Director of Communications

State of North Carolina • Education Building Wake, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Director serves as a senior member of the Communications leadership team and as the primary strategic communications advisor to Department of Commerce leadership, while also acting as a key liaison to the Governor’s Press and Policy Offices. This position is central to advancing the mission of the Department of Commerce and the Commerce Communications and External/Public Affairs Office, supporting the Governor’s priorities and statewide economic development objectives. This role provides agency-wide communications leadership and direction for the Department’s communications function, including strategy development, media relations, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications. The position is responsible for shaping, directing, and protecting the reputational brand of the Department and supporting a consistent and coordinated communications approach across all divisions, programs, and external partners. The Director operates with a high degree of independence and exercises professional judgment and decision-making authority in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment. This includes managing complex and sensitive communications, such as crisis and issues response and confidential economic development projects. The position provides executive-level counsel on messaging, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement, contributing to how the Department’s initiatives and outcomes are understood by the public. This position requires advanced and specialized knowledge of North Carolina state government operations; the Governor’s Administration; the Department of Commerce; and the State’s economic development and workforce ecosystem, including industries, businesses, incentive programs, and key stakeholder relationships. The role also requires expertise in communications strategy, media relations, executive communications, and leadership within a complex, multi-division agency environment. The Commerce Communications and External/Public Affairs Office provide leadership for strategic communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement in support of the Department’s mission and the priorities of the Governor’s Administration. The Office is responsible for planning, developing, executing, and evaluating comprehensive communications strategies that promote North Carolina’s economic competitiveness and effectively communicate the programs, services, and initiatives of the Department of Commerce. This includes coordinating communications across a broad range of internal and external audiences, including Commerce employees, the Governor’s Office, the North Carolina General Assembly, state and local agencies, economic development partners, domestic and international businesses, media organizations, and the general public. The Office ensures consistent, accurate, and strategic messaging and plays a critical role in supporting statewide communications outcomes by shaping how Commerce-led initiatives, economic development projects, and workforce programs are understood and communicated across North Carolina. The Office also supports high-profile initiatives that influence public perception of the State’s economic competitiveness and reputation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, public affairs, media, journalism, English or a related field from an appropriately accredited institution and eight years of experience in communications, public relations, or publicity work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive travel, both domestic and international.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, unexpired U.S. passport and a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in state government, public sector communications, or working with executive leadership and elected officials.
• Experience in economic development, workforce development, or public policy-related communications.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing communications programs at an organizational or enterprise level.
• Demonstrated experience to effectively plan and coordinate frequent domestic and international travel in support of program operations.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior member of the Communications leadership team.
• Acts as the primary strategic communications advisor to Department of Commerce leadership.
• Acts as a key liaison to the Governor’s Press and Policy Offices.
• Provides agency-wide communications leadership and direction for the Department’s communications function.
• Develops communications strategy, manages media relations, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications.
• Shapes, directs, and protects the reputational brand of the Department.
• Supports a consistent and coordinated communications approach across all divisions, programs, and external partners.
• Manages complex and sensitive communications, including crisis and issues response and confidential economic development projects.
• Provides executive-level counsel on messaging, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Plans, develops, executes, and evaluates comprehensive communications strategies.
• Coordinates communications across a broad range of internal and external audiences.

Benefits

• 12 Annual Paid Holidays
• monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans
• WeSave Employee Discounts
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager