Communications Manager (Communications Consultant 5)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Air Quality program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Communications Manager (Communications Consultant 5) position.

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As the Air Quality Communication Manager you will serve as a key advisor on communications issues related to air quality to program and agency leadership. In this position, you will supervise a team of four and lead proactive external and internal communications to explain, educate and engage diverse audiences through the web, social media, news media and public events. You will serve as the media relations lead and spokesperson for Ecology on air quality  issues.
 

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.  

Program Mission: To equitably protect and improve air quality for all of Washington.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 80% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on October 30, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before October 29, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 
 

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 
 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIRDiversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

You will have the opportunity to join a high performing team of skilled, knowledgeable, and caring people working together to equitably protect Washington’s air. Many Washingtonians are highly engaged in these issues so the work is fast-paced and high profile.

What you will do: 
Strategic communications planning and managing
 

• Leads and manages communications planning and strategy for the program.
• Plans, organizes, develops and implements strategic public information and public involvement strategies and activities with a primary focus on air quality.
• Advises program management on communications strategy, policy, public involvement, community engagement, media relations, social media, and external relations.
• Collaborates with web, outreach, public involvement, and program staff on strategic public involvement and education efforts.

 
News media and social media
 

• Strategically leverages news media and social media to share agency news broadly.
• Serves as media liaison and lead spokesperson for the agency on program and emergency response issues and topics.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates media briefings to share agency news broadly.

 
Web
 

• Leverages the agency website as our greatest communications venue and channel.
• Develops and oversees the program’s web content strategy.

 
Public relations and involvement
 

• Strategically plans and organizes public involvement opportunities for communities – community meetings, public hearings, webinars, newspaper ads, social media ads, and mailers.

 
Supervises, leverages communications & outreach unit to meet highest priority outreach needs
 

• Supervises four positions including two community outreach positions and one graphic design position.
• Sets the direction, priorities, and expectations of the team, and allocates resources.
• Works with employees to provide opportunities for their continued professional development.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

 

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A combined total of eight (8) years experience and/or education.

Experience in: Journalism, public relations/information, news media, digital/social media, marketing, digital accessibility, writing/editing or related experience. 
Education in: Journalism, communications, public relations, news media, digital/social media, English, marketing, humanities, or closely allied field. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

 

Possible Combinations: College credits or degree - as listed above: Years of required experience - as listed above.

Combination 1; No college credits or degree; 8 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits; 7 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree); 6 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits; 5 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree; 4 years of experience

Combination 6; A Master's Degree; 2 years of experience

Combination 7; A PhD; 1 year of experience

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's license.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
 

Proficiency in a language other than English.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Ecology 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

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

 

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.  

Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

 

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A writing sample.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

 

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Kathy Taylor at: Kathy.Taylor@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Kathy to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.