Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The Washington State Department of Commerce works to advance innovation, inclusive economic growth, and stronger communities through government programs and partnerships. The Media Relations Manager serves as the agency’s senior public information official, leading media relations, strategic messaging, crisis communications, legislative communications, and public information programs. The role advises executive leadership, represents the agency publicly, coordinates communications across divisions, and writes and oversees high-impact external communications.
Responsibilities
- Respond to media inquiries on behalf of the Director and the agency regarding complex, sensitive, cross-program issues involving legislative, policy, and programmatic impacts
- Represent the Director and agency as spokesperson at press briefings, public hearings, legislative committee meetings, statewide partner events
- Coordinate messaging across Commerce’s multiple divisions to ensure unified external representation
- Direct and coordinate complex communications initiatives that span multiple agency divisions and require strategic alignment with statewide partners
- Lead the development of public information strategies, including messaging for legislative initiatives and communications related to directives and policy impacts
- Preparing or directing preparation of executive talking points, policy briefs, public statements, and high-impact messaging frameworks
- Evaluating public understanding of agency programs and recommending adjustments to improve communications across diverse audiences
- Serve as subject matter expert and consultant to agency leadership, including the Director, Chief of Staff, Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director, on strategy and appropriate public, legislative and media responses on a wide-array of sensitive reputational matters, complex public policy and programmatic topics
- Maintain the agency communications request calendar, tracking tasks and ensuring rapid response and quality customer service for agency employees who request communications services
- Seek and build relationships with local and national reporters, particularly those with beats that align with Commerce programs and initiatives and leverage those relationships to gain positive media coverage for the agency
- Identify and develop newsworthy ‘storytelling’ opportunities and proactively pitch stories, on a weekly basis, to print, broadcast, and digital media
- Develop and maintain a tracking system for media coverage of Commerce and distribute to agency leadership and communications staff
- Plan and execute press conferences or press events for the Director, agency leadership or in concert with division program staff, ensuring good attendance by local and/or national media and clear and concise messaging for the agency. Work closely with the Deputy Communications Director, Communications Director and agency leadership to advise, recommend, develop and direct a crisis communications plan to build and maintain credibility and trust at all times
- Serves as agency emergency public information officer responsible for responding to significant emergency or crisis situations, including advising director and other agency/institution officials on public information strategies; writes emergency communications materials such as press releases, fact sheets and gov delivery emails; distributes emergency messaging to the Commerce digital team for social media posting, coordinates information dissemination with appropriate local, state and federal officials and represents Commerce in the state Emergency Operations Center as needed
- Work closely with the Deputy Communications Director to assist with the Governor's office and cabinet-level agency communications staff for cross-agency coordination and information campaigns
- In partnership with the Deputy Communications Director, develop, direct, and track large scale communications initiatives for the agency
- Writes, reviews and proofreads all external communications materials for the Department of Commerce, including but not limited to press releases, Govdelivery constituent emails, fact sheets and Powerpoint presentations for legislators
- Writes original stories about Commerce programs and initiatives for publication on our website or social media, both short and long form
- Writes, edits and proofreads publications such as legislative factsheets, PowerPoints and other external-facing communications materials for legislative hearings
- Write and edit news releases, media advisories and alerts, website content and other public facing materials as needed
- Review and edit all press releases and materials from division-assigned Communications Leads and distribute to Deputy Communications Director for final review and approval
- Ensure clear, consistent and effective communications of Commerce news and messages, using easy to follow plain language, AP Style and adhere to accessibility guidelines
- Plans, develops, administers and directs complex and extensive information programs based on external communications needs of the agency
- Serves as principal staff specialist and professional consultant to division communications Leads and division heads in field of communications and public relations
- Write, manage, design and publish GovDelivery bulletins for multiple divisions across multiple programs
- Serve as subject matter expert for the agency on mass email messaging strategies
- Works in collaboration with the Deputy Communications Director to assemble briefing materials and write talking points for the Director or other agency leaders as needed
- Works closely with agency marketing team and business development leads to ensure quality, consistency, appropriate presentation of agency branding and messaging in promotional materials for domestic and international use
- Ensure use of plain language, as required by Governor’s Executive Order 05-03, in all external facing communications and serve as agency’s primary plain language expert to ensure communications are concise, inclusive and easy to understand
- Serve as backup to the Division Lead Communicators (assigned to Energy, Local Government, Growth Management, Housing, Economic Development and Competitiveness and Community Services) when necessary, completing their review and writing tasks
- Evaluate effectiveness of multi-program public information efforts; recommend improvements
- Other duties as assigned
Skills
- Any combination of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations and higher education involving a major study in journalism, communications, public relations, or a closely allied field totaling eight (8) years
- Eight (8) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations
- Four (4) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations AND four (4) years of higher education involving a major study in journalism, communications, public relations, or a closely allied field
- Six (6) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations AND two (2) years of higher education involving a major study in journalism, communications, public relations, or a closely allied field
- Experience conducting media relations activities in a government agency, newsroom or other professional setting
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communications plans that includes earning media coverage (local or national)
- Experience advising top management officials regarding communications strategies and opportunities
- Can prepare and present complicated public information and complex policy information in a concise, simple, easy to understand manner
- Demonstrated project management skills
- Experience working in a newsroom as a reporter, producer or assignment editor
- Current or prior employment in communications at a state, county or city agency
- Bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish
- Knowledge of how to build audience and reach underserved communities with communications
- Experience in mass email marketing strategies
- Knowledge of the state legislative process and policy development
Benefits
- Work from anywhere in Washington State
- Remote or hybrid work schedule
- For full-time employees expected to work more than six months: medical, vision, dental, and basic life insurance for employees and their families
- Multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums
- Medical flexible spending account
- Long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage
- Washington Wellness workplace wellness programs
- Dependent care assistance allowing pre-tax savings for child or elder care expenses
- Auto, boat, home, and renter insurance available through payroll deduction
- Washington State Employee Assistance Program
- Membership in the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
- For new employees: option of two employer-contributed retirement programs
- Deferred Compensation Program with pre-tax retirement savings and multiple investment options
- Coverage under federal Social Security and Medicare systems, with equal contributions from the state and employee
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for qualifying government or nonprofit employees
- Paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year
- Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month
- Vacation leave accrual for full-time employees at rates specified by WAC 357-31-165 or the applicable collective bargaining agreement
- Potential accelerated vacation leave accrual or lump-sum vacation accrual for Washington Management Service recruitment or retention
- 21 days of paid military leave per year for members of the armed forces
- Five days of paid bereavement leave for most employees whose family or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy
- Leave sharing
- Parental leave
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave
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