Communications Specialist, Senior

Washington County Community Services is seeking a talented Communication Specialist, Senior to lead and support communication efforts that enhance the delivery of our services and transform how the department communicates with residents, employees, county leadership, and the agencies we partner with to achieve our mission. This role requires a strong writer and communicator who can translate complex program information into clear, accessible, and engaging content for diverse audiences.

The ideal candidate brings a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, developing communication plans, crafting messaging, and producing high-quality materials across multiple platforms. This includes written content (reports, web, email, and internal communications) as well as visually compelling products such as videos/photos, presentations, infographics, and layouts.

This position will work closely with the senior leadership team and other stakeholders to ensure communications are aligned with organizational goals, culturally responsive, and centered on equity and accessibility. The role provides strategic communication support for the Director, including initiatives involving local, state, and federal partners. It also includes developing materials for the Board of Commissioners, including budget-related content and presentations that clearly communicate priorities, impacts, and outcomes.

Community Services offers a hybrid flexible work environment that balances telework and in-office presence. There may be times when the position needs to work outside typical business hours for events. Here at Community Services, we value equity, respect, integrity, innovation, and data-informed decision-making that will drive our work forward and improve outcomes for those we serve. Washington County Community Services is committed to building an equitable and inclusive workforce; we appreciate diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and strongly believe that diversity not only benefits our programs, but our staff and the people we serve.

We look forward to welcoming you and your talents to Community Services!

• Advanced writing and editing expertise: Ability to translate complex human services, policy, and budget information into clear, concise, and audience-appropriate content.
• Strategic communications experience: Demonstrated ability to proactively develop and execute communication strategies aligned with organizational goals and leadership priorities.
• Experience supporting executive leadership: Proven experience providing direct communication support to senior leaders (e.g., Director), including summary materials, talking points, and presentations. Experience developing materials for governing bodies (e.g., Board of Commissioners), including budget-related communications.
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills: Strong ability to work across teams and with diverse stakeholders, including local, state, and federal partners.
• Equity-centered and culturally responsive communication: Experience creating communications that are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to diverse communities.
• Design and visual communication skills: Proficiency in creating polished presentations, reports, and visual materials (e.g., infographics, layout design) that enhance understanding.
• Project management and prioritization: Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects, deadlines, and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Digital and multi-channel communication experience: Experience with web, email, and internal communication platforms, including SharePoint, ensuring consistency across channels.
• Knowledge of human services systems (preferred): Familiarity with public sector or human services programs, policies, and service delivery models.

The Senior Communication Specialists will work under minimal supervision and provide consulting and communication plans and services for internal and external partners and audiences through various mediums: message development, graphic design, photography, coordination of events and special projects, digital media, communications planning and strategy. This position performs comprehensive communications work of greater complexity and performs at a higher level of proficiency than the Communications Specialist.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications, mass communications, marketing, media studies, graphic design, photojournalism, telecommunications, visual communications, public administration or a closely related field and four years of government agency experience or related professional experience.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Developing messaging for leadership which would result in broad audience dissemination.
• Shooting and editing simple videos and photos.
• Communicating verbally or written with the media for requests for information.
• Communicating written or verbally during emergency/crisis situations.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE

Core Competencies outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job.

• Support and prioritize a welcoming and respectful workplace that fosters diversity and encourages contributions from all individuals.
• Provide inclusive and equitable service to all members of the community with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate support for the County’s diversity, equity and inclusion program.
• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of, or ability to learn, quality/continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of marketing and public relations techniques, and social media trends.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher, Outlook and SharePoint, •Adobe Creative Cloud and HTML and web content publishing and management applications.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate communication plans.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to write in a variety of formats and to wide array of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to write in plain language to ensure readers understand the content in a document quickly, easily, and completely; plain language supports writing as an essential component of the Americans with Disabilities Act, (ADA).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively as a team member in a professional setting.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is sedentary in nature performed within the Government Center or satellite offices. There is a lifting requirement of 15 - 20 pounds on an occasional basis. There may be frequent wrist and finger manipulation due to high concentration of filing, compiling, calculating, or computer work. No special physical effort or ability is required to perform the work. Most work is performed in a normal office environment.

Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

1. Make recommendations to department leadership for communications, planning, message development, and execution.
2. Plan, coordinate and distribute internal and external communications.
3. Collaborate with departments and/or subject matter experts to craft key messages and communication approaches; ensure communication is in accordance with county policy and guidelines.
4. Consult with internal and external customers to develop communication goals, identify appropriate audiences, develop messages, and recommend appropriate communication tools and venues to accomplish goals.
5. Research, develop, write, and implement strategic communication and marketing plans.
6. Act as a lead worker by making contributions that affect the success of division, department, or organizational communication strategies.
7. Write, edit, prepare, and produce a variety of effective public information/communication messages.
8. Promote outreach opportunities and provide effective means of conveying messages; ensure the news and information is reported accurately by channels of distribution.
9. Ensure brand consistency in all communications within the organization. Provide direction and feedback to employees on approved branding.
10. Participate in strategic and operational decisions and implementation to achieve department goals in the areas of processing, production and distribution of publications, websites, and other work products.
11. Serve on and/or lead division, department, or organizational committees.
12. Research, attend and recommend communication trainings, conferences, technologies, or techniques and share with department staff to further communication strategy and knowledge.
13. Assist with the recruitment and selection of staff.

Essential functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.