Responsibilities

• This position develops strategic and targeted messaging to be used in internal and external communications as well as educational campaigns; serves as a spokesperson and point of contact for FDOT media relations; plans and coordinates news events and writes/edits news releases and articles; and assists with management of the Office of Communications in the absence of the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director.
• Assists the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director with strategic planning and messaging for the Communications Office. Assists with the development of Office of Communications annual strategic plan, the social media strategic plan and overall strategic communications plans. Assists with developing communication guidelines and templates for the Communications Office and the Department. Assists with the research and writing of speeches, messages, speaking points and responses for the Secretary of Transportation. Assists in responding to inquiries and issues from the Governor's Office, elected officials, the media, the public, and other agencies. Assists in message development for key transportation issues affecting the department.
• Serves as contact for department media relations. Identifies media opportunities and strategies to proactively communicate the Department's mission and provide information to the public. Writes, edits and publishes news releases and articles for internal and external publication. Coordinates press events as necessary. Writes speeches and talking points for members, including executive level staff. Represents the Department through on-air broadcasts, public speaking and community engagements. scripts to communicate the Department's mission to the public. Assists in managing messaging and strategy on department social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Manages and strategizes department internal communications. Manages strategic internal communications initiatives to ensure members of the department are engaged in department efforts and activities. Strategizes opportunities for department leadership to interact with members of the department to help create a cohesive and collaborative culture. Create video scripts for internal communications efforts, which can be shared externally as well.

Requirements

• KNOWLEDGEABLE OF JOURNALISTIC WRITING STYLE AND THE CONCEPTS OF GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION AND ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLE. KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SKILLED MICROSOFT WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, PUBLISHER, OUTLOOK AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. SKILLED IN IN TAKING TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND TRANSLATING INTO PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND. ABILITY TO RESEARCH AND WRITE NEWS RELEASES AND REPORTS AND NEWSLETTERS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING. SKILLED IN STRONG WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION. KNOWLEDGEABLE AT PERFORMING BASIC MATHMATICAL CALCULATIONS. ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. SKILLED IN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC IN A PROMPT AND COURTEOUS MANNER. ABILITY TO ORGANIZE AND MANAGE MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. ABILITY TO SET AND MANAGE PRIORITIES. ABILITY TO REMAIN CALM AND BE EFFECTIVE UNDER PRESSURE.

Benefits

• Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
• $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurances
• State of Florida retirement package
• 10 paid holidays a year
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Career advancement opportunities
• Tuition waiver for public college courses
• A variety of training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)