Education Program Consultant (Communications)

Job Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements will be placed on the eligible list.

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced communications expert to join our team as an Education Program Consultant in the Bureau of Communications.

In this role, you will serve as a senior content specialist for the Department, providing clear and consistent messaging for statewide priorities and best practices within the Division of PK-12 Learning, Division of Higher Education and other federal and state programs. This position is responsible for providing professional educational consultative services on communication strategies and leading the creation of original content through various methods, including news and feature stories, social media, video stories, website content and other materials.

Qualified candidates will have strong creative and organizational skills and will have the ability to maintain knowledge of Department programs and grants.

Your Responsibilities

• Serves as advisor, writer and content creator for the Department, particularly related to programs and initiatives for the Division of PK-12 Learning and the Division of Higher Education. Advises Department leaders and subject matter experts on best practices in educational communications and serves as a resource for school district professional staff and administrators on how to communicate regarding complex programs and initiatives. Analyzes data to improve or adapt communication strategies.
• Coordinates communication priorities for assigned areas and develops, implements and maintains communications strategies to support federal and state program implementation. Ensures content is on-brand and consistent in terms of style, quality and tone of voice across multiple channels. Recommends appropriate channels and platforms to reach different audiences.
• Consults with subject matter experts to create social media messaging that draws traffic, increases engagement and grows followers. Build out a social media schedule in collaboration with other communication content creators to plan news coverage using a combination of written and visual content.
• Creates timely and relevant written content to quickly execute story assignments. Writes engaging headlines and copy and works with the Department’s graphic designers andvideo producer on complementary visuals.
• Serves on task forces and attends professional conferences and meetings to address specific programs and issues related to PK-12 education and higher education. Prepares and compiles reports, statistics and other educational data as needed.
• Coordinates and interprets responses to requests received from the school administrators, postsecondary education leaders, educational groups, the general public, special interest groups and other stakeholders regarding the compliance of educational programs and other education-related questions.
  
  

Candidates are encouraged to include detailed information about their relevant experience in their application, or submit a cover letter and resume in addition to their application.

If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact idoe.hr@iowa.gov .

Hours: 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Monday – Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel

A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:

• Passion for pursuing common goals in pursuit of public service.
• Knowledge of educational programs administered by the Iowa Department of Education.
• Ability to move projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interpret and break down highly technical language and present information in an understandable manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong editorial and project management skills.
• Strong time management skills with ability to work well independently and as part of a high-performing team.
  
  

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
• Collaborative, positive work environment
• Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
• Competitive salary and benefits package:
  
  

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/employment/Benefits_Beyond_the_Paycheck.pdf

Selectives

405 Media Communication

6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in preparing and writing materials to disseminate information to the public through the media such as newspapers, TV/radio, etc. May also have dealt with reporters on a regular basis for news releases.

OR

406 Mass Communication

12 semester hours of coursework involving: journalism, public relations, graphics, or communicative arts. 6 months’ experience including: writing, editing, layout, design and publishing of printed materials plus responsibility for disseminating information about the activities of an organization through newspapers, radio, television, periodicals, pamphlets, brochures, and other media. Experience could also involve responsibility for advising management on the public relations implications of management decisions or serving as spokesperson for the organization to media representatives.

OR

416 Multimedia Specialist

6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in each of the following:

• General office and presentation software (e.g., Microsoft Office)
• Web content management system software (e.g., Drupal, WordPress)
• Web development software/languages (e.g., HTML, JavaScript) ? Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator) ? Video production software (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Avid DV Express, Vegas Video)
• Streaming media production (e.g., Real Player/Real Producer, Helix, Windows Media Services, TMPGEnc) CD and DVD creation software (e.g., Nero)
  
  

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:
• Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;
• Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;
• Professional personnel administration including such areas as job analysis, performance appraisal systems, selection devices, or labor relations;
• Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;
• Professional experience in a major technical program area utilized by the Iowa Department of Education or Board of Educational Examiners.
• A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution.
• Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements.
  
  

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.