Communications Specialist III

Summary

About the Role

The Communication Specialists will work closely with Capital Project teams and project sponsors across the Water and Land Resources Division to develop and implement communication and engagement plans that help build community understanding of and support for capital projects that advance county plans, policies and initiatives (including the Clean Water Healthy Habitat initiative, the Strategic Climate Action Plan, the Flood Management Plan, salmon recovery plans, and the King County Stormwater Management Action Plan).

The Water and Land Resources Division is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 400 supported by an annual budget of ~$250 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents equitable access to green space. We plan, design, and build salmon habitat projects as well as levees and stormwater facilities that help protect people and infrastructure while also enhancing habitat. Our Environmental Lab and Science sections maintain high-quality data sets used for long term water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces over the next 30 years. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production.

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As the Communications Specialist III, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What you will be doing?

• Strategic Communication and Outreach Planning – Support the Capital Delivery Section by developing strategies, standards, templates and best practices for Outreach and Communications.
• Consultant Coordination - Support the development and management of project-specific consultant work orders, review consultant deliverables and assist PMs in assuring compliance with County and WLRD policies.
• Project Communications Needs Assessment –Work with project managers and project sponsors to assess outreach and communications needs and develop communications plans for capital projects at all stages in the project life cycle.
• Communications Production – The position will develop news releases, flyers, postcards, social media ads, and websites for capital project communications strategy appropriate to the project audiences, with support and subject matter oversight provided by project management staff and consultants.
• Participate in public meetings, engaging with community members to share information and solicit input on WLRD projects and priorities.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Skilled in developing and implementing strategic communications plans with clear direction, concise messaging, and measurable outcomes.
• Skills in synthesizing and communicating technical information in ways that everyone can understand to include the development of outreach materials, news releases, web content etc.
• Skills in identifying and assessing the communication needs of key audiences, including multi-lingual and disability audiences.
• Proficiency with digital and social media platforms and curating web content using tools such as Sitecore, GovDelivery, PublicInput, and other social media platforms, MS Teams Platform and related applications.
• Education in marketing, journalism, science/technical communications or related field or experience leading communications work, to include developing communications strategies, identifying tactics, developing materials, implementing and evaluating events or projects.

Competencies You Bring:

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer centric solutions.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multimode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust to others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

• Direct experience with communication in natural resources management field
• Background in environmental education, social marketing, or multicultural projects

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 3-4 times per month on average. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).

Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.

Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. While typical work hours are during the standard workday, this job requires evening and weekends to support public meetings/events.

Union Representation: This position is represented by the Teamsters 117 union.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates who meet the job requirements. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application
• Complete Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume (Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process)

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 if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.