Empowering federal agencies to attract mission-ready talent with precision, speed and impact
Leveraging deep federal-hiring expertise and data-driven marketing strategies, we help agencies build a compelling employer brand, deploy targeted outreach and accelerate hire volumes without sacrificing quality.
We’ve partnered with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deliver measurable results in recruitment marketing, candidate experience and talent pipeline optimisation.
Why It Matters
Federal workforce needs are growing rapidly: For example, more than 150,000 federal job openings were reported in recent data.
Traditional recruitment approaches are no longer sufficient: Agencies must adopt more sophisticated candidate-journey mapping, employer value proposition articulation and digital outreach tactics.
Agencies must overcome long-standing perception challenges: Many candidates overlook federal careers or underestimate their opportunity, purpose and stability.
The cost of delay is high: Mission readiness, hiring quality and efficiency goals are at stake.
This project bolstered marketing efforts related to sourcing, hiring and retaining National Park Service employees. We implemented a comprehensive recruitment strategy, proactively target a diverse workforce for sourcing and outreach and define metrics to analyze success of their recruitment strategy. Tactics included developing a communications and marketing plan, updating the NPS careers website, creating a video series, deploying a paid media campaign and developing a suite of recruitment-related communications materials.
These mobile ads were part of a localized campaign with the Veterans Health Administration to recruit and hire health care professionals.
These mobile ads were created as part of a contract with Customs and Border Protection from 2021-2024. Aptive provided recruitment marketing and outreach services to help attract and build a high-quality public-sector workforce across the agency.
Under the comprehensive contract Aptive led the strategy, design and execution of marketing and advertising campaigns to promote employment opportunities with CBP and attract skilled, qualified and diverse candidates. In addition to leading CBP’s recruitment strategy and branding, Aptive’s creative and media buying teams designed graphics and produced videos and radio advertisements, executed media buys across out of home and digital platforms and enhanced the user experience of the CBP careers website.
The CyperCorps Scholarship for Service was a joint effort between the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security to engage and source the next generation of critical cybersecurity talent. Aptive planned and executed a large-scale career event that includes branding, design, web development and logistics support.
Aptive is proud to announce that its public service announcement, New Heights, created for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has won a prestigious 2025 Emmy® Award.
The PSA, developed in collaboration with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), was honored Saturday, June 21st, in recognition of excellence in television and media arts. It celebrates career opportunities within VHA and the mission-driven professionals who support our nation’s Veterans every day.
This video was created as part of a contract with Customs and Border Protection from 2021-2024. Aptive provided recruitment marketing and outreach services to help attract and build a high-quality public-sector workforce across the agency.
Under the comprehensive contract Aptive led the strategy, design and execution of marketing and advertising campaigns to promote employment opportunities with CBP and attract skilled, qualified and diverse candidates. In addition to leading CBP’s recruitment strategy and branding, Aptive’s creative and media buying teams designed graphics and produced videos and radio advertisements, executed media buys across out of home and digital platforms and enhanced the user experience of the CBP careers website.
This video was created as part of a contract with Customs and Border Protection. Aptive provided recruitment marketing and outreach services to help attract and build a high-quality public-sector workforce across the agency.
Under the comprehensive contract Aptive led the strategy, design and execution of marketing and advertising campaigns to promote employment opportunities with CBP and attract skilled, qualified and diverse candidates. In addition to leading CBP’s recruitment strategy and branding, Aptive’s creative and media buying teams designed graphics and produced videos and radio advertisements, executed media buys across out of home and digital platforms and enhanced the user experience of the CBP careers website.
Sharieda Patterson discusses her role as the Lead Chaplain at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, VA Medical Center, Heinz Campus, as part of a series designed to highlight careers at VA.
This video was created as part of a contract with Customs and Border Protection. Aptive provided recruitment marketing and outreach services to help attract and build a high-quality public-sector workforce across the agency.
Under the comprehensive contract Aptive led the strategy, design and execution of marketing and advertising campaigns to promote employment opportunities with CBP and attract skilled, qualified and diverse candidates. In addition to leading CBP’s recruitment strategy and branding, Aptive’s creative and media buying teams designed graphics and produced videos and radio advertisements, executed media buys across out of home and digital platforms and enhanced the user experience of the CBP careers website.
A multi-modal approach attracts top-quality applicants.
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Seth Niman leads Aptive’s media team, delivering marketing solutions and strategies to our federal and commercial clients. Seth and his team have extensive expertise in planning, negotiating and optimizing advertising campaigns designed to achieve their customers’ goals with specific, measurable results.
Seth applies a holistic approach to planning and buying across the media landscape, including digital programmatic, paid search, paid social, digital video/audio, connected television, out of home, print, television and radio. He utilizes a research-oriented process to develop the ideal media and advertising strategy, selecting the channels that align with the client’s overarching strategy and advancing their marketing objectives.
