Akoya, a small, woman-owned communications firm, is seeking an experienced Communications Specialist II/Events Manager to work with a team of Akoya communicators supporting the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Procurement Officer in Washington, DC ResponsibilitiesServe as Akoya's client-facing lead for events and special projects, meeting regularly with client to define requirements and timeframesPlan for and conduct all aspects of conference, event, and meeting planning and logistical support as well as monthly webinars, with the assistance of the events coordinator and support from the full Akoya communications team (writers, graphic designer)Supervise and mentor the Events Coordinator Develop a schedule and project plan for each event, brief the Events Coordinator, and determine how responsibilities will be shared; supervise progress by the Events Coordinator and hold regular meetings throughout the implementation of the project plan; monitor and update the project plan Collaborate with the Akoya creative team lead to prioritize and schedule all deliverables related to events or special projects; assist the assigned staff (writers, graphic designers, or other communications support) as needed in executing the deliverables; provide research, writing, and proofreading support alongside the creative team; meet with the creative lead weekly or more often as needed to review status of deliverables; coordinate with the other Akoya client-facing lead to resolve any conflicts in scheduling of creative team resourcesOversee the day-to-day management of all event operations including, but not limited to, development of event agendas, coordination of all logistical support activities (travel, accommodations, meeting facilities, audiovisual equipment and other supply needs, and coordination with the venue), management of event registration, oversight and staffing of registration desk during events, development and distribution of event materials, and development and placement of event signageIndependently develop and/or manage the development of strategic communications and marketing plans for activities as assigned, including assessing target audiences to determine communications needs and developing marketing campaigns to effectively reach target audiencesProvide direction for internal and external outreach strategies across various channels to maximize reach and engagements of DHS's stakeholdersParticipate in strategic planning initiatives related to current outreach eventsParticipate in client conferences as requestedTravel to Pittsburgh as required Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field7+ years of relevant work experience in events management and communicationsStrong writing and editing proficienciesDetail orientation with strong interpersonal communication and organizational skillsAbility to coordinate, prioritize, and accomplish multiple tasks in a fast-paced environmentPrior managerial experience CompetenciesCapable of strategic thinking and analysis of varied and complex mattersExperienced and skilled in effective methods to reach targeted marketsCapable of follow-up assessments of communications and/or marketing campaigns to ensure effectiveness of effortsExperienced in supporting similar efforts for other government clients Able to work under limited supervisionCapable of learning (absorbing the culture-learning about the many varied tasks required daily; ability to offer and accept constructive criticism)Able to represent Akoya in a polished and professional manner and to make sound business decisions on behalf of Akoya and its clientsCustomer focused (understanding the importance of our clients and prospects)Able to tolerate stress (handling multiple tasks without getting rattled)Technical knowledge (use of Word, Excel, PPT, Access, and social media platforms)Skilled in time management (using time and resources to get the job done)Skilled in oral and written communication (able to articulate clearly, to speak, write, edit, and proofread in accordance with standard English grammar and usage) No phone calls accepted. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.