King County, WA

Communications Specialist II

Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

Summary The Department of Local Services is seeking a creative and community-driven Communications Specialist II to join our team. This new position will help us reach the more than 250,000 people in unincorporated King County, a population size that makes us equivalent to the second largest city in Washington state. The ideal candidate will bring experience in designing and implementing communication strategies that engage diverse audiences, with a strong focus on creating content for social media and web platforms. They also will be committed to plain language and accessibility standards to make sure everyone can be well-informed and engaged. About The Team This position is a part of the Communications team in the Director’s Office. We provide communications support across the department and collaborate closely with the Communications team in the Road Services Division. This multi-faceted role balances individual autonomy and collaborative teamwork. The work environment is fast paced with a high project volume, and the team works together to meet the challenges. About King County’s Department Of Local Services King County is the local service provider for roughly a quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office as well as the Road Services and Permitting divisions. Together, this department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivering local services to all unincorporated areas. We work in historically underserved urban neighborhoods, like White Center and Skyway, and in rural areas of unincorporated King County such as Duvall, Enumclaw, and Vashon Island. We engage people who monitor social media by the moment as well as those who only have a land line. We encourage all applicants to learn more about our department by visiting our website at Local Services - King County, Washington. Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people and partners and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge that this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike. Job Duties Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of your work. Collaborate with teams to assess and identify communications needs and issues and help create communications plans and strategies Work collaboratively and facilitate effective communication with project and program staff members across the department Create effective audio, visual, and written content such as presentations, blog posts, signs, social media posts, web materials, and videos for internal and external audience—sometimes working with employees and community members to co-create materials and campaigns Coordinate, promote, and staff events such as community events, festivals, and fairs, and employee events Support creation and improvement of processes and templates to improve team efficiency and effectiveness Research, create, and coordinate the production of public and employee communications products. Provide communications counsel and advice to internal customers Other duties as assigned Values Serve with integrity. Show initiative and work hard. Prioritize outcomes over optics. Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.” Sove problems with a “yes, and” mindset Work as one adaptable, mission-driven team Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Three years of experience working in position(s) that featured communications, marketing, customer service, or community engagemen Experience keeping pace with new communications and social media trends and creating and managing web pages and/or social media accounts Photography and videography skills for use on the county’s website, social media, and public distributions (required) Graphic design expertise to create newsletters, flyers, and online content a plus Knowledge of Word, Excel, and video and photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere or Canva Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced and demanding environment Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances and needs Highly organized and able to perform multiple detailed tasks accurately and efficiently under time constraints Ability and desire to work collaboratively, and to think and solve problems creatively Demonstrated capacity to proactively participate in enhancing processes to achieve ongoing improvements and increased efficiencies Possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise with a broad variety of partners, from technical experts to community members Demonstrated ability to contribute both as a collaborative team member and work independently A strong commitment to the principles of equity and social justice Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and accurately in writing and speaking Supplemental Information Interview Process Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a 15-minute phone interview the week of March 23, 2026 If selected to move forward after the phone interview, you will be invited for a virtual interview in the week of March 30, 2026. Who May Apply This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months. Forms and Materials: A completed King County Application is required. A cover letter and resume detailing your interest in the position and your background, and describing how you meet or exceed the required qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience listed in this job announcement, is also required. Selection Process: Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Reference checks and file reviews will be done. For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf Work Schedule The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require weekends and evenings. This position is Non-Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act and is eligible for overtime pay, with prior supervisor approval. Emergency Designation Status: Mission Critical Employees who provide, maintain, and re-establish essential county functions as described in agency Continuity of Operations plans. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. Union Membership This position is represented by PTE L17-P&T-DOT. Teleworking Requirement We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. Work Location Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. The employee will report to work at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104). Employees will be provided with a King County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation. To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or have questions, please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement. If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Sonali Sharma, HR Analyst, by email at sonsharma@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at (206)492-6237. Benefits King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page. This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. 01 Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position? Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. No. 02 If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff 03 Do you have demonstrated professional or personal experience writing content for any of these platforms? Please check all that apply: Websites Blogs E-Newsletters Flyers/brochures Presentations GovDelivery Facebook, Instagram LinkedIn TikTok X (Twitter) WordPress YouTube None of the above 04 If you checked yes to any of the above, please describe one example of the kind of content you created and updated, the platforms used and where you gained the experience. If this does not apply to you, please type in N/A. 05 Do you have demonstrated professional or personal experience using any of the following tools? Please check all that apply: Microsoft SharePoint and Teams Trello Asana Monday.com Slack (or similar) PublicInput (or similar) Canva CapCut Adobe InDesign (or similar) Adobe Photoshop (or similar) Adobe Premiere Pro (or similar) None of the above Required Question