Director of Public Affairs & Communications

DHRM•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Director of Public Affairs & Communications provides strategic leadership for communications and public affairs at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). The director develops and executes comprehensive communication strategies that advance the agency’s mission, priorities, programs, and initiatives. Serving as a primary agency spokesperson and media representative, the director communicates with news organizations, legislators, members, providers, advocates, community organizations, and other stakeholders. The role ensures complex Medicaid policies, program changes, benefits, requirements, and initiatives are communicated clearly, accurately, consistently, and accessibly to diverse audiences. The director leads communications for high-profile initiatives, policy changes, emergencies, and other issues that may significantly affect Medicaid members, providers, or the Commonwealth. The position also develops executive communications and advises agency leadership on communications risks, opportunities, messaging, and stakeholder engagement. It coordinates messaging with the HHR Communications team, monitors media coverage and public narratives related to Secretariat priorities, and works with policy, program, and communications teams to ensure messaging reflects implementation realities. The position has in-office requirements driven by business needs, including in-person meetings, internal and external stakeholder meetings, and press appearances. The agency follows Commonwealth telework policy; telework arrangements may be changed or ended based on performance or business needs.

Requirements

Extensive experience developing and executing strategic communication and outreach plans for program initiatives.
Extensive experience as a senior-level communications professional in government or a complex organization, such as a press secretary, communications director, or senior communications advisor.
Extensive experience facilitating meetings with external stakeholders and advocacy groups.
Extensive experience creating and delivering program-aligned outreach content accessible to varied audiences across multiple channels.
Extensive experience with computer software, including Microsoft Office.
Extensive experience analyzing, interpreting, and applying public federal and state laws and regulations.
Extensive experience meeting deadlines.
Extensive experience managing internal and external stakeholder relationships and coordinating cross-functional collaboration across multiple organizations.
Extensive experience using data-driven insights to refine communications strategies and generating executive-level reports and briefings.

Nice To Haves

Experience with member-centered program design and access.
Considerable experience planning and directing program activities.
Considerable experience analyzing data.
Considerable experience resolving problems.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic communications and outreach plans for agency programs, priorities, and initiatives.
Serve as a primary agency spokesperson and media representative to news organizations, legislators, members, providers, advocates, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
Communicate complex Medicaid policies, program changes, benefits, requirements, and initiatives clearly, accurately, consistently, and accessibly to diverse audiences.
Lead communications during high-profile initiatives, policy changes, emergencies, and other issues significantly affecting members, providers, or the Commonwealth.
Develop executive communications and provide agency leadership with strategic counsel on communications risks, opportunities, messaging, and stakeholder engagement.
Draft and oversee talking points, press statements, op-eds, briefing memos, and rapid-response materials.
Coordinate messaging with the HHR Communications team.
Translate technical policy and implementation details into messages relevant to legislators, local leaders, providers, and the public.
Track media coverage and public narratives related to Secretariat priorities and adjust communications strategy as needed.
Coordinate among policy, program, and communications teams to ensure messaging reflects implementation realities.
Facilitate meetings with external stakeholders and advocacy groups.
Create and deliver outreach content aligned with program objectives across multiple outreach channels and accessible to varied audiences.
Use data-driven insights to refine communications strategies and generate executive-level reports and briefings.
Meet deadlines and manage internal and external stakeholder relationships and cross-functional collaboration.