Job Details

Communications Liaison

The Communications Liaison will provide writing, editing, and communications support for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) patient safety and compliance program. This role is responsible for technical editing of all contract deliverables, reviewing and refining materials for OPTN committee and Board meetings, coordinating public-facing communications, and serving as the primary liaison between the project team and HRSA/OPTN communications staff. The Communications Specialist ensures that written products are clear, accurate, consistent with federal plain language and branding requirements, and compliant with HRSA/OPTN review processes. This role combines strong editorial skills, stakeholder coordination, and knowledge of federal communication standards to support transparent, high-quality communication about OPTN patient safety, membership, and compliance activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Editing and Quality Control of Deliverables
• Perform detailed technical editing, copyediting, and proofreading of all written deliverables under the contract (e.g., plans, SOPs, reports, meeting summaries, training materials).
• Ensure consistency in style, tone, terminology, and formatting across documents and presentations.
• Apply federal Plain Language Guidelines and HRSA/OPTN style and branding requirements to all materials.
• Review documents for clarity, logical flow, and alignment with program objectives and regulatory context; work with technical leads to resolve ambiguities and strengthen key messages.
• Support the development and maintenance of editorial standards, templates, and checklists for project deliverables.
• Committee and Board Materials Support
• Review and refine slide decks, briefing documents, talking points, and other materials prepared for Safety and Compliance Committee(s), OPTN Board, and related workgroups.
• Ensure meeting materials clearly describe goals, decisions needed, and key background information, and are appropriate for the intended audience (e.g., clinical, technical, leadership, public).
• Check all materials for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to confidentiality, redaction, and sensitive information requirements.
• Coordinate timelines for materials review and finalization to meet established deadlines for committee and Board meetings.
• Public-Facing Communications
• Draft, edit, and format public-facing content describing Safety and Compliance Committee(s) activities, membership, accomplishments, and key policy or program updates (e.g., website content, fact sheets, summaries).
• Ensure all public materials:
• Follow OPTN branding and HRSA communications guidance.
• Use plain language and are accessible to non-technical audiences.
• Comply with federal requirements (e.g., no lobbying, no commercial advertising, no non-federal logos outside OPTN).
• Support preparation of de-identified, public-facing meeting summaries and other materials for posting to the OPTN website.
• Assist in developing standard templates and messaging for recurring public communications.
• Liaison to HRSA/OPTN Communications
• Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact between the project team and HRSA/OPTN communications staff.
• Coordinate routing of draft public materials for review and written approval from the COR and HRSA/OPTN communications team, per contract requirements.
• Track communications requests from HRSA and ensure timely, complete responses in coordination with internal subject matter experts.
• Maintain documentation of approvals, branding guidance, and communications SOPs, and ensure the project team applies them consistently.
• Internal Coordination and Support
• Work closely with project managers, committee operations staff, analysts, and subject matter experts to understand content, context, and intended audiences for deliverables.
• Support preparation of visually clear, accessible materials (e.g., charts, tables, graphics) in alignment with Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of communication products and processes, including recommending updates to templates, workflows, and review processes.
• Help ensure that all communications-related tasks and timelines are integrated into project plans and tracking tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Public Health, Public Policy, Health Administration, Journalism, or a related field.
• Master's degree in a related field is preferred but not required.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in technical editing, communications, or similar roles supporting complex programs or projects.
• Experience working with or supporting federal agencies, healthcare, public health, or regulatory/compliance environments is strongly preferred.
• Prior experience supporting leadership, committee, or board-level communications is a plus.

Skills and Competencies

• Technical Editing & Writing: Demonstrated ability to edit complex, technical content for clarity, consistency, and readability while preserving accuracy.
• Plain Language & Policy Translation: Skilled at translating technical and regulatory concepts into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences.
• Attention to Detail: Exceptional accuracy in grammar, formatting, and content review; strong ability to identify inconsistencies and gaps.
• Compliance & Branding Awareness: Familiarity with, or ability to quickly learn, federal plain language requirements, branding guidelines, and restrictions on lobbying and advertising.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Experience working with multiple stakeholders (e.g., program staff, clinicians, policy experts, communications offices) to refine and finalize materials.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide constructive editorial feedback and to clarify complex content with subject matter experts.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), SharePoint/Teams, and virtual meeting platforms; experience preparing accessible documents (Section 508) is preferred.
• Organization & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines, prioritize work in a fast-paced environment, and meet quality and timeliness expectations.