Responsibilities

• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is seeking a strategic, organized, and creative Director of Communications to lead the department's public communications, brand management, digital content, and major communications initiatives.
• The Director of Communications will lead the development and execution of the department's overall communications strategy, ensuring alignment with TDA priorities, leadership goals, and statewide initiatives.
• This position will oversee the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's social media platforms, including content planning, messaging, engagement strategy, analytics, and coordination with program areas.
• The director will manage TDA communications campaigns from concept through execution, including public awareness campaigns, promotional initiatives, program-specific outreach, and cross-platform storytelling.
• This role will lead the production of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture annual report, coordinating content, design, data collection, photography, writing, editing, approvals, ADA document remediation, and final publication.
• The director will supervise and support two internal creative services direct reports and coordinate work with a contracted videographer to ensure high-quality photography, video, graphic design, and digital content.
• The position will develop and maintain consistent department branding, messaging standards, editorial guidelines, and visual identity across all communications materials.
• The director will work closely with executive leadership, program staff, and external partners to identify communications opportunities and ensure accurate, timely information is shared with the public.
• The position will monitor communications trends, public sentiment, analytics, and emerging platforms to improve TDA's outreach and engagement.
• The Director of Communications must be able to operate effectively in a very fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, urgent requests, and multiple major communications projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and strong attention to detail.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, English, agriculture communications, or a related field is preferred.
• Several years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, media relations, marketing, journalism, government communications, or a related field.
• Experience managing staff, contractors, creative projects, campaigns, publications, or digital communications.
• Strong writing, editing, project management, and organizational skills.
• Experience managing social media platforms, content calendars, campaign strategy, and analytics.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience working in a fast-paced communications, government, media, public relations, campaign, or executive office environment.
• Knowledge of ADA accessibility requirements and document remediation practices, including accessible PDFs, tagged documents, alternative text, reading order, headings, tables, links, and other accessibility considerations.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and accurately to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with leadership, program staff, media, stakeholders, and external partners.