APRIL GRANT
Fairfax,VA
Summary
Experienced communications professional with 10+ years of success leading impactful initiatives in federal agencies. Proven expertise in corporate messaging, media relations, editorial content development, and brand strategy. Adept at transforming complex policies into engaging content for diverse audiences. Eager to apply communication and strategic excellence to the tech sector, driving innovation and achieving organizational goals.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Press Officer
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
08.2021 - Current
- Responded to more than 100 media questions and/or criticisms concerning sensitive and complex policies and issues in a given year. This represents around 33% of the office's total inquiries for the calendar year.
- Independently initiated, created, wrote, and edited materials, including news releases, about complicated public health and scientific subjects directed towards journalists and lay audienceson average 12 products per calendar year.
- Arranged media briefings, media availabilities, interviews, and other news events.
- Developed and cultivated strong working relationships with key agency offices and officials and delivered outstanding customer service.
- Provided media relations advice to agency officials and advised senior FDA officials about newsworthy and controversial issues.
- Coordinated and facilitated media interviews with senior agency officials and provide guidance to interview subjects on advisable conduct during media
contacts. - Developed and maintained effective working relationships with the news media and other external stakeholders and provided timely and accurate information.
- Worked with FDA centers and senior officials to develop clear, concise key messages and reactive statements and other communication documents.
- Consulted with photographers, illustrators, and audio-visual personnel and decide what photographs, illustrations, animation, videos, and/or sound files are appropriate to help explain scientific concepts covered in written material.
- Used new media/social networking tools and platforms to communicate to lay audiences about FDA programs, policy, actions, and accomplishments.
- Briefed FDA officials and served as the point of contact for news media at advisory committee meetings, workshops, Congressional hearings, or other meetings.
- Coordinated press materials within the FDA and HHS to ensure all follow standard operating procedures. Set and adjusted short-term priorities, including preparing timelines for completion of work in coordination with office leadership.
- Studied the effectiveness of communications tactics, conducted assessments and evaluations to ensure objectives were met, and identified quality improvements for improving effectiveness for OMA leadership.
- Coordinated with OMA team members, other OEA employees, and OC-level and center/office-level employees as necessary, particularly on high-level issues, to ensure effective internal and external communication.
- Kept leadership abreast of significant developments in the portfolio.
- Contributed to strategic communications planning efforts in support of the agency’s top priorities and initiatives.
- Acted as backup and handled subjects assigned to other public affairs specialists.
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
10.2019 - 08.2021
- Managed several key issue areas related to immigration, interior enforcement and investigations within the agency for the Headquarters Media Team.
- Developed programs and procedures for disseminating agency news and information to members of the media that align with the agency's policies and mission objectives.
- Responded to public affairs inquiries and requests through various forms of written and verbal communication including news articles and releases, fact sheets, draft responses to media questions, articles, pamphlets, newsletters and speeches.
- Represented the agency at meetings and conferences as the public affairs point of contact to agency officials.
- Advised agency leadership and program managers on strategies for solving issues to best communicate the agency's complex policies and staffed representatives during media events and engagements.
- Provided support and consulted with the field office level public affairs specialists, photographers, audio-video personnel, social media managers and writer/editors on ways to maximize reach with target audiences.
- Managed a public relations program involving issues that are highly controversial, heavily criticized or of significant public or Congressional interest.
- Established and maintained effective relationships with media, both foreign and domestic, to ensure stories are reported accurately and fairly.
Assistant Press Secretary (Acting)
Department of Homeland Security
02.2019 - 10.2019
- Personally selected by office leadership for an assignment to the DHS Headquarters Office of Public Affairs (OPA), where I served as an acting assistant press secretary.
- Coordinated plans-including departmental announcements and media engagements-associated with the acting DHS secretary's travel and advanced trips to ensure security concerns were aligned with OPA's communications agenda.
- Drafted and coordinated communication plans, briefing memos, and public affairs guidance for major policy initiatives, press events, and media campaigns.
- As a subject matter expert, I facilitated the public rollout of a program's operational components. This also included a great deal of coordination with the Department of Justice and the Department of State.
- Wrote and published news releases for the department's flagship website, www.DHS.gov.
- Updated media products and edited and revised marketing content to ensure they aligned with the department's mission.
- Served as the first point of contact for the media, handling inquiries and attending DHS events and liaised between the media and department experts and principals for interviews
- Ensured all external information within my purview was fully coordinated with and vetted by internal stakeholders.
- Trained incoming press team staff on processes including monitoring the primary email account and managing daily briefs and roundups.
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
03.2018 - 02.2019
- Managed specific subject matter related to immigration, border security and drug enforcement for the Headquarters Media Team.
- Named lead for the Office of Public Affair's National Joint Information Center in November 2018, tasked with managing, coordinating and disseminating all public information regarding Operation Secure Line-a joint DHS/DOD effort to stem the mass migration of individuals from Central America to the United States-and supervising a team of my peers I selected to join that effort.
- Selected in April 2017 to spearhead the public affairs effort around Operation Guardian Support-a campaign which brought National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border to support Border Patrol operations.
- Devised public relations strategies to engage with and influence general public in support of accomplishing mission objectives and boosting awareness.
