, blog posts, announcements, executive messages, and briefing materials.
  • Develop clear, compelling messaging that aligns with client objectives and resonates with diverse stakeholder audiences.
  • Translate complex technical, policy, and programmatic information into accessible, audience-appropriate content.
  • Review deliverables to ensure message alignment, consistency, accuracy, and overall quality prior to client submission.
  • Identify, communicate, and mitigate risks related to scope, timelines, and team capacity before they impact delivery and implement corrective actions as needed.
  • Step in to directly support or complete deliverables when needed to meet critical deadlines or address team capacity gaps.
  • Build and refine processes, tools, and workflows that improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and strengthen long-term contract performance.


Requirements
  • Must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant 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).
  • 7+ years of professional consulting, federal contracting, or equivalent experience, with at least 3 years supporting federal clients (DOE strongly preferred).
  • Must be based in Washington, D.C. This onsite role will report to the federal client location daily.
  • Experience leading and managing teams, including assigning work, balancing workloads, and adjusting priorities to meet evolving demands.
  • Proven ability to serve as a primary client point of contact, building trust while driving execution and managing expectations.
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively under competing demands and exercise sound judgment under tight deadlines.
  • Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and consistency across all deliverables.
  • Strong writing and editing skills with a track record of producing and reviewing client-ready deliverables from ambiguous or incomplete inputs.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain schedules for deliverables.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and implement processes, tools, and workflows rather than just executing existing ones.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including styles, templates, complex formatting, cross-references, tracked changes, and document comparison.
  • Familiarity with responsible AI principles and practices.
Base Compensation
  • Base compensation: $120,000 to $130,000 annually. 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.