Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced First Step Act Inquiry Resolution Center Manager to establish, manage, and continuously improve a centralized inquiry resolution operation supporting the Federal Bureau of Prisons' administration of First Step Act Time Credits.

The ideal candidate combines federal program operations, customer/inquiry management, research and analysis, case management, stakeholder coordination, workload management, quality assurance, and team leadership capabilities. This individual must be comfortable managing sensitive, complex, and sometimes high-visibility inquiries involving matters that may affect inmate release determinations, prerelease custody, supervised release eligibility, litigation, congressional interest, and public confidence.

This is not a traditional commercial call-center management position. Ascension is seeking a professional who can manage an analytical case-resolution operation where responses must be researched, documented, coordinated, defensible, accurate, timely, and consistent with applicable statute, regulation, BOP policy, operational procedures, and approved business rules.

The successful candidate will be a highly organized, detail-oriented, service-focused leader who can manage fluctuating workloads, establish priorities, identify emerging issues, coordinate difficult cases with technical and policy specialists, and maintain consistent performance against established service-level goals.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The First Step Act Inquiry Resolution Center Manager will lead the day-to-day operation of the centralized capability responsible for receiving, categorizing, assigning, researching, tracking, escalating, and resolving inquiries concerning FSA Time Credits.

The Center may support inquiries originating from or referred by BOP staff and, when authorized by the Bureau, inquiries involving attorneys, family members, congressional offices, executive-level stakeholders, courts, and other external stakeholders.

The Manager will establish disciplined intake, case assignment, workload balancing, escalation, quality review, documentation, closure, reporting, and knowledge-management processes. The individual will ensure that inquiries are routed to the appropriate staff or subject matter experts and that complex cases receive the policy, sentence computation, legal, operational, or technical research necessary to support accurate responses.

The position will manage an environment in which workloads may exceed 100 inquiries per week and may increase significantly because of litigation, policy changes, congressional interest, media attention, court decisions, recalculation initiatives, or other FSA developments.

The Manager will work closely with the Federal Program Manager, First Step Act policy and sentence computation subject matter experts, BOP operational personnel, technical personnel, training staff, quality assurance personnel, and other designated stakeholders. The individual will also convert lessons learned from inquiry operations into actionable information for leadership, training, policy clarification, process improvement, knowledge management, and potential system enhancements.

Success in this role requires the ability to distinguish between routine inquiries and matters requiring extensive research or immediate escalation while maintaining accurate case records and ensuring responses satisfy established service-level expectations.

Position Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

• MANAGE the centralized FSA Time Credit Inquiry Resolution Center during established federal business hours.
• ESTABLISH standardized procedures for inquiry intake, triage, categorization, assignment, research, escalation, quality review, response, closure, and retention.
• MONITOR incoming workload and balance assignments among available personnel to maintain timely and accurate case resolution.
• TRACK inquiry volume, age, response time, complexity, backlog, resolution status, escalation status, and recurring issues.
• PRIORITIZE congressional, executive-level, litigation-related, court-related, urgent, and other high-visibility matters in accordance with BOP direction and established escalation procedures.
• ENSURE routine inquiries receive initial acknowledgement within one business day and are targeted for resolution within five business days.
• ENSURE moderate-complexity inquiries are acknowledged within two business days and targeted for resolution within ten business days.
• ENSURE complex inquiries requiring extensive research are acknowledged within three business days and targeted for resolution within ten business days.
• ENSURE congressional and executive-level inquiries receive same-business-day acknowledgement and are targeted for resolution within five business days.
• ASSIGN complex matters to the appropriate FSA policy, sentence computation, operational, technical, or other subject matter expert.
• COORDINATE research and response development across BOP program offices and contractor functional teams.
• REVIEW case research, supporting documentation, proposed determinations, and draft responses for completeness, consistency, accuracy, professionalism, and appropriate escalation.
• MAINTAIN complete case records documenting the inquiry, research conducted, coordination performed, information reviewed, decisions made, approvals obtained, and final response.
• ESCALATE matters involving ambiguous policy, sentence computation concerns, potential systemic deficiencies, legal sensitivity, technical errors, recurring issues, or significant stakeholder risk.
• IDENTIFY trends and recurring inquiry patterns that may indicate policy ambiguity, training deficiencies, system issues, operational inconsistencies, or broader corrective-action requirements.
• ANALYZE inquiry data to identify root causes, geographic or institutional patterns, recurring questions, service bottlenecks, aging cases, and emerging workload drivers.
• DEVELOP and maintain Frequently Asked Questions, standardized response templates, knowledge articles, decision aids, escalation guidance, and other knowledge-management resources.
• RECOMMEND updates to training materials, procedures, business rules, knowledge resources, workflows, or technology based upon inquiry trends and lessons learned.
• MANAGE backlog-reduction strategies during workload surges caused by policy changes, litigation, court decisions, recalculation efforts, congressional activity, or other events.
• ESTABLISH workload-balancing and surge procedures to maintain service levels during periods of increased inquiry volume.
• IMPLEMENT quality-control checks to reduce inconsistent, incomplete, unsupported, or inaccurate responses.
• DEVELOP operational metrics and dashboards that provide leadership visibility into inquiry performance and emerging issues.
• PREPARE inputs for the Monthly Inquiry Management Report, including inquiry volume, response times, complexity, backlog, trends, systemic issues, and knowledge-base updates.
• CONTRIBUTE inquiry statistics, risks, trends, corrective actions, and operational observations to broader monthly program status and executive reporting.
• BRIEF Ascension and BOP leadership on inquiry operations, trends, performance risks, resource needs, unresolved cases, systemic issues, and recommended corrective actions.
• FACILITATE operational meetings, case reviews, escalation discussions, and coordination sessions involving appropriate stakeholders.
• DOCUMENT significant decisions, action items, ownership, escalation requirements, and follow-up activities.
• PROTECT sensitive BOP information and ensure inquiry-related communications and records comply with applicable security, privacy, records-management, and acceptable-use requirements.
• SUPPORT continuous process improvement initiatives designed to increase consistency, transparency, responsiveness, quality, and accountability across FSA Time Credit administration.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an accomplished National Training and Knowledge Management Lead to lead the design, development, delivery, maintenance, and evaluation of a nationwide workforce training and knowledge-management program supporting the Federal Bureau of Prisons' administration of First Step Act (FSA) Time Credits.

This is a senior practitioner role for an individual who can translate complex statutory, regulatory, policy, operational, and system requirements into clear, accurate, usable learning products for a geographically dispersed federal workforce.

The successful candidate will help ensure that BOP employees across institutions, Residential Reentry Management offices, Regional Offices, Central Office components, and other designated locations receive consistent and current instruction regarding FSA Time Credit administration. The Draft SOW specifically requires comprehensive national training covering statutory requirements, eligibility and exclusion criteria, Time Credit earning and application procedures, calculation methodologies, system use, quality assurance, documentation requirements, case studies, and practical exercises.

We are looking for someone who combines the capabilities of a senior instructional designer, training program leader, facilitator, knowledge manager, and federal subject matter expert. This individual should be able to take highly technical or policy-intensive information and transform it into training that employees can understand, retain, and apply correctly in operational settings.

The ideal candidate is organized, analytical, detail-oriented, highly credible in front of senior stakeholders, and capable of working independently in an evolving federal environment. The individual must be comfortable identifying knowledge gaps, anticipating where policy or system changes will affect existing training, building practical solutions, and managing multiple training priorities simultaneously.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The National Training and Knowledge Management Lead will have primary responsibility for the training and workforce development function supporting BOP's FSA Time Credit Administration program.

The role directly supports SOW Section 3.1 – Training and Workforce Development, while also supporting the knowledge-resource responsibilities associated with Section 3.2 – National Inquiry Resolution Center, including development and maintenance of FAQs, knowledge articles, response templates, and related knowledge resources. The position will have principal responsibility for supporting Deliverable D-12 – Training Materials and D-13 – Training Completion Report, as well as the performance expectations established under Section 10.3 – Training Standards.

The Lead will assess training requirements; establish learning objectives; design curriculum; develop instructor-led, virtual, refresher, specialized, policy-update, and software-modification training; create supporting instructional materials; coordinate training delivery; prepare instructors; administer certification or knowledge assessments; identify remediation requirements; and evaluate training effectiveness.

A major responsibility of the position is keeping training aligned with an environment that may change because of:

• Statutory or regulatory changes;
• BOP policy or operational changes;
• Changes to FSA Time Credit calculation methodologies;
• Software modifications;
• Audit or quality assurance findings;
• Recurring inquiry trends;
• Corrective actions; and
• New guidance or interpretations approved by the Government.

The Lead will work with BOP program offices, operational subject matter experts, technical personnel, policy stakeholders, and other contractor personnel to ensure training content accurately represents approved business rules and operating procedures.

The position will also establish and maintain sustainable knowledge resources so that BOP personnel can obtain accurate information without relying exclusively on instructor-led training. These may include training manuals, standard operating guidance, job aids, quick-reference guides, FAQs, knowledge articles, response templates, instructional videos, recorded demonstrations, and searchable training repositories.

Training effectiveness is particularly important. The SOW establishes a target minimum training completion rate of 95% and an average satisfaction score of at least 4.0 on a five-point scale. The Training Lead will therefore be expected to evaluate completion, assessment results, learner feedback, recurring errors, remediation requirements, and other indicators to determine whether training is actually improving workforce understanding and performance.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Day-to-Day Activities

The National Training and Knowledge Management Lead will:

