Overview
Communications professionals help federal agencies share information, engage the public and build understanding of government programs, services and priorities. They develop communication strategies, create content, respond to media inquiries, manage digital communications and help ensure that important information reaches the people who need it.
Strong communication is essential to effective government. Whether explaining public health guidance, announcing new programs or responding during emergencies, communications professionals help agencies provide accurate, timely and accessible information to a wide range of audiences.
What You Might Work On
In the federal government, professionals in this field often:
- Develop communication strategies and messaging for agency programs and initiatives
- Write and edit content for websites, newsletters, speeches, reports and social media
- Respond to media inquiries and support relationships with journalists and stakeholders
- Manage digital communications channels, including websites, email campaigns and social media platforms
- Communicate important information during emergencies, major events or public awareness campaigns
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Enjoy writing, editing and crafting messages for different audiences
- Like translating complex information into clear, accessible language
- Are interested in media, public engagement and storytelling
- Enjoy building relationships and working with a variety of stakeholders
- Thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities and communication needs can change quickly
Job Series Codes
What are job series codes?
In the federal government, most jobs are grouped into “job series” based on the type of work. Each series has a four-digit code (for example, Writing and Editing, 1082).
How to use them:
You can use job series codes to narrow your search on USAJOBS. Start with a keyword (like “program analyst”), then add a series code for more targeted results. Here are a few examples to get you started — there are hundreds of job series codes across the federal government!
| Code | Series / category name | Common keywords | What you’ll do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1035 | Public Affairs | Public affairs; communications; media relations | Develop communication strategies, engage with media and share agency information with the public |
| 1082 | Writing and Editing | Writer; editor; speechwriter | Write, edit and review content for internal and external audiences |
| 1083 | Technical Writing and Editing | Technical writer; content specialist; documentation | Translate technical or specialized information into clear, user-friendly materials |
| 1001 | General Arts and Information | Translation; interpretation; multilingual communications | Translate, interpret and adapt information for diverse audiences and language communities |
| 1040 | Language Specialist | Public information; outreach; interpretation | Support public engagement, educational initiatives and information-sharing efforts |
Where You Could Work
The federal government is big — so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many federal agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Public health communication: Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National parks, public lands and visitor engagement: National Park Service
- Science and technology communication: National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Military and defense communication: Department of Defense and military service branches
- Emergency management and crisis communication: Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Diplomacy and public engagement: Department of State
- Government-wide services and public information: General Services Administration
- Workforce recruitment and public outreach: Office of Personnel Management
Sample Positions
Writer-Editor (1082)
| Employer / agency | Department of the Army, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Redstone Arsenal, Alabama |
| Mission context | The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command supports national security by developing and delivering space and missile defense capabilities for the Army and the nation. |
In this role, you may:
- Serve as the writer-editor (speechwriter) for the Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and provide editorial support for the command
- Review all written material for the organization for editorial quality, consistency and compliance with established style, format and content to ensure that products adhere to government style and format requirements
- Edit and write other material, including congressional testimony on the agency position on matters before Congress, and correspondence to the Secretary of the Army, Secretariat and members of Congress
Visual Information Specialist (1084)
| Employer / agency | Department of Interior, National Park Service |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Seneca Falls, New York |
| Mission context | The National Park Service preserves and interprets places, stories and resources that are significant to the nation’s history, culture and natural heritage, helping visitors connect with and learn from these sites. |
In this role, you may:
- Support content maintenance and development of the park’s web pages and social media sites focusing on topics which include women’s suffrage, human rights, civil rights, natural and historic features and cultural history of the region
- Create printed materials such as brochures, pamphlets and posters and provides visual and audio production services to park divisions using nationally established guidelines and industry standards
- Provide current and accurate information for both formal and informal interpretation to visitors on tours and at the visitor center desk, other park locations and at off-site locations. Assists with and supports interpretive projects and special events
Top 10 Agencies for this Field
Top 10 Most Common Jobs in this Field
Positions Currently Open on USAJOBS
Browse current federal job openings on USAJOBS and explore opportunities across agencies and career fields. Use the filters to find positions that match your skills, review requirements, and understand how to apply.
21 Results
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Permanent
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Closes Jul 15, 2026
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Permanent
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Customs and Border Protection
- Closes Jul 15, 2026
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Permanent
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
Internal Revenue Service
- Closes Jul 16, 2026
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Permanent
Technical Writer/Editor
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Closes Jul 17, 2026
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Permanent
Telecommunications Specialist
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Closes Jul 17, 2026
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Permanent
AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
Bureau of Naval Personnel
- Closes Jul 21, 2026
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Permanent
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Customs and Border Protection
- Closes Jul 21, 2026
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Permanent
Investigative Technology Specialist (SURVEILLANCE)
Drug Enforcement Administration
- Closes Jul 22, 2026
-
Permanent
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Air National Guard Units
- Closes Jul 22, 2026
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Permanent
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Commander, Navy Installations Command
- Closes Jul 30, 2026
