Responsibilities

• Proactively engages with media outlets to promote agency priorities and enhance public awareness. Acts as the main point of contact for press inquiries, collaborating with leadership and subject matter experts to provide timely, accurate, and policy-aligned responses.
• Recommends and arranges interviews and media opportunities.
• Develops and edits press releases, quotes, statements, social media, presentations, and Questions & Answer (Q&A) documents.
• Drives press release planning and earned media strategies.
• Represents the agency in interviews and public engagements with professionalism and clarity.
• Pitches stories and interviews, placing content in targeted media outlets.
• May require driving on state business.
• Cultivates strategic relationships to enhance the agency’s public image. Builds and maintains connections with internal stakeholders and media contacts to support positive press coverage.
• Expands and updates media outreach lists, identifying new outlets and reporters.
• Accompanies executive leadership on office visits and external engagements to document activities, highlight key moments, and relay relevant information to the communications team.

Requirements

• Knowledge of: Deep understanding of the media landscape including print, broadcast, and on-line media
• Knowledge of: Expertise in external facing communications
• Knowledge of: Best practices related to public engagement and communication methods
• Knowledge of: Communication techniques that attract public support
• Knowledge of: User and market research
• Knowledge of: Project management
• Knowledge of: Thorough understanding of relevant policy issues to accurately answer media questions
• Knowledge of: Deep understanding of public affairs and policy to effectively manage media interactions
• Knowledge of: Knowledge of social media strategy, digital communications, and media analytics
• Skills in: Writing, editing and proofreading

Benefits

• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation that includes ten (10) holidays per year.
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Competitive health and dental insurance plans.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Vision coverage.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• Deferred compensation plans.
• Supplemental life insurance.
• Employee wellness plans