• LEAD analysis of workforce learning requirements associated with FSA Time Credit administration and related BOP operational processes.
• ASSESS existing training content, knowledge resources, business rules, policy guidance, system documentation, operational procedures, and workforce performance information to identify training gaps.
• TRANSLATE complex statutory, regulatory, policy, sentence-computation, operational, quality-assurance, and system requirements into understandable instructional content.
• DESIGN a comprehensive national training curriculum appropriate for different BOP audiences and levels of responsibility.
• DEVELOP instructor-led, virtual, refresher, specialized SME, policy-update, and software-modification training.
• CREATE measurable learning objectives, instructional plans, lesson plans, facilitator guides, participant materials, exercises, scenarios, case studies, and knowledge checks.
• DEVELOP certification assessments and other evaluation instruments to confirm workforce understanding and identify remediation needs.
• DELIVER instructor-led and virtual training to BOP personnel and other Government-designated stakeholders.
• FACILITATE interactive workshops, demonstrations, practical exercises, case-study discussions, and application-based learning sessions.
• PREPARE other instructors and subject matter experts to consistently deliver approved curriculum through train-the-trainer and instructor-preparation activities.
• MAINTAIN training manuals, job aids, quick-reference guides, FAQs, knowledge articles, response templates, instructional videos, and other knowledge-management products.
• UPDATE instructional materials promptly when approved statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, business rules, system functionality, or operational guidance changes.
• COORDINATE with policy, operational, sentence-computation, quality-assurance, software-development, inquiry-resolution, and program-management personnel before publishing or delivering revised content.
• ANALYZE inquiry patterns, audit findings, recurring errors, corrective actions, and workforce feedback to identify topics requiring new or revised training.
• ADMINISTER learner assessments and evaluate assessment results to identify knowledge gaps and remediation requirements.
• DEVELOP targeted remediation training for personnel or organizational components requiring additional support.
• TRACK training participation, completion, assessment outcomes, learner satisfaction, remediation activities, and other performance measures.
• MONITOR performance against the SOW's 95% training completion and 4.0/5.0 average satisfaction objectives.
• PREPARE monthly training completion information supporting Deliverable D-13 and broader program reporting requirements.
• REPORT training risks, trends, deficiencies, corrective actions, and recommendations to program leadership.
• MAINTAIN version control and configuration management over approved curriculum and knowledge-management products.
• ORGANIZE training repositories so that approved materials remain searchable, accessible, current, and easy for the workforce to use.
• SUPPORT national training scheduling and coordination across institutions, Residential Reentry Management offices, Regional Offices, Central Office components, and other designated BOP organizations.
• ENSURE virtual training and meetings use BOP-approved collaboration or meeting systems as required.
• VERIFY training products are complete, accurate, current, accessible, professionally prepared, and aligned with approved BOP policies and operational procedures before release.
• IDENTIFY opportunities to improve instructional methods, workforce adoption, knowledge retention, training consistency, and overall training program sustainability.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an accomplished Senior First Step Act Policy and Sentence Computation Advisor to serve as a principal subject matter expert supporting the Federal Bureau of Prisons' administration of First Step Act Time Credits.

This position is intended for a senior professional who possesses deep, practical knowledge of the First Step Act, federal sentencing and sentence computation, inmate eligibility and exclusion criteria, earned-time-credit calculations, prerelease custody and supervised-release determinations, and the operational application of federal correctional policy.

The ideal candidate understands that FSA Time Credit administration is more than a calculation exercise. Decisions and interpretations can affect inmate release dates, prerelease placement, supervised release, litigation exposure, congressional inquiries, institutional operations, and public confidence. The successful candidate must therefore be capable of translating complex statutory, regulatory, policy, operational, and sentence-computation requirements into clear and defensible business rules, guidance, training content, recommendations, and operational decisions.

Ascension is particularly interested in candidates who have worked within or directly supported the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Designation and Sentence Computation Center, correctional programs, inmate records, sentence computation, legal/policy functions, reentry operations, or comparable federal corrections environments.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Senior First Step Act Policy and Sentence Computation Advisor serves as a senior functional and policy advisor supporting accurate, consistent, transparent, and auditable administration of FSA Time Credits.

The Advisor interprets and documents FSA requirements governing eligibility, exclusions, Time Credit earning, application, and sentence-computation implications. The individual helps convert complex requirements into business rules, formulas, decision points, exception-handling procedures, training guidance, and operational recommendations that can be consistently applied across BOP institutions, Regional Offices, Residential Reentry Management offices, Central Office components, and other designated organizations.

The Advisor is expected to work collaboratively with BOP operational personnel, legal and policy stakeholders, information technology teams, training personnel, quality assurance staff, program leadership, and inquiry-resolution personnel.

This position requires someone who can independently research difficult issues, recognize when a question involves conflicting or incomplete information, distinguish routine matters from matters requiring escalation, and develop well-supported recommendations without exceeding established authority.

The successful candidate should be:

• Detail-oriented and exceptionally accurate when interpreting statutes, regulations, policies, sentence information, and calculation rules.
• Comfortable operating in a complex federal environment in which guidance, policy, court decisions, procedures, and system functionality may evolve.
• Self-directed and able to research and resolve complex issues with limited supervision.
• Skilled at identifying inconsistencies, exceptions, systemic problems, and unintended consequences.
• Able to explain highly technical or policy-sensitive information to audiences with different levels of subject matter expertise.
• Organized and capable of managing multiple concurrent inquiries, reviews, recommendations, and documentation requirements.
• Comfortable providing senior-level advice when matters involve litigation sensitivity, congressional interest, executive attention, or significant operational impact.
• Collaborative and professional when working across legal, operational, program, training, technical, records, privacy, and security stakeholders.

Position Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

The Senior First Step Act Policy and Sentence Computation Advisor will:

• INTERPRET First Step Act statutory, regulatory, policy, operational, and sentence-computation requirements affecting the earning and application of FSA Time Credits.
• ANALYZE complex eligibility, exclusion, earning, application, prerelease custody, supervised release, and sentence-computation scenarios.
• DOCUMENT FSA Time Credit business rules, formulas, decision points, exceptions, dependencies, and calculation logic in a form that can be consistently applied by BOP personnel and supporting systems.
• VALIDATE proposed or existing calculation methodologies against applicable statutes, regulations, BOP policies, operational procedures, and approved business rules.
• REVIEW complex or unusual FSA Time Credit cases and identify applicable requirements, policy considerations, exceptions, and potential escalation requirements.
• RESEARCH statutes, regulations, policy issuances, operational guidance, court decisions, program documentation, and other authorized materials necessary to resolve FSA-related issues.
• ADVISE BOP and contractor personnel regarding interpretation and application of approved FSA policies and sentence-computation requirements.
• SUPPORT recurring validation activities, random sample reviews, targeted reviews, trend analysis, audit findings, and corrective-action recommendations.
• IDENTIFY recurring deficiencies, inconsistent interpretations, calculation issues, or operational practices that may require policy clarification, training modifications, system changes, or corrective action.
• PERFORM root-cause analysis of systemic FSA Time Credit issues and recommend practical corrective measures.
• DEVELOP clear policy interpretations, technical explanations, decision aids, process guidance, frequently asked questions, knowledge articles, and response templates.
• REVIEW training materials, case studies, exercises, job aids, quick-reference guides, and assessment content to ensure technical and policy accuracy.
• SUPPORT specialized subject matter training and policy-update training for BOP personnel and designated stakeholders.
• RESPOND to or support resolution of complex inquiries referred by BOP personnel, including matters requiring extensive research or coordination.
• SUPPORT analysis of sensitive inquiries involving attorneys, courts, congressional offices, executive stakeholders, family members, or other authorized parties when directed by the Government.
• DISTINGUISH matters that can be resolved through established policy from matters requiring legal, policy, management, technical, or executive escalation.
• COLLABORATE with BOP program offices, operational SMEs, legal personnel, information technology stakeholders, training staff, quality assurance personnel, records officials, privacy officials, and security personnel.
• ASSESS the operational impact of statutory, regulatory, policy, court, or system changes on FSA Time Credit administration.
• RECOMMEND policy clarifications and operational improvements that promote consistency across BOP institutions, regions, and Central Office organizations.
• CONTRIBUTE SME findings and analysis to monthly program reports, quarterly executive briefings, annual program assessments, corrective-action reports, and strategic improvement recommendations.
• MAINTAIN clear and defensible documentation supporting research, analysis, recommendations, interpretations, and determinations.
• ENSURE assigned work products are accurate, current, professionally prepared, technically sound, and suitable for Government review and decision-making.

Anticipated Tools and Processes

Depending upon Government direction and system access, the Advisor should be prepared to work with:

• Federal Bureau of Prisons systems and Government-furnished equipment.
• BOP-approved collaboration and virtual meeting platforms.
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and related Microsoft 365 applications.
• Government-approved case or inquiry management systems.
• Knowledge-management repositories and document libraries.
• Business-rule and decision-logic documentation.
• Case-review and validation checklists.
• Issue, risk, decision, and corrective-action tracking processes.
• Root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Quality assurance and audit-review processes.
• Standard operating procedures, policy crosswalks, decision trees, and workflow diagrams.
• Training manuals, job aids, FAQs, reference guides, and knowledge articles.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced Federal Program Manager to lead contractor support for the Federal Bureau of Prisons' First Step Act Time Credit Administration program. This individual will serve as Ascension's senior day-to-day program leader and the principal contractor interface with the Government for management, performance, staffing, schedule, risk, quality, communications, and delivery of contract requirements.

This is a mission-critical leadership position supporting a nationally significant program affecting the accurate administration of First Step Act Time Credits, staff readiness, program accountability, stakeholder confidence, and consistent implementation across BOP institutions and organizational components.

The ideal candidate combines disciplined federal program management with strong organizational leadership, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management capabilities. The individual should be comfortable managing multiple interconnected workstreams—including training, inquiry support, quality assurance, reporting, technical activities, governance, corrective actions, and stakeholder coordination—while maintaining visibility into contract performance.

We are seeking a highly organized, accountable, and self-directed professional who can anticipate issues before they affect performance, establish practical solutions, make informed recommendations, and maintain forward momentum in an environment involving numerous stakeholders and evolving program requirements.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Federal Program Manager will serve as Key Personnel and will be responsible for the planning, direction, coordination, and control necessary to accomplish the objectives of the BOP First Step Act Time Credit Administration support effort.

The BOP SOW specifically requires the Project Manager to be responsible for cost, schedule, and performance and to serve as the Government's central contractor point of contact. The role integrates management of scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, communications, staffing, configuration, deliverables, and stakeholder engagement.

The Program Manager will establish and maintain the management structure needed to coordinate activities across training, inquiry management, auditing/validation, software and technical support, reporting, stakeholder engagement, quality management, and corrective actions. The PM will translate Government priorities into executable work plans, maintain visibility into performance, coordinate resources, facilitate governance, escalate issues when necessary, and ensure deliverables are complete, accurate, timely, and suitable for BOP leadership decision-making.

The individual will also coordinate closely with BOP organizations that may include Information Technology Services, Correctional Programs Branch, Reentry Services Division, the Designation and Sentence Computation Center, Residential Reentry Management Offices, Office of General Counsel, Program Review Division, Regional Offices, institution-level personnel, and Central Office leadership.