- Cultivated network of media and communications professionals to maintain strong partnerships, influence positive coverage and facilitate accurate dissemination of information.
- Developed and wrote informational articles designed to reach local and/or national audiences through news and social media.
- Responded to requests from various news and social media sources concerning any or all aspects of Customs and Border Protection's operations.
- Established and maintained effective working relationships with representatives of the print, broadcast and social media.
- Provided guidance, assistance and consultation to the field offices concerning agency procedures relating to responding to specific requests from the media, the general public, specialized groups and community and governmental entities using agency services.
Write and Editor
Department of the Navy, Office of Information
02.2016 - 03.2018
- Informed internal and external audiences about the current and emerging activities, roles, and missions as a member of the Navy's Public Affairs Headquarters-Office of the Chief of Information (CHINFO).
- Produced original written content under the direction of the Navy Office of Information leadership.
- Proofread and edited text submitted by Navy offices and stakeholders (e.g., print stories, blogs, fact files, and photo/video captions) for accuracy, grammar, content, spelling, tone, and voice in adherence with Associated Press (AP) and Navy style guides.
- Scheduled online content through social media networking tools and content management systems.
- Built and managed web-based documents associated with the official Department of the Navy website, www.Navy.mil, and identify and recommend Navy content to be marketed, that aligns with the department's communication priorities, across all official platforms and social media channels.
- Primary manager of a database of over 300 U.S. Navy leadership biographies on Navy.mil to include all updates requested by flag aides and Flag Matters office in the Pentagon.
- Conducted editorial meetings with staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions.
- Generated and maintained style guides to encourage consistent quality of content.
- Delegated and tracked each staff member's assignments and deadlines.
- Established and implemented workflows to streamline editing processes.
Public Affairs Specialist
Department of the Navy, Office of Information
12.2014 - 02.2016
- Provided public affairs guidance to personnel and organizations within the Department of the Navy, along with timely and accurate information to internal audiences.
- Lead approximately 20 internal efforts involving communications planning, product development, audio/visual and multimedia product development, and public affairs guidance.
- Trained personnel and briefed leadership on internal processes.
- Supported editorial and management functions of the U.S. Navy's official electronic news service that disseminates department information worldwide to both internal and external audiences.
- Lead external efforts included gathering, researching, analyzing, editing, and approving visual, print, and social media content.
- Managed and published announcements, press releases, briefings, presentations, and other content submitted by various Navy commands as requested and according to CHINFO guidelines.
- Created and implemented communication plans and marketing campaigns to the Navy's internal audiences intended to promote leadership priorities, including Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), Operations Security (OPSEC) and the department's energy/environmental, cyber awareness and suicide prevention efforts, etc.
Staff Writer/Reporter
Leesburg Today
01.2014 - 08.2014
- This multi-faceted position included responsibilities which stretched beyond typical reporter duties; offering a breadth of knowledge of the newspaper business from every journalistic perspective.
- Built news stories employing contemporary journalism and storytelling methods for a reputable publication.
- Fulfilled daily reporting requirements and conducted live interviews at several area events.
- Editing responsibilities included reviewing all outgoing copy for proper format, grammar, typographical accuracy, proper coordination and supporting documentation.
- Developed contacts and on-going relationships with city and town officials, state representatives and business leaders.
- Handled everyday editing functions for final print and online copy and captured photos and video to accompany most print and online stories.
- Established individual priorities and deadlines for day to day workflow in order to ensure maximum productivity and ultimately increase readership including procuring content for social media.
Education
Speechwriting Course -
Professional Speechwriter's Association
Washington, D.C.01.2017
Public Affairs Qualification Course - undefined
Defense Information School
Fort Meade, MD08.2016
Visual Information Management Course - undefined
Defense Information School
Fort Meade, MD09.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC12.2010
Skills
- Strong writing skills
- Crisis management
- Content development
- Proofreading
- Exceptional communication
- Reputation management
- Workflow optimization
Core Competencies
- Strategic Communications & Messaging
- Corporate & Executive Communications
- Content Development & Editing (AP Style)
- Media & Public Relations
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Brand Positioning
- Internal/External Communications
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
Training/Professional Develpment
- National Training Program-Professional and Leadership Development, 08/2024, Federally Employed Women Conference, Chicago, IL
- National Summit for Health Communication, Society for Health Communication, 06/2023, University of Texas, Austin, TX
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Public Affairs Officer Training, 06/2018, CBP Field Office, El Paso, TX
- Speechwriter Training, 01/2017, Professional Speechwriters Association, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
- Public Affairs Qualification Course, 08/2016, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD
- Visual Information Management, 09/2015, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD
Timeline
Press Officer
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
08.2021 - Current
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
10.2019 - 08.2021
Assistant Press Secretary (Acting)
Department of Homeland Security
02.2019 - 10.2019
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
03.2018 - 02.2019
Write and Editor
Department of the Navy, Office of Information
02.2016 - 03.2018
Public Affairs Specialist
Department of the Navy, Office of Information
12.2014 - 02.2016
Staff Writer/Reporter
Leesburg Today
01.2014 - 08.2014
Public Affairs Qualification Course - undefined
Defense Information School
Visual Information Management Course - undefined
Defense Information School
Speechwriting Course -
Professional Speechwriter's Association
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications
North Carolina State University
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