Communications Consultant 5
This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) full-time, permanent, Communications Consultant 5 position at Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Headquarters in Tumwater, WA.
The duty station for this position is Tumwater, WA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employees are working a combination of in-office and teleworking based on the position and business needs. Once the restrictions are lifted, this position may be available for continued partial telework opportunities, depending on business needs and supervisor approval.
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Duties:
The Communications Manager (Communications Consultant 5) works independently and in coordination with the Communications Director on overall communications for the Agency. They will manage, direct, and facilitate the creation of a wide variety of written materials and prepare complex or comprehensive information that is accessible to the public. This position is essential in building and maintaining the public trust, meeting the agency's goals, and supporting the mission.
Duties include but are not limited to:
General communications:
- Collaborate and coordinate with staff at all levels to advise and develop communications strategies.
- Create or co-create effective messaging.
- Work with the creative services team on marketing writing and editing content to customers.
- Coach and train program staff on the integration and timing of various communications materials; coordinate meetings with program staff to gather information needed to create products.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tactics used by programs, and advise and recommend approaches for greater success.
Social media:
- Serve as the agency's social media manager. Use plain language principles when writing and editing content.
- Provide direction and guidance to communications team when responding to public comments on social media.
- Maintain oversight and establish direction and strategy for each platform.
- Engage staff to provide information about parks, programs and events on social media platforms.
- Integrates social media into a variety of other communication models and tools.
- Plan, develop, administer and direct complex and extensive information and public relations activities.
- Collaborate and consult with programs to help them meet their communications goals using social media platforms.
- Create, engage, and sustain public participation with the agency through social media.
- Build and maintain good relationships with sources, recreation organizations ad subject-matter experts in the gathering of content and materials; work collaboratively and creatively with external sources and agency staff.
- Apply copyright and crediting standards; ensure appropriate permissions are in place in posting to public sources.
- Analyze metrics to gauge content and strategy effectiveness.
Media relations:
- Serve as the agency spokesperson, representing the agency, Commission, and Director as needed.
- Plan and implement public relations through news media work including managing administrative details of the agency's news media program; analyzing the extent of public understanding and evaluating effectiveness of work with the media.
- Advises, coordinates, and directs staff on appropriate timing and messaging to ensure Parks provides complete and accurate information to the media.
- Writes and distributes news releases on a variety of topics. Tracks coverage and distributes news clips to executive leadership and staff.
- Manage and update agency's media email lists.
- Develop, update and administer agency media training program for staff.
Internal communications:
- Serve as editor for the agency internal newsletter. Help drive program direction with the development of new ad effective internal communication tactics.
- Provide governance and oversight of the agency's Intranet by working with the communications team and program staff.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree involving major study in journalism, communications, public relations, or a closely related field.**
- Four (4) years of professional experience in public information, journalism or public relations.
**Additional years of experience in public information, journalism or public relations may be substituted year for year for education.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to advise management on programs by organizing, preparing, and presenting comprehensive public information and education programs using mass news media.
- Ability to speak and write effectively.
- Knowledge of the methods used to determine the needs for public information and education.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Two (2) years of supervisory experience.
- Experience as a communications consultant for a government agency.
- Experience writing for travel, human-interest and news stories on a deadline.
- Experience managing communications for complex or controversial public issues and/or programs.
- Experience writing plain language principles for the web.
- Experience with photography and videography production and editing.
- Ability to take photographs and capture video images.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
Per Governor Inslee’s Emergency Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader), all Washington State Parks employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the time of hire. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status. No start date will be approved until you have verified your vaccine status. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the recruitment team at HR.Recruitment@parks.wa.gov.