This role requires someone capable of operating with limited supervision, managing competing priorities, creating structure where issues may initially be ambiguous, and communicating effectively with executives, technical personnel, operational staff, subject-matter experts, and contract officials.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

The Federal Program Manager will:

• SERVE as Ascension's primary program-management interface with the BOP Contracting Officer, COR, program leadership, and designated Government stakeholders.
• LEAD overall contract execution across scope, schedule, cost, quality, staffing, communications, risks, issues, deliverables, configuration, and stakeholder coordination.
• DIRECT integrated coordination among training, inquiry management, quality assurance, validation/audit, technical, reporting, and stakeholder-support workstreams.
• PLAN and lead contract kickoff activities and brief BOP personnel on Ascension's management, staffing, security, reporting, governance, and execution approach.
• DEVELOP the draft and final Project Plan addressing organization, staffing, responsibilities, resources, management controls, planned hours, schedule, performance objectives, communications, quality, risk, and security.
• ESTABLISH and maintain an integrated project schedule identifying tasks, resources, dependencies, milestones, deliverables, and Government review points.
• UPDATE the project schedule weekly and ensure activities are structured at a level that supports meaningful weekly progress measurement.
• PREPARE weekly and monthly program status information describing completed work, planned activities, risks, issues, performance metrics, corrective actions, and unresolved matters.
• FACILITATE biweekly project status meetings and required weekly, monthly, quarterly, and executive governance activities.
• PREPARE or oversee agendas, executive briefing materials, meeting minutes, decision logs, action-item trackers, governance summaries, and supporting documentation.
• MONITOR performance against contract requirements, service levels, milestones, staffing commitments, and Government expectations.
• IDENTIFY project risks, emerging problems, dependencies, and resource constraints before they adversely affect contract performance.
• MAINTAIN risk, issue, action-item, decision, and corrective-action tracking mechanisms.
• COORDINATE root-cause analysis and corrective actions when systemic issues or performance deficiencies are identified.
• ESCALATE significant risks, unresolved issues, resource constraints, or decisions requiring Government intervention.
• COORDINATE staffing and workload allocation so sufficient resources are available to satisfy fluctuating program requirements.
• VERIFY that contract deliverables are complete, accurate, professionally prepared, technically sound, and ready for Government review.
• INTEGRATE operational, inquiry, audit, training, system, performance, and corrective-action metrics into program reporting and executive decision support.
• ENGAGE BOP leadership and operational stakeholders to identify trends, recurring deficiencies, emerging risks, and opportunities for program improvement.
• SUPPORT development of quarterly executive briefings and strategic recommendations for improving program accuracy, transparency, consistency, oversight, training, and long-term sustainability.
• MAINTAIN management processes consistent with Agile or iterative project-management practices where appropriate.
• ENSURE contractor personnel comply with applicable security, privacy, records-management, acceptable-use, and Government system-access requirements.
• COORDINATE contractor use of Government-furnished equipment, BOP accounts, PIV credentials, and approved BOP collaboration systems as applicable.
• PROMOTE continuous improvement by evaluating project performance, lessons learned, recurring issues, and opportunities to improve processes, tools, communications, and service delivery.

The PM will have substantial responsibility for management-related deliverables including the Kick-Off Briefing, Project Plan, Project Schedule, Monthly Program Status Report, Quarterly Executive Briefing, Corrective Action Tracking Report, Risk Management Report, Governance Meeting Summaries, and Strategic Recommendations for Program Improvement.

Tools and Management Processes

The successful candidate should be comfortable using or quickly adapting to:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Project scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or comparable Government-approved solutions
• Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or Government-provided collaboration platforms
• Program performance dashboards and metric-tracking tools
• Risk, issue, decision, dependency, and action-item logs
• Integrated master schedules and milestone trackers
• Corrective-action and root-cause-analysis processes
• Configuration and change-control processes
• Agile, iterative, and traditional project-management practices
• Executive briefing and governance processes
• Quality-control and deliverable-review workflows
• Government-furnished systems and BOP collaboration environments, as authorized

Ascension is seeking an experienced Media & Campaign Optimization Specialist who combines hands-on advertising platform expertise with the analytical discipline necessary to plan, execute, measure, and continuously improve integrated paid-media campaigns.

The ideal candidate is more than a general digital marketer. We are seeking a practitioner who has personally managed advertising campaigns and budgets across platforms such as Google Ads, Meta, programmatic advertising platforms, paid social media, and other digital channels, and who understands how those channels work together with traditional media such as print, radio, and outdoor advertising.

This individual will support public-facing communications and engagement initiatives for Montgomery Planning and potentially other M-NCPPC organizations. The role is important because effective advertising must reach diverse audiences with the right message, through the right channel, at the right time, while using public resources responsibly and producing measurable results.

The successful candidate will be comfortable translating communications objectives into media strategies; defining audiences; establishing targeting criteria; developing media plans; coordinating campaign creative; launching advertisements; monitoring performance; making rapid data-driven adjustments; and explaining campaign results to communications professionals and client leadership.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are analytical, organized, responsive, detail-oriented, curious, and commercially disciplined. The candidate should be capable of working independently with limited supervision, anticipating campaign performance issues, identifying optimization opportunities, balancing multiple concurrent deadlines, and making defensible recommendations regarding media spend.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Paid Media & Campaign Optimization Specialist will provide specialized promotional campaign support to Ascension and Montgomery Planning on an on-call basis.

The Specialist will help transform communications and engagement objectives into measurable integrated advertising campaigns across digital, social, search, programmatic, print, radio, and outdoor channels as appropriate to each assignment.

The individual will support the complete paid-media lifecycle:

Plan → Target → Launch → Monitor → Optimize → Measure → Recommend

The Specialist will develop campaign objectives, audience strategies, messaging and channel recommendations, media allocations, implementation schedules, key performance indicators, and measurement frameworks.

Once campaigns are activated, the Specialist will monitor results in near real time and make evidence-based adjustments to targeting, advertisements, placements, bids, budgets, creative rotations, and other variables to improve campaign performance.

Because Montgomery Planning communicates complex land-use and planning issues to diverse communities, the Specialist must understand that campaign success is not limited to clicks. Depending on the campaign, success may include increased awareness, broader community participation, event registrations, website engagement, survey participation, educational-program participation, or other public-engagement outcomes.

The Specialist must also be capable of supporting multilingual and culturally responsive campaigns when required and coordinating effectively with communications strategists, researchers, graphic designers, web specialists, public relations professionals, and client stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

• DEVELOP integrated paid-media campaign plans establishing objectives, audience segments, messages, creative concepts, media channels, timelines, budgets, and KPIs.
• TRANSLATE communications and public-engagement objectives into measurable advertising and media strategies.
• DEFINE demographic, geographic, behavioral, contextual, interest-based, and other audience-targeting parameters appropriate to individual campaigns.
• PLAN channel and media mixes across paid search, paid social, display, programmatic advertising, print, radio, outdoor, and other channels.
• EXECUTE paid advertising campaigns through platforms such as Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, programmatic demand-side platforms, and comparable systems.
• MANAGE campaign setup, account structure, bidding strategies, audiences, placements, budgets, schedules, tracking parameters, conversion goals, and creative rotations.
• COORDINATE media buys and placements with publishers, radio outlets, print publications, outdoor-media providers, programmatic platforms, and other media vendors when required.
• MONITOR active campaigns for impressions, reach, frequency, clicks, click-through rates, engagement, conversions, conversion rates, cost-per-click, cost-per-conversion, cost efficiency, and other established KPIs.
• OPTIMIZE campaigns in real time by adjusting bids, budgets, creative, audience targeting, geographic targeting, placements, schedules, frequency, and channel allocations.
• IDENTIFY underperforming media, creative, audiences, keywords, placements, or campaign components before they materially affect campaign objectives or budgets.
• RECOMMEND corrective actions and reallocations of media spend based on campaign performance and emerging audience insights.
• CONDUCT keyword research, audience research, competitive reviews, placement analysis, and related research needed to strengthen campaign performance.
• DEVELOP campaign measurement plans and ensure appropriate tracking mechanisms are established before campaign launch.
• IMPLEMENT UTM parameters, conversion tracking, tagging conventions, and campaign naming standards to support reliable attribution and reporting.
• ANALYZE campaign performance using advertising-platform data, website analytics, conversion data, and other available sources.
• PREPARE dashboards, campaign summaries, optimization reports, and post-campaign reports communicating results clearly to nontechnical stakeholders.
• REPORT impressions, reach, clicks, engagement, conversions, cost efficiency, audience performance, channel performance, and other KPIs.
• INTERPRET performance data to distinguish meaningful trends from short-term fluctuations and recommend appropriate actions.
• PRODUCE recommendations and lessons learned that can improve subsequent Montgomery Planning campaigns.
• COORDINATE with graphic designers and communications staff to ensure paid-media creative complies with campaign strategy, platform specifications, approved messaging, and brand standards.
• ADAPT campaign assets for different platforms, placements, audiences, and advertising formats.
• SUPPORT multilingual advertising campaigns by coordinating translated/adapted campaign assets and ensuring corresponding targeting and tracking are implemented correctly.
• VERIFY campaign landing pages, URLs, tracking links, and calls to action before campaign activation.
• MAINTAIN organized campaign documentation, media plans, insertion orders, campaign settings, performance files, optimization histories, and supporting records.
• ADVISE Ascension and Montgomery Planning communications staff on paid-media trends, platform changes, targeting options, emerging advertising practices, and opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness.
• COLLABORATE with communications strategists, researchers, PR specialists, designers, video professionals, web/UX specialists, and project management staff to deliver coordinated campaigns.
• RESPOND quickly to changing campaign priorities, emerging communications requirements, or performance conditions.
• PROTECT client data, campaign information, audiences, analytics, credentials, and other restricted information in accordance with client security requirements.

Core Competencies

• Paid Media Strategy
• Performance Marketing
• Media Planning and Buying
• Paid Search / SEM
• Paid Social Advertising
• Programmatic Advertising
• Audience Segmentation and Targeting
• Geographic Targeting
• Campaign Budget Management
• Campaign Optimization
• Conversion Tracking
• Marketing Analytics
• KPI Development
• Attribution and Measurement
• A/B Testing
• Digital Campaign Reporting
• Creative Performance Analysis
• Multichannel Campaign Management
• Client Consultation
• Stakeholder Communication
• Quality Assurance
• Data-Driven Decision Making

Expected Tools and Platforms

Candidates should be comfortable working with several of the following tools or comparable platforms:

Advertising and Media

• Google Ads
• Meta Ads Manager
• LinkedIn Campaign Manager
• YouTube Ads
• Google Campaign Manager 360
• Display & Video 360
• The Trade Desk or comparable programmatic DSP

Analytics and Measurement

• Google Analytics 4
• Google Tag Manager
• Looker Studio
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Power BI
• Platform-native advertising analytics

Creative and Collaboration

• Adobe Creative Cloud familiarity
• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Teams
• SharePoint
• PowerPoint

Ascension is seeking an experienced Video & Graphic Design Specialist to provide on-demand multimedia production and visual communications support for public-sector strategic communications initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a multidisciplinary creative professional who can take a communications concept from initial idea through final production—developing creative concepts and storyboards, supporting scripts, capturing professional-quality video and audio, editing footage, creating motion graphics, developing print and digital graphics, and packaging finished products for use across multiple communications channels.

