Communications Director (PCN: 25-1833)

State of Alaska•Statewide, AK

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director of Communications, you will lead how DOT&PF communicates critical issues, builds public trust, and tells the story of transportation in Alaska. This leadership role operates at the intersection of executive decision-making, policy, media relations, and public engagement. As the Department’s Communications Director, you will lead enterprise-wide communications strategy and execution for DOT&PF. This position serves as the department’s Public Information Officer and primary spokesperson, ensuring DOT&PF is a trusted, responsive, and authoritative source of information for the public, media, elected officials, stakeholders, and employees. This role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on execution. You will advise the Commissioner and executive leadership on messaging, public perception, emerging issues, and communications risk, while also leading real-time media response, public messaging, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. You will manage high-visibility initiatives, sensitive issues, and fast-moving communications needs across a large, decentralized department. A key part of this position is helping ensure department communications are clear, consistent, accurate, and timely across divisions, regions, and major program areas. You will coordinate closely with internal teams, partner agencies, media, legislators, communities, industry representatives, and the public to support department priorities and strengthen public understanding of DOT&PF’s work. During legislative session, this position works closely with the department’s Legislative Liaison to support communications related to legislative priorities, inquiries, testimony, briefing materials, and public-facing messaging. The position also helps track and respond to issues with legislative, political, public, or media impact. In this role, you will also lead and support the department’s communications team, strengthen internal communication and employee engagement, and improve the tools, processes, and strategies used to communicate with the public and within the department.

Requirements

Strategic, decisive, and experienced communicator.
Strong judgment.
Executive presence.
Ability to communicate clearly under pressure.
Ability to advise senior executives.
Ability to manage sensitive issues.
Ability to support crisis and emergency communications.
Ability to develop messaging that builds trust with the public, media, elected officials, employees, and stakeholders.
Comfortable working across a large organization.
Ability to align communication efforts across divisions and regions.
Ability to help leadership navigate issues with public, political, or media impact.
Experience in executive-level communications.
Experience in public affairs.
Experience in media relations.
Experience in crisis communication.
Experience in stakeholder engagement.
Experience in team leadership.
Experience working in government, policy, transportation, infrastructure, or another public-facing organization is highly desirable.
Strong strategic communication skills.
Sound judgment.
Accountability.
Leadership.
Ability to build trust across diverse audiences.
Professionally written cover letter, no more than one page in length, that highlights their communication leadership experience and interest in this role.
Cover letter should address: experience managing high-profile, sensitive, or crisis communications; how you advise executive leadership in complex, fast-moving, or politically sensitive situations; your approach to building public trust, strengthening internal alignment, and communicating with diverse audiences; why this role, DOT&PF’s mission, and Alaska’s transportation system interest you.
Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in government, policy, transportation, infrastructure, or another public-facing organization is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise-wide communications strategy and execution for DOT&PF.
Serve as the department’s Public Information Officer and primary spokesperson.
Advise the Commissioner and executive leadership on messaging, public perception, emerging issues, and communications risk.
Lead real-time media response, public messaging, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement.
Manage high-visibility initiatives, sensitive issues, and fast-moving communications needs.
Ensure department communications are clear, consistent, accurate, and timely across divisions, regions, and major program areas.
Coordinate closely with internal teams, partner agencies, media, legislators, communities, industry representatives, and the public.
Support communications related to legislative priorities, inquiries, testimony, briefing materials, and public-facing messaging during legislative session.
Track and respond to issues with legislative, political, public, or media impact.
Lead and support the department’s communications team.
Strengthen internal communication and employee engagement.
Improve the tools, processes, and strategies used to communicate with the public and within the department.

Benefits

Serving a mission with statewide visibility and real public impact.
Opportunity to lead communications at the highest levels of the department.
Opportunity to advise executive leadership.
Opportunity to shape public messaging.
Opportunity to guide how DOT&PF communicates with Alaskans, the media, elected officials, stakeholders, and employees.
Part of a leadership team working through complex, high-profile issues that affect communities across Alaska.
Opportunity to strengthen public trust.
Opportunity to modernize communication strategies.
Opportunity to support employee engagement.
Opportunity to help tell the story of DOT&PF’s mission and impact statewide.