Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive department-wide communications strategy aligned with UDAF’s mission, strategic priorities, regulatory responsibilities, and public-service goals.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate a team of four communications professionals. Establish clear expectations, priorities, workflows, quality standards, and professional-development opportunities; promote a culture of accountability, sound judgment, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Provide direct supervision and strategic direction to the Public Information Officer, including media relations, proactive storytelling, crisis communications, public records coordination, and issues management. Serve as a primary communications advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, technical, and industry issues into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications.
• Coordinate closely with all UDAF divisions to identify communications needs, support program launches and initiatives, elevate public-facing information, and ensure consistent messaging across the Department.
• Lead the development and review of high-stakes communications materials, including press releases, media statements, talking points, speeches, reports, web content, public notices, social media content, newsletters, presentations, and internal communications.
• Coordinate with the PIO to oversee media relations and as a senior spokesperson when appropriate; build and maintain productive relationships with local, statewide, regional, and industry media.
• Lead communications planning for sensitive, fast-moving, or high-profile issues, including food safety, animal health, drought, natural-resource concerns, regulatory actions, emergency response, and other matters affecting Utah agriculture and food systems.
• Establish and maintain systems for communications intake, editorial review, approvals, project management, brand consistency, content calendars, and performance measurement.
• Ensure communications are accurate, timely, accessible, transparent, and aligned with applicable laws, policies, public-records requirements, and executive direction.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a related field.
• Six or more years of progressively responsible professional communications, public relations, media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications experience.
• At least two years of direct supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans for a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership, elected officials, senior administrators, or other high-level decision-makers.
• Exceptional writing, editing, message-development, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing media relations, responding to media inquiries, preparing spokespeople, and handling sensitive or high-visibility communications issues.
• Experience coordinating communications across multiple programs, divisions, or stakeholders with varied priorities.
• Strong project-management skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage competing deadlines, delegate effectively, and maintain high standards of quality.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism in a public-facing government environment.

Preferred

• Experience working in government communications, public affairs, public information, or a closely related public-sector environment.
• Experience in agriculture, food systems, natural resources, rural communities, public health, environmental regulation, economic development, or another complex regulated industry.
• Experience with crisis communications, risk communications, emergency response, or incident communications.
• Experience working with public records, open meetings, public notices, or other government transparency requirements.
• Experience managing communications contracts, creative agencies, photographers, videographers, or other external vendors.
• Familiarity with Utah agriculture, food production, agricultural markets, and the challenges facing producers and rural communities.

Benefits

• Benefits: The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food offers competitive wages, excellent health and retirement benefits, fulfilling work, and generous time off to support work-life balance. This position is based in the Taylorsville Office may be eligible for a hybrid telework schedule.
• Benefits
• In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah , click here . Other benefits may include:
• - Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• - Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• - Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• - Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.