This position is particularly important to helping Montgomery Planning communicate complex planning, land-use, community engagement, and public-information topics in ways that are clear, engaging, accessible, visually compelling, and meaningful to diverse audiences.

The successful candidate will be comfortable balancing creative quality with public-sector requirements, brand standards, accessibility requirements, tight deadlines, and multiple stakeholder reviews. Candidates should be self-driven, highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of moving work forward with limited supervision while anticipating production challenges and recommending practical solutions.

This is an excellent fit for an experienced creative professional who enjoys translating complex information into compelling visual stories and can move fluidly between video production, post-production, graphic design, and accessible digital content.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Video & Graphic Design Specialist will support Ascension and its project team in developing multimedia and graphic communications products for Montgomery Planning and potentially other M-NCPPC divisions or units.

The specialist will support the entire multimedia production lifecycle, including creative development, pre-production planning, storyboarding, script refinement, field production, B-roll capture, audio recording, video editing, animation, motion graphics, captioning, transcription, accessibility, and final production.

The contractor will also create visual communications products such as reports, fact sheets, maps, infographics, presentation materials, social media graphics, advertising campaign collateral, and reusable templates.

Because Montgomery Planning communicates with residents, community organizations, partner agencies, elected officials, media, and other stakeholders, the specialist must understand how to create products that are visually effective without sacrificing accuracy, accessibility, plain-language communication, cultural awareness, or consistency with established brand standards.

The contractor will be expected to independently manage assigned creative work, organize source materials and project assets, incorporate stakeholder feedback efficiently, maintain version control, document usage and intellectual property rights, and deliver publication-ready products within task-order schedules.

Position's Day-to-Day / Task-Order Activities

The Video & Graphic Design Specialist will:

• DEVELOP creative concepts, treatments, visual approaches, storyboards, shot lists, and production plans for multimedia assignments.
• COLLABORATE with communications strategists, project managers, subject matter experts, writers, researchers, and client stakeholders to translate communications objectives into visual products.
• DRAFT and REFINE video scripts, narration, interview questions, on-screen text, calls to action, and supporting visual concepts.
• PLAN field production activities, including shooting schedules, locations, equipment requirements, interviews, B-roll requirements, releases, and production logistics.
• CAPTURE professional-quality video footage, interviews, B-roll, ambient sound, and supporting audio in field and event environments.
• RECORD clean, intelligible audio using appropriate microphones, field recorders, monitoring equipment, and production techniques.
• EDIT video and audio content into polished products appropriate for web, social media, presentations, public meetings, educational programming, and outreach campaigns.
• CREATE motion graphics, animated titles, lower-thirds, transitions, data visualizations, and other graphical elements supporting effective storytelling.
• DESIGN reports, fact sheets, maps, infographics, social media graphics, advertisements, presentation materials, outreach collateral, and other communications products.
• DEVELOP reusable templates for social media, presentations, reports, print products, and other recurring communications needs.
• APPLY Montgomery Planning and project-specific branding guidelines consistently across multimedia and graphic products.
• PRODUCE captions, transcripts, alternative text, and other accessibility features for multimedia products.
• VERIFY that assigned deliverables comply with applicable ADA accessibility requirements, WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines, and Revised Section 508 Standards.
• REMEDIATE graphics, presentations, PDFs, and other visual communications products as necessary to improve accessibility.
• PERFORM quality-control reviews addressing visual consistency, audio quality, typography, color contrast, spelling, formatting, accessibility, technical specifications, and brand compliance.
• INCORPORATE client and project-team feedback while protecting design integrity and maintaining production schedules.
• ADAPT creative materials into multiple formats, dimensions, resolutions, platforms, and distribution channels.
• PREPARE digital assets optimized for websites, social platforms, presentations, email communications, print production, and advertising campaigns.
• MAINTAIN organized project folders, source files, working files, final products, fonts, imagery, audio, video footage, templates, and supporting production assets.
• TRACK stock photography, music, video, fonts, illustrations, licenses, permissions, releases, and other intellectual-property or usage rights associated with produced materials.
• DELIVER editable source files, final production files, rights documentation, and organized asset packages at project closeout.
• COORDINATE multiple assignments and priorities while meeting accelerated deadlines and responding to changing communications needs.
• SUPPORT campaign creative development when video, animation, graphics, or advertising collateral is required.
• RECOMMEND visual storytelling, production, workflow, equipment, accessibility, and creative approaches that improve the quality and effectiveness of communications products.

Tools and Production Environment

Candidates should be comfortable working with a combination of:

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Adobe Audition or comparable professional audio tools
• Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft 365
• Professional DSLR, mirrorless, cinema, or comparable video-camera systems
• Professional lighting equipment
• Lavalier, shotgun, wireless, and other professional audio equipment
• Tripods, stabilizers, gimbals, and related field-production equipment
• Digital asset-management and structured file-management systems
• Cloud-based collaboration and creative-review tools
• Captioning, transcription, and accessibility-testing tools

Accessibility Responsibilities

Accessibility is a core requirement of this assignment rather than a final production check.

The Video & Graphic Design Specialist must be capable of incorporating accessibility throughout the creative process, including:

• Accurate closed captions.
• Complete transcripts.
• Appropriate alternative text for graphics and images.
• Sufficient color contrast.
• Clear visual hierarchy.
• Legible typography.
• Accessible charts and graphics.
• Avoidance of color-only information cues.
• Accessible PDFs and presentations when producing supporting materials.
• Compatibility considerations for assistive technologies.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) Administrative Support Specialist to provide onsite administrative, records management, database, training-tracking, and program coordination support to the Personnel Reliability Program office supporting the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia.

This is a mission-critical position supporting the personnel reliability processes associated with the protection of the Nation's undersea nuclear strategic deterrent. The successful candidate will work directly in the PRP operating environment and assist PRP Certifying Officials in maintaining accurate, timely, and accountable personnel records and completing the administrative processes required for effective operation of the program.

We are seeking an individual who understands that accuracy, confidentiality, responsiveness, and procedural compliance are essential in a Personnel Reliability Program environment. The ideal candidate has prior PRP experience, understands military administrative processes, works effectively with military and civilian personnel, and can independently manage a high volume of sensitive records and administrative actions.

Candidates should be organized, detail-oriented, dependable, comfortable working with limited day-to-day supervision, and capable of managing multiple priorities without sacrificing accuracy.

Position Summary

The PRP Administrative Support Specialist supports the day-to-day operation of the MCSFBn Kings Bay PRP office, including administrative processing, personnel records management, PRP database maintenance, training tracking, correspondence, document routing, medical and dental record accountability, office coordination, and customer support.

The individual supports the PRP Certifying Officials by ensuring that information needed to administer the program is complete, properly documented, accurately entered into applicable databases, routed to the appropriate personnel, and readily available for review.

The position also serves as a routine PRP office point of contact when PRP Certifying Officials are unavailable. In this capacity, the specialist may provide program information, receive badges and documentation, answer telephone calls, coordinate with personnel and organizational representatives, and support normal PRP office transactions. The position does not make PRP certification, suspension, reinstatement, or other PRP status decisions reserved for Government Certifying Officials.

The successful candidate must be comfortable supporting a high-volume operation and maintaining strict accountability for personnel records containing sensitive information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

What You Will Do

• Perform day-to-day administrative functions required to maintain effective operation of the PRP office.
• Prepare administrative documentation supporting temporary actions, suspensions, decertifications, reinstatements, and other PRP-related personnel actions for Government review and determination.
• Enter and update personnel information in the PRP database and Readiness Insight database accurately and within required timelines.
• Create personnel derogatory information folders for newly reporting personnel and ensure personnel are properly entered into applicable PRP records systems.
• Maintain PRP personnel folders by adding and updating documentation affecting an individual's PRP status.
• Route and track PRP documentation to ensure required actions reach the appropriate personnel and Certifying Officials.
• Generate and maintain PRP queries, reports, rosters, and administrative records supporting record reviews, orientations, inspections, training, and other program activities.
• Track and document initial and annual PRP training requirements and maintain accurate training information in applicable databases.
• Assist with initial PRP orientation and annual PRP training activities.
• Coordinate with battalion medical personnel to support health-record accountability and track documentation associated with medical visits.
• Match and organize personnel medical and dental records with applicable derogatory records for review by PRP Certifying Officials.
• Maintain accountability and control of sensitive personnel records in the possession of the PRP office.
• Communicate with companies, platoons, supervisory personnel, medical personnel, and other organizational representatives to obtain required personnel, documentation, or information.
• Respond to routine questions from personnel concerning PRP administrative requirements and required documentation.
• Control and coordinate routine PRP office traffic, including badge-related administrative actions associated with medical appointments, dental appointments, leave, temporary assigned duty, and temporary duty.
• Represent the PRP office during the temporary absence of Certifying Officials for authorized routine administrative transactions without making PRP status determinations.
• Answer telephone inquiries and provide professional customer service to military personnel, civilian employees, contractors, supervisors, and organizational leadership.
• Receive and distribute PRP correspondence from appropriate MCSFBn administrative and mail-room offices.
• Maintain orderly PRP office spaces, files, administrative records, and working materials.
• Perform filing, typing, copying, scanning, document preparation, correspondence, and related general office support.
• Support PRP inspections, program reviews, audits, and other periods of increased operational activity.
• Protect sensitive personnel information and PII in accordance with applicable Privacy Act, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and local requirements.
• Apply applicable PRP policies, procedures, and administrative controls consistently throughout daily operations

Ascension is seeking an accomplished Media & Communications Training / Educational Engagement Specialist to support on-call strategic communications assignments for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Montgomery Planning Department.

We are seeking a practitioner who combines strategic communications expertise, instructional design, facilitation, media training, executive coaching, and educational-program delivery. The ideal candidate understands how to turn complex information into engaging, practical learning experiences that help staff communicate clearly, confidently, accurately, and accessibly with the public, media, elected officials, community stakeholders, and other audiences.

This individual should be equally comfortable developing a communications-training curriculum, coaching a spokesperson through a difficult interview, facilitating a small-group workshop, reviewing recorded practice sessions, creating practical job aids, and helping coordinate an educational engagement program.

The role is important to Montgomery Planning's broader objective of communicating complex planning and land-use matters through clear, accessible, transparent, and meaningful communications while expanding participation in the planning process.

The successful candidate will be a polished communicator and credible facilitator who can work with limited supervision, manage competing priorities, provide candid but constructive feedback, adapt quickly to changing client needs, and build trust with staff and senior leaders.

