Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the agency’s external communications strategy, including communications and public relations planning.
• Oversee the production of high-level written, visual, and digital materials including marketing and outreach, Commissioner speeches, and website content while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with agency priorities.
• In collaboration with the Communications Director, manage the agency’s media relations and crisis communications by developing strategies for the agency, including message development, press releases, media events, proactive and reactive strategies.
• Direct internal communications strategies to ensure staff are informed about agency news, policies, and procedures, and to support staff engagement and pride in the workplace.

Requirements

• Four (4) years of experience in advanced communications, public relations, or public affairs in a large organization.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic communication guidance to senior leaders, such as executives, directors, board members, or other high-level decision makers.
• Experience managing crisis communications, rapid-response situations, and other high-visibility or high-stakes public information efforts.
• Experience coordinating and integrating external and internal communications, including marketing, social media, and visual communication strategies.
• Demonstrated leadership experience (e.g., supervisor, leadworker, team lead, project lead; leadership programs; leading a program or committee).
• Leadership experience can include the following:
• Experience as a supervisor, leadworker, team lead, project lead:
• Completion of a State of Minnesota leadership program (e.g. ELI, L4);
• A paid/unpaid position leading a program or chairing a committee (e.g. ERG) - experience must include:
• 1+ year of experience identifying issues, goals and strategic actions
• 100+ hours per year time commitment

Preferred

• Two (2) years of experience supervising a communications, public relations or public affairs team.
• Experience leading communications in a large, complex public-sector organization.
• Experience advising or coordinating with Governor’s Offices, legislative, or other high-level government partners.
• Experience directing or contributing to organization-wide strategic planning, organizational change communications.
• Experience developing communications strategies that support equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive engagement with diverse communities.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance