Communications Specialist

Description

Exempt recruitments may close at any time without prior notice. It is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Join Us!
The Washington State Office of Equity is seeking a courageous and unapologetic champion of equity and anti-racism to advance belonging and justice in Washington to join our team as our Communications Specialist. We desire a colleague who questions what is, to help find solutions for what can be.

Imagine leading strategic engagement and embedding, branding, and messaging to advance Washington’s Pro-Equity Anti-Racism ecosystem! Join the first ever state-level Office of Equity in the nation and help build a Washington for ALL using your communications expertise from website and social media management and content creation to TV/film production, graphic design, media campaigns, and public relations initiatives. This important role develops and executes communications concepts, strategies, and content; plans and manages communications projects; establishes, analyzes, and evaluates information and education programs; and provides internal training and support. While your work is focused on the creative, your influence is far reaching. You are a leader, innovator, change maker, and risk taker improving the lives of all Washingtonians and creating a model of inclusion that moves the needle toward equity for all. And you’ll be part of a passionate and talented communications team playing a key role in achieving systemic equity!

If your purpose, passion, and expertise are in alignment with our vision, mission, values, and the primary functions of this role, let us hear from you!

Note
All relevant combinations of experience and higher education including lived, volunteer (paid or unpaid), or professional that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered.

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the budgeted salary range of $72,108 - $105,060 annually.

This is a remote position with schedule flexibility that requires occasional travel in Washington State for meetings, events, and onsite work. Frequency of onsite work varies based on business and operational needs. The Governor’s Office may choose, but is not required, to employ individuals who reside outside of Washington on a case-by-case basis.

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Who We Are
The Office of Equity advances policy and systems change (RCW 43.06D.040) to promote a Washington for all. We believe Washingtonians are stronger together and that Washington can be a state where everyone, especially those from communities historically marginalized and systemically excluded, has access to the opportunities, power, and resources (RCW 43.06D.020) they need to thrive. We facilitate Washington state’s transformation into a Pro-Equity anti-Racism (PEAR) ecosystem by embedding the principles of PEAR Plan & Playbook (Executive Order 22-04 (Download PDF reader)). One of the most crucial components of PEAR is shared power (relational partnership), partnering with those most impacted by government decisions and action to co-create policies, processes, and practices.
Our Vision
Everyone in Washington State has full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.

Our Mission
To promote equitable access to opportunities, power, and resources across state government that reduce disparities and improve outcomes statewide.

We Value

• 
  Access: Barrier-free environments so everyone can participate.
• Belonging: The right to participate in all aspects of society with acceptance, attention, and support from members of the society, providing the same to others.
• Dignity: We honor the sacred nature of each individual’s personhood.
• Equity: Acknowledging systemic inequalities by developing, strengthening, and supporting policies and procedures that distribute and prioritize resources to people in social identity groups who have historically been and currently are marginalized to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities, power, resources, and outcomes to achieve equality.
• Justice: Treating people fairly. To make right. What love looks like in public (Cornell West).
• Love: A selfless and giving act of the will. We seek to out-give and out-serve the other.
• Ubuntu: I am because we are. We are interconnected.

Learn more about Office of Equity

Duties

(Primary Functions)
Some of the primary ways our Communications Specialist will contribute to advancing the work of realizing a barrier-free Washington by:

• Designing visually stunning presentations for the Governor and Executive Cabinet Leaders including our annual report in collaboration with our Organizational Strategy & Performance Program Manager and Equity Leadership Team.
• Building strategic and relational partnerships across agencies, industries, groups, organizations, communities, and with media outlets, journalists and influencers to amplify the reach and impact of our brand and messaging.
• Using a variety of communication tools, innovative techniques, and emerging technologies to support our strategic plan and goals, and the PEAR ecosystem including determining needs, selecting methods, and ensuring alignment.
• Managing branding, website presence, and social media platforms including writing and editing copy, providing web-ready documents, working with web content creators, incorporating social media trends, and ensuring accessible digital communications.
• Planning, developing, and implementing accessible public information and relations strategy and programs with an emphasis on the impacts of legislative initiatives and directives, public reactions, and translation of services.
• Assists the Communications team with data visualization strategies and tools, designing compelling and accessible visual presentations, and the creation of newsletters and press releases to engage, inspire, and motivate people across the state.
• Assists in guiding the Equity Team on messaging, framing, use of communications tools, writing, visualization, and presenting, and provides expert level communications consultation throughout the enterprise.

Qualifications

All relevant combinations of experience and higher education including lived, volunteer (paid or unpaid), or professional that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered.

Fundamental (Required)

• Experience implementing practice around equity, belonging, and anti- racism, centering voice and perspectives from communities that have been historically marginalized.
• Experience using tools for communication, including content creation and development.
• Experience communicating editing, designing, and presenting.
• Production experience focused on multi-dimensional mediums to include outgoing communication (news releases), creating scripts, video production, newsletter, and photo shoots.
• Experience creating multi-media platforms including social media, YouTube, Newsletters, Podcasts, TV, website maintenance and updates, media coverage, special events, and organizational programs.
• Ability to lead communication (verbal, written, and interpersonal) fostering clarity and understanding.
• Ability to develop and maintain genuine and collaborative relationships and partnerships.
• Ability to innovate, improvise, and continuously learn and improve.
• Ability to give, receive, and apply direct, honest, and constructive feedback.
• Ability to complete multiple projects in a timely manner and with high quality results.
• Ability to exercise a high level of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and sound judgment.
• Ability to analyze the present situation, identify root causes, and brainstorm creative and effective solutions.

To be part of the Equity Team you must have:

• Knowledge and fundamental understanding of the historical context underlying current challenges facing communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrant communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) communities, as well as low and moderate-income families.
• Ability to discuss issues and topics of racial and social justice including racism and anti-Black racism, engage in challenging conversations with courage, and handle resistance and difficult conversations in a direct, clear, and respectful manner.
• Ability to commit to a culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, understood, valued, and safe to bring their whole and authentic self to their work.
• Ability to navigate challenging, evolving, and ambiguous situations.

Added Value (Preferred)

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Public/Media Relations, Business/Business Administration, Journalism, Communications, or closely related field or equivalent experience in media and communications.
• Experience working with a large, diverse workforce/community of people with differing cultures, backgrounds, and opinions.

If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Office of Equity, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

How To Apply
Interested? Let us hear from you! To apply, simply click “Apply” at the top of this page to start your application (you can save the application and come back to it, if needed). Please include the following:

• Attach a current resume that articulates how you meet the qualifications above.
• Attach a letter of interest that 1) highlights your racial equity and social justice involvement, and 2) shares your perspective on how Communications has been used to perpetuate America’s systems of white supremacy.
• Include three professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses in your application.

To report accessibility barriers with the online application system and get assistance with submitting your online application, contact the Department of Enterprise Services’ job seeker support at 360.664.1960 (877.664.1960) or careershelp@des.wa.gov. You are also encouraged to view recommendations for assistive technology on the Accessibility Information Page on the careers.wa.gov website.

All applicants will be notified of their status in our process. The Office of Equity will contact those selected to engage in our hiring process directly.

For questions about this recruitment or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email talentacquisition@ofm.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

The Office of Equity is an equal opportunity employer. We work to create a workplace environment that honors and respects the sacred nature of each individual’s personhood. Racial and ethnic members of the global majority, women, persons with a disability, persons over 40 years of age, and Vietnam-era or veterans who are disabled are encouraged to apply. If you need accommodations, help in the application process, or wish to receive this job announcement in an alternative format, please call 360-725-0158 or dial 711 to reach the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf system.

This position is exempt from civil service rules. For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.