Contractor Role Summary

The Media & Communications Training / Educational Engagement Specialist will support two closely related service areas:

Media & Communications Training

• Spokesperson development
• Media interview preparation
• Presentation skills development
• Workshops and small-group instruction
• One-on-one communications coaching
• Recorded practice sessions and performance feedback
• Job aids, templates, and quick-reference resources
• Refresher training and training-calendar management

Educational Engagement Programs

• Educational content development
• Program and event logistics
• Participant communications
• Program promotion and outreach support
• Learning-material development
• Facilitation and delivery support

The Specialist will work collaboratively with Montgomery Planning communications professionals, subject matter experts, project teams, and Ascension leadership to identify learning needs and translate those needs into practical training interventions.

The Specialist must be capable of working in an environment where task requirements may evolve quickly. The individual must know how to identify the underlying communication challenge, recommend an appropriate learning or coaching intervention, prepare the necessary materials, deliver the session effectively, gather feedback, and recommend improvements.

When supporting spokesperson or media-interview preparation, the Specialist is expected to create realistic scenarios, conduct mock interviews or recorded practice sessions, evaluate performance, and coach participants on message discipline, delivery, bridging techniques, difficult questions, presentation presence, and audience awareness.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

The successful candidate will:

• ASSESS staff, audience, and organizational communications-training needs and translate findings into appropriate learning objectives and training plans.
• DESIGN structured curricula for spokesperson preparation, media interviews, public presentations, executive communications, and related communications competencies.
• DEVELOP facilitator guides, participant guides, presentation decks, exercises, scenarios, worksheets, templates, job aids, checklists, and quick-reference materials.
• FACILITATE instructor-led, virtual, hybrid, small-group, and workshop-based learning sessions.
• COACH individual staff members, subject matter experts, managers, executives, and designated spokespersons to improve communication effectiveness.
• CONDUCT mock interviews, presentation rehearsals, and recorded practice sessions.
• REVIEW recorded practice sessions and provide specific, actionable feedback on message clarity, delivery, body language, pacing, audience engagement, difficult-question handling, and overall effectiveness.
• PREPARE realistic interview questions, scenarios, talking points, Q&A materials, message maps, and practice exercises.
• ADAPT curricula and coaching methods for different experience levels, job functions, audiences, and communications situations.
• CREATE accessible, plain-language educational and training materials consistent with established Montgomery Planning branding and communications standards.
• MAINTAIN reusable curricula, job aids, training templates, lesson materials, and other learning assets.
• COORDINATE training schedules, session logistics, participant communications, materials, technology requirements, and follow-up activities.
• SUPPORT development and maintenance of training calendars based on staff needs and priorities.
• DELIVER refresher sessions to reinforce skills and address changing communications needs.
• DEVELOP content for educational engagement programs designed for residents, stakeholders, employees, community partners, or other identified audiences.
• COORDINATE educational-program logistics, including schedules, speakers, materials, participant communications, and supporting resources.
• SUPPORT promotion and outreach activities associated with educational engagement programs.
• COLLABORATE with communications strategists, public-relations specialists, designers, researchers, technical staff, and client subject matter experts.
• EVALUATE participant feedback, surveys, knowledge checks, and other indicators to determine training effectiveness.
• RECOMMEND improvements to curricula, materials, facilitation methods, coaching approaches, and educational-program delivery.
• DOCUMENT training activities, participant feedback, lessons learned, recommendations, and required client deliverables.
• MANAGE multiple assignments and deadlines while maintaining quality and responsiveness in an on-call environment.
• PROTECT confidential or sensitive client information and follow all applicable client cybersecurity and information-handling requirements.

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

Executive Presence — Communicates confidently and credibly with professionals at all organizational levels.

Coaching Ability — Provides specific, constructive, and actionable feedback while maintaining participant confidence and trust.

Communication Judgment — Recognizes how audience, context, sensitivity, and delivery affect whether a message will be understood and accepted.

Instructional Design — Translates learning needs into organized, practical, and measurable training experiences.

Facilitation — Creates productive learning environments that encourage participation, discussion, practice, and application.

Adaptability — Responds effectively when priorities, audiences, timelines, or client needs change.

Organization — Manages schedules, materials, participants, deliverables, and follow-up activities reliably.

Initiative — Anticipates problems and develops solutions without waiting for detailed direction.

Discretion — Handles sensitive information and performance feedback appropriately.

Attention to Detail — Produces polished, accurate, audience-ready materials.

Collaboration — Works seamlessly with communications, research, program-management, creative, and technical professionals.

Tools and Processes

The Specialist should be comfortable working with tools and methods that may include:

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Forms
• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Creative Cloud or comparable design/content tools
• Virtual meeting and recording platforms
• Survey and participant-feedback platforms
• Video recording/playback tools
• Training calendars and project trackers
• Adult-learning methodologies
• Instructional-design frameworks
• Scenario-based learning
• Role-playing and mock-interview exercises
• Coaching and structured feedback techniques
• Training evaluation and continuous-improvement processes
• Plain-language and accessible-content practices

Ascension is seeking an experienced Web, UX & Accessibility Lead to provide technical leadership and hands-on support for public-facing websites supporting Montgomery Planning and the Montgomery Planning Board.

This role is intended for a web professional who combines website administration, user experience, accessibility, technical troubleshooting, and digital governance skills. The ideal candidate understands that a public-sector website is more than a communications channel—it is a critical means by which residents obtain information, understand planning decisions, access public resources, and participate in the planning process.

The Web, UX & Accessibility Lead will help Montgomery Planning maintain reliable, accessible, user-friendly digital services while continuously identifying opportunities to improve the online experience for residents, stakeholders, staff, partner agencies, and other users.

Ascension is particularly interested in candidates who can move comfortably between technical and nontechnical work: identifying and resolving website problems, evaluating usability and accessibility barriers, implementing improvements, documenting processes, and explaining technical recommendations to communications and program staff.

The successful candidate should be detail-oriented, highly organized, responsive, service-minded, and capable of working independently in an on-call environment. The individual should be comfortable anticipating problems before they become service disruptions, prioritizing competing requests, troubleshooting ambiguous issues, and developing practical solutions with limited supervision.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Web, UX & Accessibility Lead supports Montgomery Planning's Website Maintenance & Technical Support requirements for MontgomeryPlanning.org and MontgomeryPlanningBoard.org.

The contractor will support the ongoing administration and maintenance of public-facing websites; identify and resolve technical problems; monitor website performance; support security and software updates; and recommend technologies, tools, features, and approaches that advance Montgomery Planning's digital communications goals.

The Lead will also evaluate and improve user journeys, page structures, templates, components, forms, and other digital experiences while maintaining consistency with approved branding and site themes.

Accessibility is a central responsibility of the position. The contractor should be capable of evaluating websites and digital content against applicable accessibility requirements and helping identify, prioritize, remediate, test, and document accessibility issues involving ADA requirements, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Revised Section 508.

The contractor will work collaboratively with communications staff, designers, developers, content owners, program staff, project leadership, and other technical resources. The role will also help Montgomery Planning strengthen its internal capabilities through SOPs, technical documentation, job aids, training, and knowledge transfer.

This is not solely a visual UX/design position. The ideal candidate brings sufficient technical depth to support public website operations, CMS administration, accessibility testing, troubleshooting, web performance, release/change management, and technical documentation.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

• ADMINISTER Montgomery Planning and Montgomery Planning Board public-facing websites and associated website tools, templates, components, and content-management functionality.
• MONITOR website availability, functionality, performance, usability, and technical health and identify issues requiring corrective action.
• TROUBLESHOOT website errors, broken functionality, content-display issues, integration problems, browser inconsistencies, forms, links, templates, and other technical problems.
• COORDINATE routine CMS, plugin, component, platform, and security updates in accordance with established change-management and security practices.
• ASSESS website pages, templates, navigation structures, forms, documents, and interactive content for usability and accessibility barriers.
• PERFORM automated and manual accessibility testing using appropriate accessibility-testing tools and techniques.
• VALIDATE accessibility using keyboard-only navigation, screen readers, browser accessibility tools, semantic structure, headings, labels, alternative text, color contrast, focus order, form controls, and other applicable criteria.
• REMEDIATE or coordinate remediation of accessibility defects affecting conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, Revised Section 508, and applicable ADA accessibility expectations.
• IMPLEMENT UX and interface improvements that simplify navigation, improve content discoverability, support different devices and screen sizes, and make digital information easier for diverse audiences to understand and use.
• DEVELOP or modify web templates, reusable components, page structures, forms, and other web assets consistent with Montgomery Planning branding and established site themes.
• RESEARCH web technologies, digital tools, accessibility practices, and UX approaches that may improve Montgomery Planning's online communications and public-engagement capabilities.
• RECOMMEND practical technology and UX improvements based on user needs, accessibility findings, website performance, technical feasibility, security considerations, and organizational priorities.
• COLLABORATE with communications strategists, graphic designers, content creators, technical staff, researchers, and Montgomery Planning personnel to translate business and communications needs into effective web solutions.
• SUPPORT quality assurance and user acceptance testing before deployment of new pages, features, templates, components, and significant website changes.
• DOCUMENT technical configurations, maintenance procedures, accessibility findings, remediation decisions, known issues, workflows, and recurring website-support activities.
• DEVELOP standard operating procedures, job aids, checklists, reference materials, and technical documentation to support Montgomery Planning personnel.
• TRAIN staff on website administration, accessibility responsibilities, content publishing practices, applicable tools, and procedures as requested.
• TRACK requests, defects, risks, technical issues, accessibility findings, remediation activities, and resolutions through established project-management or ticket-management processes.
• RESPOND efficiently to priority website problems and support time-sensitive technical requirements when public information must be updated or restored quickly.
• MAINTAIN organized records of website changes, testing results, technical documentation, and other work products required for knowledge transfer and continuity.

Professional Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong attention to detail and quality.
• A user-centered and accessibility-first mindset.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to identify root causes rather than only symptoms.
• Ability to anticipate technical or accessibility risks.
• Sound judgment when balancing user needs, technical constraints, schedules, and organizational priorities.
• Ability to manage several requests simultaneously.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Ability to translate technical subjects for nontechnical stakeholders.
• Strong documentation and knowledge-transfer discipline.
• Ability to work effectively with limited direction.
• Professionalism when working with client personnel and public-sector stakeholders.
• Responsiveness during time-sensitive web or accessibility issues.

Tools and Technologies

Candidates should be comfortable working with a combination of the following or comparable technologies:

Web/CMS

• Enterprise or public-facing content-management systems
• HTML
• CSS
• Basic JavaScript
• Browser developer tools

Accessibility

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA testing methodologies
• Section 508 testing
• Axe
• WAVE
• Accessibility Insights
• Lighthouse
• JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, or comparable assistive technologies

UX / Design

• Figma or comparable UX/design tools
• Wireframing and prototyping
• Responsive web-design principles
• Design systems and reusable components

Operations / QA

• Issue/ticket tracking
• Version control
• User acceptance testing
• Regression testing
• Performance monitoring
• Change and release management
• SOP and technical-documentation development

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced Program Analyst – Federal Operations & Performance Management to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District in monitoring program execution, analyzing operational and resource information, and providing decision-quality reporting to Engineering leadership.

