Responsibilities

• Design and steward a comprehensive, multi-year communications roadmap that establishes a clear, compelling public narrative for the agency and public education in the Commonwealth.
• Design and oversee daily workflow and priorities of communication staff, including creative services, social media, constituent services, website management, newsletter functions, and earned media.
• Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Superintendent as well as Chiefs and Deputies, providing high-level counsel on the intersection of public policy, stakeholder sentiment, and agency reputation.
• Meet with other VDOE department leaders to ensure their core functions, new initiatives and changes to policy and practice are clearly communicated within the context of the Agency’s mission.
• Collaborate with colleagues in state government and local school divisions to create and execute communications campaigns, initiatives and announcements.
• Manage unexpected reputational risks or urgent media inquiries that require executive-level intervention.

Requirements

• Strong reputation with press relations and media engagement.
• Documented success with performance management and overall team management.
• Knowledge and experience with statewide education communication strategy preferred.
• Experience in designing and executing stakeholder engagement series.
• Ability to design communications expectations for large scale organization.
• Deep expertise in overseeing government relations, school media relations, public media relations, and social media platforms.
• Excellent organization and communication skills.
• Comprehensive experience in communications and partner relations, including a high-capacity team in meeting deadlines with excellent work product.

Preferred

• Knowledge and experience with statewide education communication strategy preferred.
• Experience in designing and executing stakeholder engagement series.