Title: External Communications Manager

State Role Title: PR & Mktg Mgr II

Hiring Range: $70,581- $114,694

Pay Band: 5

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Dept of Transportation

Agency Website: https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Are you poised to join an award-winning communications team with endless energy and mission-focused projects?

Do you dream of multimedia solutions to transform how people think and behave?

Do you thrive in a collaborative group setting and get excited developing solutions to unique challenges?

We have the role for you, as the Virginia Department of Transportation’s External Communications Manager!

The VDOT communications team centers around ideas and delivery, while customizing materials for our target external publics. This leader has sharp editing skills, an eye for design, and a passion for determining innovative and new ways of working. This role will lead the planning and execution of external communications and be a key project manager for highly visible deliverables that will involve coordinating and collaborating with VDOT’s web, graphics, social media, and photo and video teams. As a core leader of VDOT communications, this individual will engage with media outlets and external stakeholders and have a passion for storytelling. This position will report directly to the Assistant Director of External Communications.

Position specific responsibilities and duties will include, but not limited to:

• Delivers results-oriented communications strategies that support VDOT’s mission and engage and inform nearly 8.5 million Virginians.

• Assists with managing a media relations strategy that drives a greater understanding and awareness of VDOT and its programs.

• Has a proven track record of success in proactive and reactive media relations; adept at crisis communications.

• Responds to intermittent and unexpected issues that may occur and result in work activity outside of standard working hours.

• Assists with managing the development of emergency communications response strategies, reactive statements, FAQs and other deliverables as needed.

• Works directly with senior leaders on executive corporate communications including talking points and official statements, and at times presentations and speeches.

• Identifies emerging trends and recommends new and innovative initiatives to grow VDOT’s communications program.

• Leads and inspires a team of professionals; sets and communicates clear priorities to internal clients.

• Serves as a media spokesperson; responsible for message development; participates in 24/7 on-call rotation.

Your application requires you to provide a sample of work pertaining to external communications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive experience in journalistic writing using language conforming to the Associated Press Stylebook.

• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

• Supervisory experience leading teams with developing and delivering communications for a large organization.

• Experience creating and maintaining content for an external audience.

• Proven and passionate with experience directing professionals.

Additional Considerations

• Experience in journalism, public relations or communications.

• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic communication plans.

• Experience working for an emergency management agency or managing issues/crises.

• Upper level management experience in communications, marketing or public relations.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This position requires a fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check and Work History Verification with references.

VDOT is an emergency operation agency. As such, this job is essential to emergency response operations and expected to work in these situations, to include weekends, holidays, and after normal business hours; assignments may vary based on business needs to include working in severe weather.

Your application requires you to provide a sample of work pertaining to external communications.

Once onboarded, this position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

VDOT utilizes a market based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

Contact Information

Name: Candace Drew

Email: [email protected]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.