This position is well suited for an analyst who understands how to turn operational data into useful management information. The successful candidate will work with Engineering Management System information, schedules, workload and manpower data, performance indicators, and other program information to identify emerging concerns and provide Engineering Branch and Section Chiefs with the information they need to make timely resource and execution decisions.

We are particularly interested in candidates who combine strong analytical ability with an understanding of how federal programs operate. The ideal candidate is comfortable working with data, investigating inconsistencies, identifying trends, developing clear briefing materials, and communicating findings to technical and management stakeholders.

This is not simply a reporting position. Ascension is seeking someone who can determine what the data means, why a performance or resource issue may be occurring, and what management should know or investigate next.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Program Analyst provides operational, analytical, reporting, and performance-management support across USACE Savannah District programs. The position monitors and analyzes information maintained within the Engineering Management System (EMS) to help determine whether work is progressing according to schedule and District guidance.

The Program Analyst prepares management reports, data tables, briefing charts, and analytical products that provide Engineering leadership visibility into workload, manpower utilization, schedule performance, resource constraints, and other areas affecting program execution.

The successful candidate will be a highly organized, detail-oriented analytical professional capable of working with limited supervision and managing multiple concurrent reporting and analysis requirements. The candidate should be skilled at investigating data, recognizing patterns and anomalies, anticipating potential resource or schedule concerns, and translating complex information into concise management-level findings.

The individual must also be comfortable operating in a multidisciplinary environment supporting engineering, project management, acquisition, environmental, military construction, Sustainment/Restoration/Modernization (SRM), and Interagency and International Services activities.

The role requires someone who is:

• Analytical and intellectually curious;
• Highly organized and attentive to detail;
• Self-driven and accountable for assigned products;
• Comfortable working in a structured federal environment;
• Able to work through incomplete or ambiguous information;
• Skilled at prioritizing multiple analytical requests and deadlines;
• Capable of identifying problems before they materially affect execution;
• Comfortable communicating with technical professionals and senior managers; and
• Focused on producing accurate, defensible, and decision-useful information.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

The Program Analyst will:

• MONITOR Engineering Management System (EMS) information to evaluate program, project, workload, and organizational performance.
• ANALYZE execution data to determine whether activities are proceeding according to established schedules, milestones, priorities, and District guidance.
• REVIEW program and operational information for completeness, consistency, accuracy, anomalies, and emerging areas of concern.
• IDENTIFY potential workload, manpower, scheduling, execution, or resource constraints requiring management attention.
• ASSESS trends and variances in program-performance information and determine their potential operational significance.
• DEVELOP recurring and ad hoc analytical reports, briefing charts, management summaries, data tables, and supporting documentation.
• PREPARE executive-ready briefing materials that clearly communicate program status, resource conditions, trends, risks, and areas requiring leadership attention.
• ANALYZE manpower and workload information to support resource planning, prioritization, allocation, and management decisions.
• SUPPORT Engineering Branch and Section Chiefs in investigating and resolving identified resource or execution concerns.
• SYNTHESIZE information from multiple program, project, workload, and management sources into concise findings and recommendations.
• TRACK performance metrics, milestones, issues, and management actions to support timely follow-up and resolution.
• VALIDATE data and reporting inputs before information is incorporated into management briefings or decision-support products.
• COORDINATE with project managers, engineers, analysts, administrative personnel, and other stakeholders to obtain information needed for reporting and analysis.
• RESPOND to recurring and time-sensitive requests for program status, performance information, manpower information, and management analysis.
• MAINTAIN organized analytical files, supporting documentation, source data, reporting products, and version-controlled working materials.
• CONDUCT quantitative and qualitative analyses necessary to explain performance conditions rather than merely reporting raw figures.
• RECOMMEND improvements to reports, metrics, analytical methods, data presentation, or recurring management-review processes when appropriate.
• SUPPORT progress reviews and other management forums by developing accurate and timely analytical information.
• COMMUNICATE analytical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• PERFORM work in accordance with applicable USACE procedures, District guidance, data-management requirements, quality-control practices, and contract requirements.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced Acquisition Analyst / Acquisition Project Manager to provide acquisition planning, procurement documentation, and contract execution support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District.

The successful candidate will serve as the acquisition-focused member of multidisciplinary Project Delivery Teams supporting military construction and sustainment, environmental, and Interagency and International Services projects. The role is important because successful project delivery depends not only on sound engineering and project management, but also on translating project requirements into clear, executable, timely, and defensible acquisition packages.

This position is well suited for a federal acquisition professional who understands how requirements, funding, schedules, acquisition strategy, contracting documentation, and project execution fit together. The candidate should be comfortable working alongside Government project managers, contracting personnel, engineers, technical specialists, and other stakeholders while managing multiple acquisition actions at different stages of development.

This is not intended to function as a Government Contracting Officer or warranted acquisition official. Rather, the Acquisition Analyst / Acquisition Project Manager provides the analysis, coordination, documentation, planning, and tracking necessary to enable Government acquisition officials and Project Delivery Teams to successfully execute their responsibilities.

USACE specifically identifies acquisition support responsibilities including developing procurement strategies, preparing pre-award packages, tracking contract execution and modifications, and preparing Design-Build General Construction IDIQ acquisition plans, Scopes of Work, and evaluation criteria.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Acquisition Analyst / Acquisition Project Manager supports the acquisition component of USACE project delivery from early acquisition planning through contract execution and modification.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, organized, analytical, and self-directed acquisition professional who understands that incomplete requirements, poorly coordinated acquisition documentation, missed procurement milestones, and unclear evaluation criteria can create significant schedule and execution risk for complex projects.

The individual should possess the judgment to recognize acquisition issues before they become schedule problems, determine what information or coordination is missing, engage the appropriate stakeholders, and move acquisition actions toward completion with limited day-to-day direction.

The successful candidate should demonstrate the ability to:

• Translate technical and program requirements into actionable acquisition documentation.
• Manage several acquisition actions, deadlines, and dependencies simultaneously.
• Identify documentation gaps, acquisition risks, and schedule conflicts early.
• Facilitate coordination among technical, program, financial, and contracting stakeholders.
• Develop clear and professionally written acquisition documents.
• Maintain reliable visibility into the status of pre-award and post-award activities.
• Work effectively in a multidisciplinary Project Delivery Team environment.
• Adapt to changing project requirements, funding conditions, acquisition strategies, and priorities.

The position supports the broader USACE requirement to lead multidisciplinary PDTs through the design, acquisition, and construction phases of military, environmental, and IIS projects.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Day-to-Day Activities

The Acquisition Analyst / Acquisition Project Manager is expected to:

• DEVELOP acquisition and procurement strategies that support assigned USACE projects, schedules, funding requirements, and technical objectives.
• PREPARE acquisition plans and supporting acquisition documentation necessary to advance procurement actions.
• DEVELOP and refine Statements of Work (SOWs), requirements documentation, and other procurement package materials in coordination with Project Delivery Team members.
• PREPARE evaluation criteria that clearly communicate the Government's technical and performance requirements.
• SUPPORT development of pre-award acquisition packages and ensure required documentation is complete, internally consistent, and ready for Government review.
• PREPARE acquisition planning documentation for Design-Build General Construction Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity acquisitions, as applicable.
• COORDINATE acquisition planning activities with Government project managers, technical personnel, Contracting Officer representatives, Contracting Officers, and other stakeholders.
• TRACK acquisition milestones, procurement actions, contract execution activities, and modifications through completion.
• MONITOR acquisition schedules and identify activities that could delay award, modification, or downstream project execution.
• IDENTIFY incomplete requirements, documentation gaps, conflicting information, schedule risks, and other issues requiring stakeholder resolution.
• RECOMMEND practical corrective actions to keep acquisition activities aligned with project requirements and established milestones.
• FACILITATE acquisition planning meetings and working sessions to resolve requirements, documentation, schedule, and coordination issues.
• MAINTAIN acquisition trackers, action-item logs, status information, and other management tools needed to provide visibility into procurement activity.
• ANALYZE acquisition information and communicate status, risks, dependencies, and required decisions to Government and contractor leadership.
• PREPARE concise status reports, briefing materials, correspondence, and decision-support information for project and acquisition stakeholders.
• REVIEW acquisition documents for completeness, consistency, clarity, and alignment with applicable federal acquisition requirements.
• COORDINATE acquisition activities involving different project funding streams and ensure associated procurement actions remain properly tracked.
• SUPPORT contract execution and modification activities through documentation development, coordination, research, and status tracking.
• DOCUMENT decisions, actions, assumptions, dependencies, and outstanding requirements to maintain continuity across acquisition activities.
• COLLABORATE with other Project Delivery Team members to ensure acquisition activities remain synchronized with project design and construction schedules.
• ESCALATE significant acquisition risks, unresolved requirements, and schedule concerns when management or Government decisions are required.

Ascension is seeking an experienced Research, Audience Engagement & Insights Lead to support strategic communications, audience research, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Montgomery Planning Department.

The ideal candidate combines the skills of a communications researcher, audience insights professional, community engagement practitioner, and quantitative/qualitative analyst. This individual will help Montgomery Planning understand who it needs to reach, how different audiences prefer to engage, what barriers may limit participation, and how research findings can be translated into practical communications and engagement strategies.

This position is particularly important because Montgomery Planning communicates complex planning, development, and land-use matters to diverse communities. The Research, Audience Engagement & Insights Lead will help ensure those communications are informed by reliable evidence, representative audience insights, accessibility considerations, and equitable engagement practices.

The successful candidate will be analytical but also highly people-oriented. The role requires someone who can move comfortably between survey methodology, data analysis, focus-group facilitation, stakeholder engagement, executive presentations, and strategic communications recommendations.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and highly organized professional who is self-driven, intellectually curious, responsive, and comfortable working in an environment where individual task orders may have different audiences, schedules, research questions, and deliverable requirements.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Research, Audience Engagement & Insights Lead will provide senior-level research and audience-insights support across Montgomery Planning communications initiatives.

The position primarily supports Section V.C.1 – Communications Strategy & Support and Section V.C.6 – Data Gathering & Research for Communications Support of the Montgomery Planning On-Call Strategic Communications requirement.

The Lead will design and execute research that helps Montgomery Planning better understand residents, stakeholders, community needs, communications preferences, barriers to participation, and opportunities to broaden engagement in the planning process.

The contractor may be responsible for developing research plans; establishing research objectives and methodologies; determining appropriate sampling approaches; developing surveys; coordinating accessible and multilingual research; conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses; facilitating focus groups and listening sessions; synthesizing findings; and translating evidence into clear, actionable communications recommendations.

