Communications Manager- North Central Region

Communications Manager The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
WSDOT is currently seeking a Communications Manager to lead the North Central Region. This position provides region-wide government relations, strategic communications, media relations, community engagement, and political strategy to the North Central Region RA, ARAs, and the organizational managers in the North Central Region who make up the regional leadership team. They have sole responsibility for strategic planning and communicating with elected officials, the public, the media, and internal and external audiences, using various communication tools.
The Communications Manager is a member of the North Central Region's Leadership Team, which sets policy and strategic direction for the region. The position contributes to WSDOT's delivery of major transportation projects, maintenance, transportation operations, preservation, and planning within North Central Region.
The North Central Region, encompassing a large geographic area, includes primarily the four counties of Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan, and smaller parts of several other counties. The North Central Region consists of multiple National Highway System (NHS) and inter-jurisdictional transportation corridors that are vital to the movement of freight, people, goods, and services throughout our state, keeping our state's economy alive.
This position is primarily office-based, with occasional visits to field construction, maintenance, or emergency sites where hazards are present. The schedule is a day shift, Monday through Friday; however, 24/7 availability is required to respond to media calls or emergencies, which may require schedule adjustments. The role requires the ability to drive to project or emergency sites and includes frequent travel throughout the North Central Region to attend meetings and visit sites, as well as occasional statewide meetings, events, and training. Travel outside the state is rare. Due to frequent regional travel, the individual is expected to live within or near the region and be available to respond at any time, with in-person presence typically required one to two days per week or more as needed.
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Communications Manager will:
Lead a team of high-performing Communications Consultants, manage day-to-day workload and plan resource needs over a 3–5-year period for the North Central Region Communications and Government Relations Program.
Independently plan and lead strategic communications/community engagement plans, projecting five or more years in advance, while also managing communications for emergencies, short-term construction milestones, and issues.
Build collaborative relationships with news media, local, state, and federal agency partners, stakeholders, businesses, elected officials, and the traveling public. Utilize these relationships to provide information that facilitates stakeholders' and the public's understanding of agency projects, planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance activities.
Develop and manage consulting contracts for additional communications resources.
Serve as the primary contact and public information officer for the region's most visible and complex projects.
Monitor both internal and external communications media to gauge public perception of the agency, region, specific projects, or emergency and winter event response.
Develop and lead outreach events to include county fairs, community events, and internal and external region events.
Lead the coordination and preparation of the region's Title VI reporting requirements.
Collaborate with the Region Planning Office on developing strategic plans over a 1–3-year period for external communications to achieve goals and requirements of Complete Streets and HEAL Act.
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:
Strategic Communications Leadership: Demonstrated ability to develop and lead comprehensive, multi-year strategic communications and government relations programs for a complex public or private organization. This includes establishing vision, setting measurable objectives, aligning messaging with executive priorities, and adapting strategy to changing political, operational, and media environments.
Executive Advisory & Political Acumen: Demonstrated ability to advise senior executives on high-profile, politically sensitive issues, including emergency response, major construction impacts, legislative engagement, and public controversy. Applies to sound judgment in assessing political climate, stakeholder interests, and reputational risk to inform executive decision-making.
Crisis & Emergency Communications Management: Demonstrated experience leading crisis communications during emergency or high-risk situations. Ability to serve as or direct Public Information Officers (PIOs), coordinate with Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), and deliver timely, accurate, life-safety messaging across multiple platforms under pressure.
Organizational Leadership & Talent Development: Proven effectiveness in leading teams and fostering a culture of respect, equity, and inclusion. Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, coach, mentor, evaluate, and hold staff accountable for performance outcomes—experience in planning and allocating resources to meet both immediate and long-range operational needs.
Stakeholder & Government Relations: Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with elected officials, tribal governments, federal, state, and local agencies, media representatives, community partners, and internal stakeholders. Experience navigating complex governmental and interjurisdictional environments to achieve strategic outcomes.
Public Engagement & Community Outreach Strategy: Demonstrated ability to design and implement inclusive public engagement strategies for complex infrastructure projects, policy initiatives, or operational programs. Experience developing outreach materials, facilitating meetings, and ensuring compliance with Title VI and related equity requirements.
Analytical Judgment & Risk Management: Demonstrated ability to assess reputational, operational, and safety risks associated with communications decisions. Critical thinking is required in timing, messaging, and distribution channels when precedent may not exist.
Written & Verbal Communication Excellence: Demonstrated ability to clearly and persuasively communicate complex technical or policy information to diverse audiences, including the public, media, elected officials, and internal staff. Ability to review, interpret, and draft technical and professional documents.
Regulatory & Policy Knowledge: Working knowledge of applicable RCWs, WACs, federal regulations, public records requirements, and agency policies relevant to communications and public disclosure.
Technical & Operational Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency using computer systems and communications technology to produce, manage, and distribute information, including Microsoft Office applications and digital communications tools.
Education & Professional Preparation: Progressively responsible professional communications experience. Professional-level communications or public relations experience demonstrates increasing responsibility for strategy development, executive advising, and program leadership.
Driver's License Requirement: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a state-owned vehicle to travel to meetings, emergency sites, and project locations throughout the North Central Region and statewide.
Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Service-Oriented: Demonstrate a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.
In addition to the above, the following is also required:
Ability to be available on a 24/7 basis to respond to media inquiries and support communications during emergency or critical incidents, including traveling to incident locations on short notice when needed.
Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:
Advanced Crisis Communications Leadership: Extensive experience leading multi-agency crisis communications during disaster response or major infrastructure incidents.
Legislative & Political Strategy Experience: Demonstrated understanding of legislative processes and experience engaging effectively with elected officials in politically complex environments.
Senior-Level Communications Experience: Significant professional experience leading communications programs in large, complex, or highly regulated organizations.
This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs. This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options. In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also