With more than 20 years of experience as an advertising, media and marketing professional, Seth has supported the branding, recruitment and product marketing efforts for Fannie Mae, McDonald’s, Cava, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Homeland Security.
B.A., English, University of Virginia
Meghan Dunn brings a strategic mindset and a passion for driving results through innovative media campaigns. With over 14 years of experience, she possesses a deep understanding of the ever-evolving media landscape, from traditional channels to the latest digital platforms including digital programmatic, paid search, paid social, digital video/audio and connected TV. Part artist and part scientist, her expertise lies in leveraging research and data to build and execute campaigns, consistently exceeding client goals and maximizing ROI.
Meghan has supported paid media efforts across various federal agencies including, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Transportation, Library of Congress, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Education and Small Business Administration. Prior to working with federal agencies, Meghan worked in corporate marketing, leading digital marketing campaigns, social media and content marketing efforts. She also worked for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (now NBC Sports Bay Area), where she developed experiential social media campaigns to give out Oakland A’s tickets.
Taylor Wood is an experienced communication and change management strategist dedicated to building and leading proactive teams that go above and beyond for her clients. She oversees a portfolio of more than 18 teams across several government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Science Foundation. In this role, Taylor focuses on growing and expanding Human Experience’s event management capability and enhancing Aptive’s recruitment marketing services through the implementation of technical solutions.
Throughout her career, she has focused on learning various leadership styles and techniques to help others achieve success. Taylor is passionate about training others to lead with empathy and foster positive working relationships, enabling teams to provide exceptional service to clients. In previous roles, Taylor has led numerous communication teams and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Department of the Navy, VA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Energy.
Secret Security Clearance
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Change Management Practitioner, Prosci
M.A., Strategic Communications, American University
B.A., Communication Studies, West Virginia University
Taylor Grant is a creative leader and experienced designer who applies human-centered design to produce innovative and impactful visual communication materials. Through strategic oversight, she ensures the creative team develops engaging brands and campaigns that achieve client goals while informing, inspiring and encouraging action. She creates thoughtful brand identities, paid media, social, events, out-of-home advertising, websites and outside-the-box creative executions that connect with target audiences and leave a lasting impression.
Taylor has more than 12 years of experience in visual communications and her eye for design and prior work with federal agencies provides Taylor with the ability to lead, support and serve Aptive’s creative team.
Telly Award Winner for Art Direction in Social Impact
M.S., Communications Design, Pratt Institute
B.A., Psychology, Dartmouth College
Kaveh is a creative visual storyteller with extensive video production experience, both in studios and on location. His role is to direct, manage and oversee video production and visual storytelling strategy at Aptive and to help enhance and elevate visual direction for creative campaigns nationwide. Over the past 15 years, Kaveh has been a part of teams and organizations that tell effective stories, conceptualizing creative ideas while thinking outside the box to showcase the most innovative stories, brands and campaigns. At Voice of America, he co-created the ‘People in America’ series, which became one of the most popular and widely watched visual series for TV and online platforms. At USA TODAY, Kaveh helped build and create the foundation for digital video franchise storytelling. At Moko Social Media, he helped build the video department from the ground up and created visual franchise series for all of its verticals.
Kaveh’s core passion is to create a safe, collaborative space for storytellers and creatives that helps foster vision, inspiration and creativity. “As creatives, we do our best work when we come together and that’s exactly what we’re building at Aptive and what sets us apart.”
Award Winner, Platinum and Gold Hermes Creative Awards
Award Winner, Platinum and Gold MarCom Awards
Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, 508 Compliance
M.A., Film and Video, American University
B.S., Finance, George Mason University
Karen is a distinguished leader with a strategic mindset who brings a wealth of expertise from her years in the events industry. She plays a pivotal role in establishing and enhancing Aptive’s events capability through training, knowledge management, adaptation of new technologies and refining best practices. Karen takes a collaborative approach to cultivating efficient and effective teamwork. Her commitment to fostering trusted partnerships extends beyond her dedication to client service, driving her curiosity for innovation and new ideas.
Prior to Aptive, Karen oversaw the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s flagship public-facing events, leading cross-functional teams and managing event budgets exceeding $1 million. She spearheaded the Chamber’s transition from in-person to virtual events during the pandemic, producing a range of revenue-driving digital experiences, from the first episodic series attracting 18,000 registrants a week after the shutdown to regular broadcast productions to the Chamber’s first immersive digital event experience. Karen managed a diverse portfolio of over 600 annual events for the Council on Foreign Relations, including high-profile gatherings hosting distinguished speakers, including Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and David Petraeus. Karen remains actively engaged as a Professional Convention Management Association and Society of Government Meeting Professionals member.