This individual must be capable of translating complex datasets and qualitative findings into practical insights that communications professionals, planners, executives, elected officials, and other stakeholders can understand and use.

The position will also support Montgomery Planning's commitment to equitable engagement, accessibility, plain-language communication, and broader public participation, ensuring that research activities consider traditionally underserved and harder-to-reach audiences.

Because this is an on-call environment, the individual must be comfortable quickly assessing new task-order requirements, developing an appropriate research methodology, establishing timelines, coordinating stakeholders, and producing high-quality deliverables with limited supervision.

Day-to-Day / Task-Order Activities

The Research, Audience Engagement & Insights Lead is expected to:

• DESIGN comprehensive research plans defining objectives, research questions, methodologies, sampling strategies, timelines, stakeholder requirements, and expected deliverables.
• CONDUCT audience research to identify demographics, behaviors, communications preferences, barriers to participation, information needs, and engagement opportunities.
• DEVELOP statistically defensible surveys using appropriate sampling methodologies and question-design practices.
• COORDINATE survey administration across digital, telephone, in-person, or other appropriate channels based on the target population and task-order requirements.
• INCORPORATE accessible and multilingual research approaches to improve participation among diverse communities.
• PLAN focus groups, listening sessions, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and other qualitative research activities.
• DEVELOP recruitment strategies, moderator guides, discussion guides, questionnaires, participant materials, and facilitation protocols.
• FACILITATE focus groups, listening sessions, interviews, and stakeholder research sessions in an objective, professional, and inclusive manner.
• ANALYZE quantitative survey results using appropriate statistical techniques to identify patterns, differences, correlations, trends, and meaningful audience segments.
• PERFORM qualitative and thematic analysis of interview, focus-group, open-ended survey, and stakeholder-feedback data.
• VALIDATE research findings and identify potential limitations, biases, sampling issues, or data-quality concerns before recommendations are developed.
• SEGMENT audiences based on relevant demographic, geographic, behavioral, attitudinal, communications, accessibility, or engagement characteristics.
• SYNTHESIZE quantitative and qualitative findings into concise audience insights, communications implications, and recommended actions.
• TRANSLATE research findings into practical recommendations for messaging, communications strategies, outreach approaches, engagement tactics, campaigns, and content development.
• DEVELOP audience profiles, research reports, executive summaries, findings presentations, dashboards, charts, tables, and decision-support materials.
• PRESENT research findings and recommendations to Montgomery Planning staff, leadership, project teams, community stakeholders, and other audiences.
• COLLABORATE with strategic communications, public relations, planning, digital, creative, outreach, and project-management professionals to incorporate research findings into communications initiatives.
• ADVISE project teams on appropriate research methods, sample design, participant recruitment, survey design, audience segmentation, and interpretation of research findings.
• MONITOR research activities against established schedules, milestones, budgets, quality expectations, and task-order requirements.
• DOCUMENT methodologies, assumptions, research limitations, datasets, findings, and recommendations sufficiently to support transparency and reproducibility.
• PROTECT confidential, restricted, personally identifiable, or sensitive information obtained through research activities.
• CREATE accessible reports and presentations consistent with applicable ADA, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Revised Section 508 requirements.
• RESPOND quickly to changing research questions, new stakeholder requirements, emerging communications needs, and short-turn task-order assignments.

Core Competencies and Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Analytical curiosity and disciplined critical thinking
• Strong attention to detail and data quality
• Excellent organizational and planning skills
• Independent judgment and initiative
• Strong facilitation and active-listening abilities
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity when engaging diverse communities
• Ability to remain objective when collecting and interpreting stakeholder feedback
• Ability to work effectively in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments
• Ability to anticipate research risks and develop practical solutions
• Ability to manage competing priorities and short-turn deliverables
• Strong professional judgment when handling confidential or sensitive information
• Ability to communicate complex research findings simply and persuasively
• Collaborative working style across multidisciplinary teams
• Commitment to accuracy, accessibility, equity, and high-quality client service

Tools and Processes

Depending upon the task order, the Research, Audience Engagement & Insights Lead may use:

Research & Survey Tools

• Qualtrics
• SurveyMonkey
• Alchemer
• QuestionPro or comparable survey platforms

Quantitative Analysis

• Microsoft Excel
• SPSS
• R
• Stata
• Power BI
• Tableau

Qualitative Research

• Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• NVivo
• Dedoose
• MAXQDA or comparable qualitative-analysis platforms

Communications & Collaboration

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Teams
• SharePoint
• Microsoft 365

Accessibility

• Microsoft Office Accessibility Checker
• Adobe Acrobat accessibility tools
• Accessible document-development practices
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA / Revised Section 508 principles

Ascension is seeking an accomplished Strategic Communications & Public Relations Lead to serve as proposed key personnel supporting Montgomery Planning's on-call strategic communications program.

The ideal candidate is a senior communications professional who can move comfortably between strategic planning and hands-on public relations execution. This individual will help Montgomery Planning communicate complex planning, land-use, development, engagement, and public-policy information in a manner that is clear, accurate, accessible, timely, and meaningful to residents, community stakeholders, partner agencies, elected officials, and the media.

This role is particularly important because Montgomery Planning's communications mission is centered on transparency, equitable engagement, accessibility, plain-language communications, proactive outreach, and expanding meaningful participation in the planning process.

Ascension is seeking someone who brings not only excellent writing and communications-planning skills, but also demonstrated experience working directly with journalists, executive leaders, public officials, spokespersons, and other high-visibility stakeholders.

The successful candidate should be calm under pressure, highly responsive, politically and organizationally aware, discreet when handling sensitive information, and capable of rapidly moving from identifying a communications issue to developing a recommended message, response strategy, supporting materials, and execution plan.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Strategic Communications & Public Relations Lead will provide senior-level strategic communications and media-relations support across Montgomery Planning initiatives and individual task orders.

The contractor will support the development and execution of communications and engagement strategies that define objectives, audiences, key messages, tactical approaches, schedules, and performance indicators. The Lead will help translate complex technical and planning information into understandable narratives and actionable communications products.

The position will also lead or provide subject matter expertise for public relations activities, including press releases, media advisories, story pitches, talking points, spokesperson preparation, question-and-answer materials, media inquiry response, media monitoring, earned-media analysis, and rapid-response communications.

The contractor must be comfortable operating in an environment in which priorities can change quickly and communications may involve confidential, sensitive, controversial, or highly visible public issues.

This individual will work closely with Montgomery Planning communications staff, Planning Board personnel, Ascension's Project Coordinator/Program Manager, researchers, designers, web specialists, engagement personnel, and other communications professionals.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• A strategic thinker who can translate organizational objectives into practical communications strategies.
• An exceptional writer and editor capable of communicating complex subjects in clear, concise, plain language.
• A seasoned public-relations professional with demonstrated experience working with journalists and responding to media inquiries.
• Comfortable advising senior executives, public officials, board members, technical professionals, and subject matter experts.
• Detail-oriented and organized while remaining capable of operating effectively in fast-moving environments.
• Self-driven and capable of working independently with limited supervision.
• Skilled at anticipating communications risks before they escalate.
• Able to develop solutions quickly rather than simply identify communications problems.
• Comfortable managing competing deadlines and multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Highly responsive during emerging or sensitive issues.
• Collaborative and capable of coordinating messages across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.
• Sensitive to the communications needs of diverse communities and committed to equitable and accessible public engagement.
• Trusted to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.

Day-to-Day / Task Order Activities

The Strategic Communications & Public Relations Lead will be expected to:

• ADVISE Montgomery Planning staff and leadership on strategic communications, public relations, positioning, messaging, and emerging communications issues.
• DEVELOP department-level and project-specific communications and engagement strategies incorporating objectives, audience insights, key messages, tactics, schedules, responsibilities, and measurable performance indicators.
• TRANSLATE complex planning, land-use, policy, technical, research, and development information into clear and accessible public-facing communications.
• CREATE messaging frameworks, editorial calendars, communications briefs, campaign briefs, talking points, key-message documents, executive briefing materials, FAQs, and related communications products.
• RESEARCH audiences and stakeholder information to better understand communications needs, information gaps, participation barriers, preferred channels, and engagement opportunities.
• ALIGN communications approaches with Montgomery Planning's Strategic Plan, Equitable Engagement principles, established branding, positioning, and departmental messaging.
• WRITE and edit press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, story pitches, background materials, media responses, fact sheets, and related public-relations materials.
• PITCH appropriate stories, initiatives, planning activities, and organizational information to relevant media outlets when authorized.
• PREPARE spokespersons, executives, technical experts, Planning staff, and Planning Board personnel for interviews, presentations, difficult questions, and public-facing communications.
• DEVELOP anticipated questions and answers, message maps, briefing books, interview preparation materials, and rapid-response communications packages.
• RESPOND rapidly to emerging communications needs while maintaining message consistency, factual accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriate approval processes.
• ADVISE Montgomery Planning and Planning Board personnel regarding media inquiries, media interest, reputational considerations, and recommended response approaches.
• MONITOR relevant news coverage, public narratives, emerging issues, stakeholder conversations, and media activity.
• ANALYZE earned-media results using quantitative and qualitative measures including reach, volume, sentiment, message penetration, trends, and other applicable indicators.
• PREPARE earned-media reports, executive summaries, trend analyses, and recommendations based on communications performance.
• COORDINATE timely and consistent messaging during sensitive, controversial, confidential, or rapidly developing situations.
• COLLABORATE with research, engagement, digital, web, design, video, advertising, and analytics personnel to maintain consistency across communications channels.
• SUPPORT campaign strategy, audience segmentation, messaging, content development, and communications performance measurement for promotional initiatives.
• REVIEW communications products for message consistency, factual accuracy, tone, readability, brand alignment, accessibility, and audience appropriateness.
• MAINTAIN message libraries, media lists, communications calendars, approval workflows, issue trackers, media-response documentation, and other communications management resources.
• PARTICIPATE in project meetings, planning sessions, public-facing meetings, stakeholder discussions, presentations, and other client activities as required by individual task orders.
• PROTECT confidential, sensitive, restricted, and pre-decisional information in accordance with M-NCPPC requirements.
• ENSURE applicable communications products meet accessibility requirements, including ADA, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Revised Section 508 standards when required.
• DELIVER assigned communications products within established schedules and respond effectively during accelerated or surge periods.

Tools and Processes

The successful contractor should be comfortable working with or quickly learning tools and processes supporting:

• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Word and PowerPoint accessibility tools
• Adobe Acrobat accessibility review
• Media monitoring and earned-media measurement platforms
• Media/contact databases
• Editorial and communications calendars
• Communications approval workflows
• Message maps and messaging frameworks
• Issues and risk trackers
• Audience and stakeholder analysis
• KPI and communications-performance reporting
• Social and digital analytics
• Version control and document-management practices
• Plain-language review
• ADA/WCAG 2.1 AA/Revised Section 508 compliance processes

Ascension is seeking an accomplished Project Coordinator / Strategic Communications Program Manager to serve as a proposed Key Personnel member supporting the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Montgomery Planning Department.

