Communication Specialist (Ord. Title: Strategic Advisor 2, General Govt)

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is seeking a talented and creative Communications Specialist to join our team. This role will be crucial in shaping our department's internal and external narratives, ensuring our employees and the public are informed, engaged, and inspired. This individual will have the chance to work on a wide range of projects, from crafting department-wide announcements, creating compelling content for our channels, to developing new avenues for us to communicate. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and a natural collaborator who can manage multiple projects spanning multiple city departments in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to directly impact the culture and communication within a leading law enforcement agency. About the Department: The Seattle Police Department is comprised of approximately 1,600 dedicated law enforcement professionals all committed to creating and fostering a work environment that is collaborative, innovative, and leading the way in law enforcement principles and practices. Ours is a culture that encourages top performers to adhere to a standard of excellence in the identification of and resolution to complex challenges. At SPD we acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and pledge ourselves to creating and maintaining an environment that respects diverse traditions, heritages, and experiences.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field; minimum of five (5) years of public relations experience including creating, writing, editing and publishing in both print and electronic media formats; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Must pass a Seattle Police Department background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator.
Experience with internal communications platforms (e.g., SharePoint, etc.) is a plus.
Previous experience in a corporate, government, or law enforcement environment.

Responsibilities

Developing and executing communication plans for key SPD initiatives.
Writing and editing engaging content for various channels, including internal messaging, public newsletters, blogs, and social media channels.
Collaborating with different city departments and units within SPD to understand their communication needs and create tailored messaging.
Managing and maintaining our social media channels and public image management.
Advise leadership during times of turmoil and crisis while under intense scrutiny.
Working directly with local, national, and international media on daily and long-term stories.
Manage relationships with external media partners helping to shape narratives while balancing trust, transparency, privacy and accountability to the public.