Interim Communications & Design Specialist

Communications & Design Specialist

Position Overview

KeenLogic is seeking a Communications Specialist to support the Executive Office / Secretary of the Senate (SECSEN) with the Communications and Branding Alignment Project. SECSEN offices produce essential Senate community-facing communications, materials, posters, brochures, and lead various external engagement activities. This project is focused on developing editorial standards, streamlining review processes, and ensuring visual consistency across SECSEN offices to make publishing and outreach easier and more efficient.

This position will work closely with directors, and will manage project milestones, document current publishing practices, establish editorial style guides and sheets, and design visual collateral for newsletters and outreach materials. Graphic design is a key component of the role, including developing visual branding standards, logo usage guidelines, custom design templates, and written style manuals. The position will also collaborate with the U.S. Senate Printing, Graphics & Direct Mail design team to recommend innovative design solutions to SECSEN offices.

Position Details

• Contract Length: Temporary contract, approximately 6 to 8 months, starting in October 2026
• Location: Washington, DC
• Schedule: 40 hours/week, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
• Hybrid role: Up to 2 days remote per week dependent on business needs

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in communications management, editorial coordination, or publications workflow.
• 3+ years of graphic design experience, including practical expertise in visual brand identity, template creation, layout design, document formatting, and/or print collateral such as posters and brochures.
• Demonstrated project management capabilities, including milestone tracking, meeting facilitation, schedule management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong writing and editing skills with attention to clear structure, consistency, and accessible tone.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively while respecting individual office strengths and established practices.
• Ability to translate varied workflows into simple, practical, and easy-to-follow reference materials.

Job Expectations

• Ability to manage a communications and branding alignment project from planning through completion while maintaining clear timelines and deliverables.
• Ability to assess existing communications, publishing practices, editorial standards, and visual materials across multiple offices.
• Ability to develop practical editorial standards, style guides, visual branding standards, templates, and reference materials.
• Ability to facilitate collaborative discussions with directors and office staff, gather feedback, and translate operational needs into effective communications solutions.
• Ability to balance written communications, graphic design, project management, and stakeholder coordination responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage overall project execution, maintain clear timelines, track milestones, and ensure key deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Organize and facilitate collaborative review sessions, interviews, and workshops with directors and office staff to gather feedback and understand operational needs.
• Serve as the central point of contact for project updates, provide clear progress reports, and maintain open communication with Executive Office staff.
• Maintain and update a centralized project schedule, anticipate potential bottlenecks, and proactively offer practical solutions.
• Conduct a thorough inventory of external communications, print materials, posters, brochures, digital assets, and external engagement activities across SECSEN offices.
• Collaborate with office staff to document current drafting practices, document layouts, grammar choices, and distribution channels.
• Build a master editorial calendar organized by date and office to align publication schedules across SECSEN offices.
• Create versatile design templates, visual layout standards, posters, brochures, and visual branding guidelines tailored to individual office needs.
• Design standardized submission memos and map Executive Office review workflows to streamline approvals.
• Draft comprehensive guidance documentation and support development of an overarching SECSEN communications and branding policy.
• Collaborate with the U.S. Senate Printing, Graphics & Direct Mail design team to recommend innovative design solutions to SECSEN offices.

Benefits

KeenLogic offers Fortune 500-level benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, PTO, paid federal holidays, 401(k), and life insurance.