Job Description

Senior Public Affairs/Communications Specialist

Location: San Diego, CA

The Marlin Alliance is seeking a strategic and highly motivated Senior Public Affairs Specialist to lead our mission-critical communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives. In this role, you will act as a primary advisor to leadership, crafting narratives that protect organizational reputation and ensure clear, effective communication across diverse public and private sectors.

Incorporated in 2002, The Marlin Alliance is a digital transformation company dedicated to ensuring our clients compete and win in tomorrow’s digital world. We specialize in creating technical solutions that allow for seamless execution of automated business processes and the generation of governed, machine-consumable data. From strategic planning to advanced analytics and cybersecurity, our team provides cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary solutions. We are seeking motivated professionals who share our agile, solution-oriented mindset and are ready to deliver the real, practical results relied upon by our clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and execution of comprehensive communication plans to support organizational goals and mission-critical objectives.
• Act as a primary point of contact for media inquiries; draft press releases, media advisories, and executive statements for high-level distribution.
• Advise senior leadership on the communication implications of proposed plans, policies, and public events to mitigate risk and maximize positive impact.
• Oversee the development of complex informational materials across digital and traditional platforms, ensuring consistency in brand and messaging.
• Develop and maintain rapid-response communication protocols to address sensitive issues and ensure organizational stability during real-world events.
• Coordinate virtual and in-person briefings, town halls, and community outreach efforts to foster transparency and build strategic partnerships.

Required Qualifications

• Active or ability to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations and 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Expert knowledge of public affairs principles, media relations, and strategic message framing.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills with a proven track record of briefing executive or military leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from the Defense Information School (DINFOS) or similar accredited public affairs training.
• Familiarity with social media analytics, digital design tools, and the M365 Teams environment for collaborative planning.
• Understanding of government legislative affairs and military culture/customs.

Work Environment and Mental/Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions, absent undue hardships.

• Must be able to perform work in a stationary position at a minimum of 50% of the time.
• Must have the ability to operate computer and other office productivity machinery consistently during work hours.
• Must have the ability to communicate and exchange information and ideas in an in-person or virtual setting through the use of online tools and available communication mediums.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as deemed necessary

Job Classification:

$115K - $155K

Disclaimer:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.