King County
Senior Communications Manager (Comm Specialist IV) Job at King County in Seattle
King County, Seattle, WA, United States, 98127
Content Summary: Senior Communications Manager (Comm Specialist IV) at Seattle, for King County
Salary: $108,638.40 - $137,716.80 Annually
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2024SC23326
Department: DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs
Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin
Opening Date: 01/17/2025
Closing Date: 2/1/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C23 : PROTEC17-Non-Sups Staff (DCHS)
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
The mission of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is to provide equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. The department works to help youth, adults and older adults achieve and maintain healthy and stable lives in the community.
We are looking for an experienced, strategic, collaborative, responsive, enthusiastic communications professional who shares in the mission to provide equitable opportunities for all people across our region to join our leadership team.
The Senior Communications Manager is assigned to the DCHS Director's Office and will lead communications efforts for the department, specifically the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) and the Crisis Care Centers (CCC) initiative.
The Senior Communications Manager will provide leadership in media relations, including providing and coordinating training for key leaders and communications staff and provide consultation on both proactive and reactive media strategies. The Senior Communications Manager will also coordinate and strategize communications efforts with the Executive's Office on the Crisis Care Centers initiative.
WHO MAY APPLY: This is a promotional opportunity and is open to current King County employees who believe they meet the minimum qualifications.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Candidates who wish to be considered for the position must complete the King County application online and respond to the supplemental questions. Interviews will occur on or around the week of February 10, 2025.
WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday 8am-5pm. This position is represented by PROTEC17.
MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit and the
TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the . King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
RECRUITER:
Job Duties
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
This is a promotional opportunity for current King County employees. Are you a current King County employee?
04
Describe your experience developing, writing, editing and designing a wide range of communication materials. Please be specific as to the variety of products you have created and your role in the final product.
05
Describe your media relations knowledge and experience, including fielding and responding to media inquiries, pitching stories, crisis communications, and serving as a spokesperson. Please be specific.
06
Describe your professional experience using social media (Facebook, twitter / X, Instagram, blogs, etc.) for strategic communication purposes. Give an example of a social media campaign you developed and include how you measured your success.
07
King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all that the county does in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. What is the most important equity and social justice issue to you and why?
Required Question
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2024SC23326
Department: DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs
Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin
Opening Date: 01/17/2025
Closing Date: 2/1/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C23 : PROTEC17-Non-Sups Staff (DCHS)
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
The mission of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is to provide equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. The department works to help youth, adults and older adults achieve and maintain healthy and stable lives in the community.
We are looking for an experienced, strategic, collaborative, responsive, enthusiastic communications professional who shares in the mission to provide equitable opportunities for all people across our region to join our leadership team.
The Senior Communications Manager is assigned to the DCHS Director's Office and will lead communications efforts for the department, specifically the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) and the Crisis Care Centers (CCC) initiative.
The Senior Communications Manager will provide leadership in media relations, including providing and coordinating training for key leaders and communications staff and provide consultation on both proactive and reactive media strategies. The Senior Communications Manager will also coordinate and strategize communications efforts with the Executive's Office on the Crisis Care Centers initiative.
WHO MAY APPLY: This is a promotional opportunity and is open to current King County employees who believe they meet the minimum qualifications.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Candidates who wish to be considered for the position must complete the King County application online and respond to the supplemental questions. Interviews will occur on or around the week of February 10, 2025.
WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday 8am-5pm. This position is represented by PROTEC17.
MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit and the
TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the . King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
RECRUITER:
Job Duties
- Provide strategic direction to communication division staff, specifically for the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division to align department-wide messaging.
- Lead media relations engagement and strategy in collaboration with the Communications Director.
- Serve as the Communications Director in their absence, reporting directly to the Department Director.
- Serve as communications lead on issues related to behavioral health to ensure consistent content produced by the department, including strategic communications plans, talking points, one-pagers, and graphics.
- Serve as lead writer and copy editor on Crisis Care Center initiative materials and communications, and work with subject matter experts on technical components of documents.
- Consult with Division Directors to ensure they have the communications support they need to deliver a clear, consistent messages to the communities DCHS serves.
- Identify and track potentially high-profile issues and opportunities in the behavioral health landscape, briefing Department Director and Chief of Staff while providing recommended actions and messages.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Seven years professional experience at a government agency, elected office, public relations firm, or news organization.
- Exceptional writing skills that include executive briefings, news releases, planning documents, and one-pagers.
- Proven ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans that include tactics, clear messaging, and defined outcomes.
- Proven leadership skills in building teams, navigating ambiguity, making decisions, solving problems, and collaborating.
- Proven ability to consult senior leaders on high-profile issues, providing clear, concise recommendations for messaging, spokesperson, and delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to write powerful stories and compose narratives in direct, conversational tone.
- Decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of print, broadcast news and social media.
- Communicates effectively in a variety of settings, including one-on-ones, community meetings, partner meetings, and among senior leadership.
- Balances partnership dynamics and understands the needs and expectations for internal teams and external coalitions.
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
This is a promotional opportunity for current King County employees. Are you a current King County employee?
- Yes
- No
04
Describe your experience developing, writing, editing and designing a wide range of communication materials. Please be specific as to the variety of products you have created and your role in the final product.
05
Describe your media relations knowledge and experience, including fielding and responding to media inquiries, pitching stories, crisis communications, and serving as a spokesperson. Please be specific.
06
Describe your professional experience using social media (Facebook, twitter / X, Instagram, blogs, etc.) for strategic communication purposes. Give an example of a social media campaign you developed and include how you measured your success.
07
King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all that the county does in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. What is the most important equity and social justice issue to you and why?
Required Question