Position Description
The Office of Economic Development’s (OED) core purpose is to shape the future of Seattle’s economy and make it more equitable, prosperous, and competitive. We do this work by leading projects and making investments that open up access to economic opportunities, reduce the racial wealth gap, and encourage innovation and growth.
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Communications Director to lead our efforts in shaping and sharing OED’s story. In this role, you will guide external communications to ensure clear, consistent, and compelling messaging about our work across various channels, staying attuned to the needs of stakeholders and the evolving media landscape. Internally, you will partner with leadership to keep our team informed and engaged, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. Additionally, you will lead and mentor our communications team, overseeing the execution of key initiatives that drive the department’s success. If you're a proactive leader with a passion for storytelling, we want to hear from you!
Job Responsibilities
Here is more about the work:
Strategic Communications Planning
- Plan and anticipate the department's high-level communication needs.
- Develop and refine messaging for key projects and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate with team managers to align communication milestones with program goals.
- Write and edit content for department initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Oversee production and delivery of communications to maintain consistency and impact.
- Serve as the department’s PIO, coordinating media and public inquiries.
- Lead crisis communication planning in coordination with the Mayor's Office and other departments.
- Provide communications counsel to the Director, Deputy Director, and Division Director.
- Contribute to high-level strategy discussions as part of the OED Management Team.
- Lead planning for internal communication strategies, including organizing OED’s “lunch and learn” series and content for all-staff meetings.
- Develop well-rounded plans for clear, timely communication across the department about organizational initiatives and projects.
- Lead engagement with external communications consultants on key projects.
- Shape presentations for City Council, media, and other stakeholders.
- Manage the communications team, guiding content strategy, prioritization, and delivery.
- Foster team cohesion and effective execution through active people management skills.
2025 Work Plan. Develop a workplan with clear objectives and key results for the communications team. Collaborate across teams to plan the narrative arc for OED in 2025. Work with the Data and Performance Advisor to highlight OED’s impact on creating an inclusive and competitive economy.
Downtown Activation Plan Progress. OED serves as the department coordinating the overall Citywide communications strategy on Downtown revitalization and recovery. Oversee the communications team and external consultants to ensure accurate, impactful content about how the City’s actions contribute to a safe, welcoming, and interesting Downtown.
Qualifications:
Qualifications
In addition to performing the tasks described above, you’ll be prepared to successfully take on this role with a combination of the following:
Experience and Skills In:
- Top-notch communication skills in both verbal and written formats; experienced in delivering quality content under time constraints while maintaining attention to detail.
- Strong understanding of City communications policies and procedures, and where interdepartmental collaboration can help meet goals.
- Serving as a media liaison is a plus; must have experience developing content for engagement with media (e.g., talking points, press releases, responses to questions / inquiries).
- Knowing how to use data to support decision-making in a communications context.
- Strong people management skills with progressive leadership experience, including supporting staff growth, holding accountability for performance, maintaining clear lines of responsibility, and building a welcoming, inclusive team culture.
- Understands the external environment in which OED operates, including political dynamics and key relationships.
- Bring nuance to sensitive or potentially controversial topics.
- Be comfortable working in a politically sensitive environment.
- Synthesize, prioritize, and balance internal and external input.
- Remain steadfast in periods of ambiguity.
- See opportunities to creatively evolve communications strategies.
- Deftly resolve conflicts and incorporate lessons learned going forward.
- Stay aligned with department goals and key priorities; filter new opportunities against agreed-upon focus areas.
- Model strong performance and accountability while supporting their team in doing the same.
- Build strong, working relationships with other teams at OED, as well as with communications counterparts within the City and key partners, to share information, coordinate strategy, and work towards mutual goals.
- Building a "learning culture": espousing a growth mindset for both self and team, seeking opportunities for professional development, and supporting the team in fostering their growth potential.
- Direct and respectful communication: giving and receiving feedback, sharing relevant information and situational intelligence, and granting grace to others.
- Leading with an equity lens: advancing OED's guiding principle that an inclusive economy is a more prosperous and competitive economy; with a deep commitment to the principles of the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative.
- Taking a balanced approach: bringing a sense of urgency when appropriate and prioritizing to keep workloads manageable.
Additional Information
This full-time, over-time exempt position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 3, Exempt and is exempt from the Civil Service System. The full salary range for this position is $57.45 - $86.16 per hour. After a pay equity and budget analysis, the salary range for this role has been identified as $71.32 - $74.24 hourly.
Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package includes vacation, holiday, and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website:
Why Work at the City of Seattle? We recognize that every employee plays a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture results from our behavior, personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.
Hybrid Work: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be expected to work in-office a minimum of three days a week. OED’s primary worksite is at the Seattle Municipal Tower in Downtown Seattle. Moderate local travel and regional travel may be required, along with occasional evening and weekend in-person meetings.
Application Process: Submit applications at no later than 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 . To be considered for this position, please attach:
- A cover letter explaining your interest and capability to perform this job.
- A PDF resume illustrating related skills and abilities.
- A writing sample (600 words max) that illustrates concise communications about how a City action connects to larger strategies.
Hiring Timeline: We anticipate conducting the first round interviews the third week of November and second round of interviews / assessments the first week of December 2024.
Accommodations: Individuals with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact to request accommodation.
Questions: Please contact #J-18808-Ljbffr