Senior Communications Advisor

Position Description

The City of Seattle has an outstanding opportunity for a strategic and collaborative leader to join the Legislative Department (City Council) as a Senior Communications Advisor (Strategic Advisor-Legislative). The ideal candidate will be an effective communicator, bring enthusiasm to their work, and provide leadership and guidance over the Seattle City Council’s communications strategy while embracing the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) in their everyday decision-making.

Reporting to the Communications Director, this position will support and engage council offices and share stories through effective strategic communications. Primary duties will include responding to media inquiries, writing news releases and other materials, developing strategic communications plans, and creating multimedia deliverables (graphics, social media, video clips, printed materials). The ideal candidate will be an excellent writer with a sharp eye for strategy and a love of public affairs and local government.

You will be most successful in this position if you:

• Are an experienced media or public relations professional who can think and speak under pressure, thrive in a legislative and political environment, and are excited about working with elected officials.
• Enjoy using your exceptional written, oral and visual communication skills to engage leaders.
• Can adapt your style to a variety of audiences to meet specific needs.
• Have a proven ability to communicate technical information in a non-technical manner.
• Understand the importance of having a presence on social media and have experience using social media tools to interact with target audiences.
• Are an innovative and ethical problem solver who uses independent judgment, confidence, energy, and optimism to keep projects in motion.
• Are a collaborative and driven teammate who can balance many competing priorities from councilmembers, staff and the media.
• Can step in and provide leadership in stressful, time-constrained situations.

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare and present written and verbal communications that are easily comprehensible for a variety of audiences, including writing and distributing advisories and press releases.
• Develop and implement communications plans
• Present information to the public in a timely and effective manner, including during emergency and disaster situations.
• Anticipate news media responses and act as spokesperson, when assigned; research complex issues in anticipation of media inquiries.
• Communicate information to employees and the public, ensuring a consistent voice and effective process of communicating across differing audiences.
• Ensure messages and materials are consistent with the City Council and City of Seattle’s image and branding.
• Support and lead public relations for assigned team/ Council offices; organize and facilitate meetings; advise and assist in the development of key messages and overall communication plans; provide training and support to staff in order to ensure consistent, accurate messaging.
• Meet with staff to determine key messages and themes; produces and coordinates dissemination of information and materials including but not limited to publications, social media content, printed handouts, newsletters, videos, and web information.

Qualifications

You will be prepared to take on this role if you have following experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities (or a combination of education, experience, and/or training which provides an equivalent background required to perform this complex role in a fast-paced political environment):

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations or related field.
• Four or more years of related professional experience involving communicating with the public or other similar audiences.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with the news media, council employees, constituents, appointed and elected officials; ability to work in a team environment and to work independently.
• Working knowledge of Adobe, design products including Canva, website CMS experience, digital presentations, and visualization and analytics tools.
• Some experience and skill in developing content specifically for websites.
• Proven ability to prioritize workload, work under pressure with tight timelines and changing priorities, and simultaneously work on multiple assignments
• Some familiarity with the legislative process and a passion for public service and improving the well-being of our residents and communities.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Additional Information

Total Compensation and Benefits
This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor-Legislative and is exempt from the Seattle Civil Service System. The full salary range for this classification is $100,537.20 - $179,902.08 annually ($48.15 - $86.16 per hour). The starting salary range for this individual role has been identified as $110,000- $120,000 annually.

Additionally, the City 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.

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.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Legislative Department has implemented a four-days in-office policy, and this position will primarily be onsite at the Seattle City Hall: 600 Fourth Ave., 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA. Alternative Work Arrangements may be considered and will be based on operational needs.

WHY WORK AT THE CITY
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 that 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.

HOW TO APPLY

• Complete a NEOGOV online application and supplemental questionnaire.
• Attach a PDF of your cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement.
• Attach a PDF of your resume.

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.