Communications Advisor

Position Description

The Mayor and City Council are striving to bring Seattle to the top of the list of cities known for positive change, innovation, and sound financial management. The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is charged with improving the lives of Seattle families by helping children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed, providing support so students achieve academically and the achievement gap is reduced, and making sure students graduate from high school prepared for college or career. The use of data and personal narratives to tell the story of the DEEL's impact toward achieving education equity for Seattle children, youth, and families is central to our work.

To support this work, we have an opportunity for a Communications Advisor who will work in partnership with key department leadership, staff, and the Mayor's Office to broaden awareness of the department's investments, public programs, and priorities. Reporting to the Communications and Public Affairs Manager, you will have the opportunity to utilize your broad set of capabilities ranging from social media, media relations, photography, video, graphic design, marketing strategies, and project management. In this role, you will support major projects including the preparation of Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy Oversight Committee and City Council presentations, development of a Language Access Plan to promote equitable access to Department resources cradle-to-career, and cultivation of the Department's relationship with community-based, in-language, and ethnic media outlets.

Our department strives to embed the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative into its education objectives and seeks staff that value the importance of working together as a government and community to eliminate racial disparities and achieve racial equity. Our core values of equity, results, stewardship, transparency, and collaboration guide our work, support our operations, and hold us accountable.

Job Responsibilities

Here's more about what you'll be doing:

Your top priorities will be:

• Media relations
• Social media management
• External affairs event scheduling and presentation preparation

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Working as an integral member of the DEEL communications and external affairs team to highlight work done by DEEL's service divisions and share program information with the public
• Leading the department's media relations strategy including relationships with key media outlets, advertisement buys, and coverage of DEEL work in print, web, video, and other formats
• Managing and maintaining DEEL's social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter)
• Managing department listserve (GovDelivery) and producing quarterly newsletter
• Developing and managing communications plans for key department activities such as funding opportunities, program enrollment, investment announcements, and legislation
• Supporting regular communication functions such as website maintenance (CMS/Ingenuix, blog), email inbox monitoring, media monitoring, SharePoint site construction, stakeholder engagement meetings (in-person and virtual), photography, videography, and graphic design
• Convening and facilitating community engagement meetings (in-person, virtual, and webinars)
• Representing DEEL as spokesperson in meetings and media interviews
• Providing customer service to City colleagues and the general public on matters related to department business

Qualifications

You will be most successful if you have experience in a broad set of areas, including social media, media relations, visual content creation, marketing strategies, and project management. A commitment to listening, creating space for diverse perspectives, and the pursuit of inclusive and just outcomes must be at the center of your professional practice. The ability to communicate at all levels tactfully and effectively will also contribute to your success. Specifically, you'll be prepared to take on this role if you have a combination of the following:

Experience in:

• Developing, managing, and evaluating public outreach communication and marketing tools, including facilitation, public speaking, digital, and online
• Managing projects and issues while navigating competing deadlines
• Early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary education programs, systems, and frameworks
• Developing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, citizen groups, and foundations
• Community organizing and engagement, especially with diverse communities
• Photography, graphic design, and/or video editing
• Working in the public or non-profit sectors

The ability to :

• Communicate clearly and effectively through presentations and written materials to community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders
• Work in diverse communities and conduct effective outreach, particularly in cross-cultural and multi-lingual contexts
• Appropriately delegate work, stay organized through projects, and ensure tight deadlines are met
• Generate creative solutions to problems by sorting through multiple issues, identifying available resources, and implementing solutions
• Navigate and adapt to a dynamic political environment

Proficiency in a combination of the following programs (training will be offered as part of onboarding):

• Microsoft Suite
• Adobe Suite
• InDesign
• PowerPoint
• GovDelivery
• Ingenuix/CMS platforms
• WordPress
• WebEx
• Zoom
• Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter)

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, Exempt and is exempt from overtime and the Civil Service System. The full salary range for this position is $43.89 - $65.83 per hour. The salary for this individual role has been identified as $55.27 hourly.

Interviews for this position are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday, September 27, with a second round scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023 (if needed).

The work of this position will primarily be performed via telework/remote work. The person in this role will be required to report onsite to work roughly once or twice per pay period, although this may change based on operational needs. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Individuals selected to fill this position may be eligible to receive Language Premium Pay (SMC 4.20.360), which provides a $200.00 monthly stipend to qualified bilingual employees who are properly evaluated and assigned to provide direct communication in-language, interpretation, or translation services to the public on behalf of the City of Seattle.

Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans .

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please submit your application at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/ no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 . To be considered for this position, in addition to completing your application fully, please attach:

• A PDF of your current resume which illustrates your related skills, experience, and abilities
• Cover Letter explaining your interest in this opportunity with the Department of Education & Early Learning and capability to perform in this role
• A work sample (such as a press release, social media toolkit with graphics, report, blog post, or other project of your choice that demonstrates how your skills and experience are in alignment with this work)

This position is open to all applicants who demonstrate alignment with the skills and experience described above. The Department of Education & Early Learning values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The Department of Education & Early Learning encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. If you have questions please contact Lindsey King at Lindsey.King@seattle.gov .

#LI-Hybrid

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
"Most" Employees Plans - Human Resources | seattle.gov

Closing Date/Time: 9/12/2023 4:00 PM Pacific