Join our team and help shape the future of transportation! 

Leidos is hiring an experienced Marketing and Communications Specialist based at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL) in McLean, Virginia. This advanced research lab and smart garage enable groundbreaking research and testing that allow the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to validate and refine new transportation services and technologies developed by Leidos and our partners.

Learn about STOL here: https://highways.dot.gov/research/laboratories/saxton-transportation-operations-laboratory/saxton-transportation-operations-laboratory-overview    

About the Role: 

As a Marketing and Communications Specialist, your primary focus will be planning and managing events such as conferences, trade shows, workshops, and stakeholder meetings. This includes everything from session planning and sponsor engagement to post-event reporting and attendee follow-up. You will also contribute to general marketing and communications activities to support USDOT initiatives, including the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 

You will collaborate with professionals in Transportation, Engineering, Software Development, and Artificial Intelligence to produce impactful products that advance research, shape the industry's future, and encourage the adoption of intelligent transportation systems and automated vehicle technologies. 

Responsibilities Include: 

As a key member of our team, you will take a lead role in planning and managing events, including conferences, trade shows, and stakeholder workshops. This involves coordinating all aspects of event logistics, session planning, and sponsor engagement to ensure seamless execution and maximum impact. Specifically, you will: 

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with event sponsors, working collaboratively to align on shared goals and deliverables. 

Design and manage conference sessions, including drafting session abstracts, coordinating speaker schedules, and developing presentation materials. 

Conduct in-depth market research to identify new and emerging conferences or events that align with program objectives, recommending opportunities to expand our presence. 

Track and analyze event attendance, engagement levels, and interactions with marketing materials to measure effectiveness and provide actionable insights for future initiatives. 

Oversee the collection and organization of post-event feedback, synthesizing findings to evaluate event success and inform continuous improvement. 

Coordinate the capture and organization of event leads and post-event attendee lists, ensuring follow-up activities are well-organized and timely. 

Provide internal support for event registration processes, distributing detailed event updates and ensuring stakeholders are informed and prepared. 

Maintain comprehensive records of event plans, budgets, and post-event summaries, serving as a resource for team members and stakeholders. 

Manage the procurement and organization of event supplies, branded collateral, and apparel, ensuring timely delivery and readiness for deployment. 

Develop event-specific checklists, briefings, and schedules to guide event execution and streamline internal workflows. 

Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries from event stakeholders, maintaining a high standard of customer service and professionalism. 

In addition to event management, you will contribute to broader marketing and communications activities, creating compelling content for digital platforms, social media, technical reports, and stakeholder engagements. You will apply data-driven insights to enhance the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and ensure all communications align with established branding guidelines. 

This role also requires strong collaboration with internal and external partners, leveraging your organizational and analytical skills to deliver high-quality results that support program goals and the advancement of intelligent transportation systems and automated vehicle technologies. 

Required Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 2+ years of experience.

Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance (which includes three years of immediate residency in the US).

Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and engaging session abstracts, presentations, and stakeholder correspondence. 

Experience with event logistics, sponsor relations, attendee engagement, and post-event reporting. 

Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining records, budgets, and event schedules. 

Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and engage with internal and external stakeholders professionally. 

Proficiency in relevant software and tools, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management or event planning tools. 

Familiarity with data analysis and the ability to measure and report on event and marketing performance. 

Willingness to travel as needed to attend or support events. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Advanced understanding or experience in the transportation industry, engineering, automated vehicle technologies, Cooperative Driving Automation, intelligent transportation systems, or emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. 

Proven experience in managing and delivering projects on time and within budget, with a strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall). 

Experience with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring content is compliant as it relates to accessible documents and electronic media. 

Pay Range:  $85,00 - $95,000 - $105,000 

Original Posting Date:2025-01-17

While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $63,700.00 - $115,150.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.