Senior Communications Manager (Comm Specialist IV)

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 HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency. 

 

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 wearing of masks in some situations. 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 tools and resources 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: Susan.Churchill@kingcounty.gov

• 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.

Desired Qualifications:

• 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.

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 "True North", 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.

Salary : $108,638 - $137,717