OCACS Communications Director - Marketing & Communications Specialist IV

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Director manages communications and special projects for the Office of Children, Aging and Community Services (OCACS), planning and designing strategies that support Department, Office, and Division goals. The role develops marketing, advertising, educational, and promotional materials and courses for internal and external stakeholders, and assists the Department’s central Communications Office with Department-wide initiatives and special projects. The position drafts and edits OCACS written products, including budget requests, communications, and policies, and coordinates recruitment, outreach, and retention efforts to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect and the need for foster and adoptive families. The role leads OCACS communications strategy and implementation across channels, including the website and social media, and leads the state’s official public awareness campaign on reporting and preventing child abuse and neglect, recognizing its signs, and becoming a foster or adoptive parent. It develops an annual communications plan, produces newsletters and other communications, prepares materials for senior leaders, maintains web content, advises programs on audience communications, and provides communications expertise to OCACS leadership and other stakeholders. The position also works with media partners and program staff, coordinates responses to media requests, drafts press releases, and serves as a liaison to CDHS Communications. As work lead for the Recruitment and Retention Communications Specialist and Public Awareness Campaign Coordinator, the position sets priorities and direction, coaches staff, addresses performance issues, conducts evaluations, maintains staff records, and supports employee development and workplace equity. It also works with OCACS programs and vendors to plan and design communication materials, including graphic, audio, or visual content, ensuring materials are clear, appropriate, technically correct, and aligned with OCACS strategy. Occasional in-state travel, including overnight travel outside the Denver Metro area, may be required. The role is hybrid, with a minimum of two days in the office and up to three days working remotely; arrangements may change. Applicants must be permanent classified State of Colorado employees or on reemployment lists, and must reside in Colorado at application and throughout employment.

Requirements

Seven years of relevant experience developing organizational communications strategies across multiple platforms while managing multiple projects; or an equivalent combination of related education and experience totaling seven years.
Demonstrated hands-on experience managing marketing campaigns, including budgeting and campaign tracking.
Media and public relations experience, including proactive pitching, drafting media advisories and press releases, preparing media responses, and training leaders for media engagements.
Experience writing and producing content for varied audiences in a culturally relevant and accessible manner.
Experience with communications strategy development and implementation, high-quality written work in multiple media formats, graphic design, policy analysis, and editing.
Must be a classified permanent State of Colorado employee or currently on a reemployment list.
Must be a Colorado resident when applying and remain a Colorado resident throughout employment.
Ability to travel throughout Colorado, occasionally overnight, to meet with programs outside the Denver Metro area.
Completion of the required standard background checks; drug screening is specified for employees with a commercial driver’s license.
Former State employees disciplinarily terminated or who resigned in lieu of termination must disclose this, explain why it should not disqualify them, and provide their prior employee number.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public administration, public policy, or a related field.
Communications or public affairs experience in government, the public sector, or the nonprofit sector.
Experience with Colorado General Assembly budget processes or communicating complex policy, legislative, or systemic issues to public officials, community partners, media, or other external audiences.
Experience managing communications involving sensitive, high-profile, or rapidly developing matters.
Specialized expertise in marketing, media and public relations, website design, content creation, and communications with communities of interest.
Relevant years of State service, with part-time service prorated; State service is a preferred qualification and is given at least 15% weight for transfers.
Master of Public Administration or another public service degree.
Certification in graphic design software.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement OCACS communications strategies and initiatives, including website and social media initiatives.
Lead, design, and implement the state’s public awareness campaign on reporting and preventing child abuse and neglect, recognizing signs of abuse and neglect, and becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
Develop an annual OCACS communications plan outlining strategies and goals.
Design, write, and distribute OCACS newsletters and communications.
Draft and edit talking points, presentations, and documents for the Office Director and Deputy Director.
Update OCACS and Division internet and intranet sites and ensure information is current, clear, and relevant.
Advise OCACS programs on communication strategies for target audiences and develop communications about program processes and procedures in partnership with those programs.
Assist with OCACS and Department-wide communications and information-gathering or dissemination initiatives.
Provide communications expertise to OCACS leadership and Division Directors, including on internal and external communications with the Governor’s Office and legislature.
Develop materials on Office strategic priorities for government and community partners.
Develop relationships with media partners and coordinate interviews in response to emerging issues.
Coordinate with DCW program staff on media requests and talking points; collaborate with the Attorneys General and CDHS Legal to ensure messaging aligns with legal guidelines.
Serve as liaison to CDHS Communications and attend its meetings.
Compose and coordinate information requests for senior executive talking points, budget requests, and CORA requests.
Draft press releases for OCACS in coordination with CDHS Communications.
Lead the Recruitment and Retention Communications Specialist and Public Awareness Campaign Coordinator, setting priorities, coaching, evaluating performance, maintaining records, and supporting staff development and workplace equity.
Gather information from OCACS programs and divisions and ensure requests are answered promptly.
Plan and design communications with OCACS programs, defining project scope and audience strategy and developing appropriate graphic, audio, or visual content.
Advise OCACS programs on design and layout in alignment with the overall communications plan and strategy.
Coordinate communication projects with OCACS programs and outside vendors or departments.
Maintain design-related technical knowledge through workshops, professional publications, and professional societies.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Flexible schedules, training, and other work-life programs
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program