State-of-Washington-Dept.-of-Services-For-the-Blin is hiring: Communication Cons

Communication Consultant 5
Position location Seattle, King or Lacey, Thurston
Contact Information:
Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Rachel Vaughan by email jobs@des.wa.gov.

Note:
Standard business hours are Monday – Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM, and may occasionally require flexibility to meet the agency's needs. We promote a healthy work/life balance. Telework and a flexible schedule may be available upon supervisory approval. The hiring team may make a hiring decision at any time after the standard posting period. It is within your best interest to apply for this position at your earliest convenience.

DSB Relocation Allotment:
DSB offers, upon approval, a relocation bonus and allotment for those staff relocating and needing to make the move to, or across the beautiful state of Washington to join our team.

Who We Are:
Washington State Department of Services for the Blind is “working together with individuals who are Blind, Deaf-Blind or Low Vision so they can flourish in their homes, communities, and workplaces.” DSB's Vocational Rehabilitation program assists individuals with visual disabilities achieve gainful employment and economic vitality through integration into the nation’s workforce, while assisting businesses with accessibility training, consultation, recruitment, and retention of qualified employees. Together, these services lead to the greater employment of qualified Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision individuals and more accessible and diverse businesses.

DSB is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness-qualifying employer.

About the Opportunity:
The Communication Consultant 5 ensures DSB connects with employees, customers, and stakeholders to achieve agency goals through strategic internal and external communications. The role plans, organizes, and directs communications and public relations activities that impact multiple programs and divisions across the agency, advancing DSB’s mission of working together with individuals who are Blind, Deaf-Blind, or Low Vision so they can flourish in their homes, communities, and workplaces.

Workstation is located in Washington State: Seattle, King or Lacey, Thurston County.

To learn more about this opportunity, email recruiter: Rachel Vaughan via jobs@des.wa.gov and request the full job description.

Duties associates with this position include:
Strategic communications leadership and agency priorities

Advise agency director and leadership on communication strategies to advance agency priorities, including legislative, rule, and policy work affecting multiple programs and divisions.

Serve as communications specialist and professional consultant to agency and division heads in communications and public relations, ensuring alignment and impact across the agency.

Develop and coordinate agency public information policy and activities with other governmental agencies and boards.

Make policy decisions pertaining to communication issues.

Partner with Executive Team to manage external risks, issue management, and reputational risk.

Develop, deploy, and measure strategic outreach plans and narratives for agency initiatives, legislative priorities, budget requests, and high-stakes policy development across all agency programs and divisions.

Use data and analytics to inform and advise management of communications strategies and outcomes.

Agency online presence. content creation, and technical administration

Lead agency website, email delivery system, social media platforms, and survey software as technical administrator and front-end developer. Provides training and support for group topic administrator and contributors.

Organize website content for accessibility and usability; apply accessibility requirements and plain language principles.

Manage content creation, graphic design, collateral production, and translation of communications materials.

Monitor, collaborate, and complete service requests for communication and website changes.

Public information, media relations and outreach

Serve as primary point of contact for news media, distribute press releases, and provide media training.

Monitor agency media mentions, track analytics, and apply best practices to enhance reach.

Coordinate agency representation at conferences and externally hosted events.

Advise on public interest and reaction to proposed programs and policies, and support crisis communications as needed.

Serve as agency information manager responsible for responding to significant emergency or crisis situations, including advising leadership and coordinating information dissemination with local, state, and federal officials.

Branding, internal communications, and special projects

Develop and maintain branding guides for agency materials used across all programs and divisions; consult with subject matter experts for consistent messaging.

Promote agency mission, vision, and values in all communications, ensuring legal compliance and cultural sensitivity.

Lead campaigns that involve multiple agency programs and divisions such as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, White Cane Safety Day, and other agency events.

Manage GovDelivery newsletter.

Collaborate with staff across divisions to deliver high-quality communication products.

Universal access, equity, budget, and continuous improvement

Promote universal access to DSB programs and information by applying plain language, digital accessibility standards, and culturally appropriate communication.

Train staff and collaborate on accessibility best practices; provide quality control/oversight for accessibility as it relates to agency communication.

Monitor, manage, and track communications office budgets; research and evaluate cost-effective vendors; ensure timely payment of expenses.

Support ongoing improvement by measuring communication effectiveness, incorporating feedback, and adapting strategies as needed.

Required qualifications:
Demonstrated ability through previous roles or education to meet the competencies below. Roles could be experience gained through military service, volunteer leadership, consulting, self-employment, previous roles in strategic communications, public relations, and media management, certifications, or non-traditional jobs.

The required competencies include:

Strategic communications and Public Relations:

Ability to plan, organize, lead, and direct comprehensive communications and public relations programs.

Skilled in developing information and public relations strategies that support agency mission, vision, and values.

Skills in analyzing public understanding of agency programs and evaluating effectiveness of communications.

Research skills to determine cost-effective outreach strategies and proper communications outlets.

Analytical & Critical Thinking:

Ability to conduct environmental scanning to anticipate and respond to public information needs.

Skill in analyzing public understanding of programs and evaluating effectiveness of communications.

Research skills to determine cost-effective outreach strategies and proper communications outlets.

Project and Time Management:

Ability to manage and complete multiple projects and tasks on tight deadlines.

Experience in coordinating special events and activities.

Skill in managing budgets and spend planning.

Ability to multi-task and resolve problems with multiple disciplines.

Content Creation and Media Management:

Ability to manage agency online presence, including website maintenance, content creation, and collateral materials.

Familiarity with website support tools (Adobe, Photoshop, HTML).

Ability to write, edit, and coordinate web, social media, newsletters, and marketing materials.

Ability to create and develop graphic design for marketing materials.

Knowledge of video production and editing.

Confidentiality and Professionalism:
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