This individual will serve as the central management and coordination lead for strategic communications assignments, helping translate Montgomery Planning's communications priorities into organized, executable task-order plans. The Program Manager will coordinate multidisciplinary communications professionals, manage schedules and deliverables, maintain quality and accessibility standards, communicate with client stakeholders, and ensure Ascension and its teaming partners respond efficiently to Montgomery Planning's evolving needs.

The ideal candidate combines senior-level strategic communications expertise with disciplined project and program management capabilities. This is not solely an administrative project coordinator position. Ascension is seeking someone who understands how communications strategies, public engagement, media relations, digital communications, research, advertising campaigns, creative production, and educational outreach fit together—and who can effectively manage specialists performing that work.

The successful candidate should be a highly organized, responsive, detail-oriented professional who can operate with limited supervision, anticipate risks before they affect delivery, manage competing deadlines, communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, and bring structure to ambiguous or rapidly evolving communications requirements.

Summary of the Contractor Role

Montgomery Planning maintains an internal communications team supporting content, web and graphic design, video, marketing, promotions, community engagement, and public information. The Department is establishing an on-call bench of consulting firms to supplement that internal capacity and help communicate complex planning and land-use matters to diverse audiences through clear, accessible, equitable, and data-driven communications.

The Project Coordinator / Strategic Communications Program Manager will provide overall coordination and management of Ascension's support and serve as a principal connection among Montgomery Planning, Ascension leadership, communications professionals, and subcontractors.

The position supports an engagement encompassing eight service categories:

1. Communications Strategy & Support
2. Public Relations Support
3. Website Maintenance & Technical Support
4. Media & Communications Training
5. Video & Design Support
6. Data Gathering & Research for Communications Support
7. Promotional Campaign Support
8. Development and Maintenance of Educational Engagement Programs

The Program Manager will not necessarily personally perform every specialized technical activity. Instead, the individual must understand these disciplines sufficiently to assign appropriate resources, coordinate their work, manage dependencies, identify risks, review progress, maintain quality, and ensure deliverables satisfy client requirements.

The role is particularly important because Montgomery Planning may issue multiple task orders of different sizes and scopes, requiring the consulting team to rapidly assemble appropriately qualified personnel, establish schedules, manage deliverables, respond to changing priorities, and maintain consistent quality across simultaneous assignments.

Key Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

The Project Coordinator / Strategic Communications Program Manager will:

• SERVE as Ascension's primary task-order coordination and management point for assigned Montgomery Planning communications initiatives.
• LEAD project startup activities by reviewing task-order requirements, clarifying objectives, identifying deliverables, establishing milestones, and determining required staffing.
• DEVELOP task-order work plans, schedules, resource assignments, communications protocols, quality-control checkpoints, and deliverable calendars.
• COORDINATE strategic communications professionals, public relations specialists, researchers, web specialists, trainers, graphic designers, video professionals, advertising specialists, and subcontractors supporting individual assignments.
• TRANSLATE client objectives into clear assignments, schedules, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes for the project team.
• MANAGE communications strategy activities involving audience insights, goals, messages, tactics, timelines, editorial planning, engagement strategies, and key performance indicators.
• COORDINATE development and review of communications products such as campaign briefs, talking points, executive presentations, press materials, reports, editorial calendars, public-information materials, educational content, and stakeholder communications.
• MONITOR task-order schedules, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, action items, staffing requirements, budgets, and deliverable status.
• ANTICIPATE schedule, staffing, quality, stakeholder, accessibility, and communications risks and implement corrective actions before they affect performance.
• FACILITATE internal project meetings, client status meetings, stakeholder discussions, planning sessions, and project reviews.
• COORDINATE public-facing activities and ensure appropriate subject-matter experts are prepared for presentations, engagement activities, media-related assignments, workshops, and other interactions.
• OVERSEE subcontractor and specialist activities to ensure assignments are properly integrated into the overall project schedule and quality process.
• MANAGE surge requirements by identifying additional qualified resources when multiple or compressed task orders occur simultaneously.
• TRACK project performance against established goals, schedules, deliverables, budgets, and KPIs.
• REVIEW work products for completeness, consistency, professionalism, brand alignment, contractual compliance, and readiness for client submission.
• ENSURE reports, presentations, communications materials, and other deliverables incorporate accessibility requirements applicable to the assignment.
• COORDINATE remediation and verification of deliverables that must comply with ADA requirements, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Revised Section 508 Standards.
• ENSURE appropriate handling of confidential, sensitive, restricted, and client-owned information.
• SUPPORT rapid-response communications assignments involving emerging, sensitive, or fast-moving issues.
• MAINTAIN project documentation, meeting records, decisions, action-item logs, schedules, deliverable repositories, version controls, and lessons learned.
• PREPARE concise status reports and management briefings identifying accomplishments, upcoming milestones, risks, decisions required, and corrective actions.
• COORDINATE quality-control reviews and ensure client comments are resolved accurately and promptly.
• SUPPORT development of task-order staffing and cost estimates using approved contractual labor categories and rates.
• VERIFY that the appropriate mix of senior, junior, technical, creative, research, and administrative personnel is assigned based upon the complexity and requirements of individual task orders.
• MAINTAIN sufficient availability to respond to new assignments and compressed deadlines during periods of increased Montgomery Planning workload.

Tools and Processes

The successful candidate should be comfortable working with or managing teams using tools such as:

• Microsoft 365, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• SharePoint or comparable document and knowledge-management platforms.
• Microsoft Planner, Project, Smartsheet, Asana, Monday.com, or comparable project/work-management applications.
• Project schedules, milestone trackers, risk and issue registers, action-item logs, staffing plans, and quality-control checklists.
• KPI and campaign-performance dashboards.
• Adobe Acrobat Pro and accessibility-checking functionality.
• PAC 2021 or equivalent accessibility-validation tools where applicable.
• Web, media-monitoring, survey, advertising, analytics, and campaign-management platforms appropriate to individual assignments.
• Version control and structured document-review processes.

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a Project Coordinator / Project Controls Analyst to provide hands-on project coordination, project controls, financial tracking, documentation, and management support for multidisciplinary U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Project Delivery Teams.

This position is designed for a project support professional who does more than perform administrative coordination. The successful candidate will help maintain the information, schedules, milestones, documentation, financial data, and management controls that allow Project Managers and Project Delivery Teams to successfully move complex projects from planning and design through acquisition and construction.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented, analytical professional who enjoys bringing structure to complex projects. The individual should be comfortable maintaining multiple project trackers, identifying approaching deadlines, validating information, resolving discrepancies, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and ensuring that Project Managers have accurate and current information upon which to make decisions.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience supporting Federal, Department of Defense, USACE, architecture/engineering, construction, environmental, facilities, or other infrastructure programs and individuals familiar with Government project management and financial systems.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to build or continue a career in project management, project controls, program analysis, or Federal infrastructure program delivery rather than traditional administrative support.

Contractor Role Summary

The Project Coordinator / Project Controls Analyst supports the Contractor Project Manager and multidisciplinary Project Delivery Teams responsible for military construction and sustainment, environmental, and Interagency and International Services projects.

The position serves as part of the project's operational control structure by maintaining accurate project records, monitoring schedules and milestones, tracking financial and execution information, updating Government enterprise systems, supporting document control, and identifying actions requiring Project Manager attention.

The individual will assist Project Managers in maintaining visibility into the health and status of assigned projects, including design milestones, acquisition activities, regulatory approvals, financial status, schedule dependencies, pending actions, and construction-related project information.

The successful candidate should be:

• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Analytical and comfortable working with project and financial data.
• Proactive rather than dependent upon continuous direction.
• Able to recognize missing, inconsistent, or outdated information.
• Skilled at anticipating approaching deadlines and required actions.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Capable of working in an environment where priorities may change quickly.
• Professional when coordinating with Project Managers, engineers, acquisition personnel, financial personnel, technical specialists, and Government stakeholders.
• Able to translate project information into clear trackers, reports, briefings, and management information.

The individual should understand that accurate project controls are critical to successful project delivery. Inaccurate schedules, outdated financial information, missed milestones, incomplete documentation, or unrecorded project decisions can directly affect design, acquisition, construction, funding, and overall mission execution.

Position Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

The Project Coordinator / Project Controls Analyst is expected to:

• COORDINATE project activities, information, milestones, and administrative requirements supporting assigned Project Managers and Project Delivery Teams.
• TRACK project schedules, milestones, action items, deadlines, deliverables, reviews, design activities, acquisition activities, regulatory approvals, and other project dependencies.
• MAINTAIN project control logs, milestone trackers, action registers, project files, correspondence, and supporting documentation.
• UPDATE Government enterprise project and financial management systems, including P2 and CEFMS, as assigned.
• MONITOR project information for approaching milestones, schedule conflicts, incomplete actions, funding concerns, documentation gaps, and other conditions requiring Project Manager attention.
• TRACK project financial information and assist Project Managers in maintaining visibility into budgets, commitments, obligations, expenditures, and other project funding information available through Government systems.
• RECONCILE information contained in project trackers, financial systems, schedules, reports, and supporting documentation to help maintain accurate project records.
• CONTROL project documentation by organizing, maintaining, routing, tracking, and retrieving current project records and supporting materials.
• VERIFY that required project information and supporting documentation are current, complete, properly recorded, and available to the appropriate team members.
• PREPARE project status information, reports, spreadsheets, briefing materials, meeting materials, summaries, and other management products.
• SUPPORT planning and coordination for project reviews, design charrettes, technical reviews, acquisition milestones, regulatory approvals, and other project events.
• FACILITATE routine project coordination meetings by preparing agendas and materials, documenting decisions, capturing action items, and monitoring follow-up actions.
• FOLLOW UP with responsible team members regarding outstanding actions, required documentation, upcoming milestones, or information needed by the Project Manager.
• IDENTIFY potential schedule, documentation, financial, coordination, or execution issues and promptly elevate them to the Project Manager.
• ORGANIZE project information so Project Managers and Project Delivery Team members can rapidly understand project status, upcoming requirements, open actions, and areas requiring management attention.
• SUPPORT Project Managers throughout the planning, design, acquisition, and construction lifecycle of assigned projects.
• COORDINATE across multidisciplinary stakeholders, including engineering, construction, acquisition, financial management, environmental, technical, and program personnel.
• MAINTAIN professional, accurate, auditable, and traceable project records in accordance with applicable Government processes and procedures.