Policy Communications Manager (WMS2/COM)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Policy Communications Manager is a senior leader responsible for directing strategic communication and stakeholder engagement across the agency’s highest-priority policy areas, including health system transformation, legislative affairs, health equity, and Tribal issues. The position provides expert counsel to executive leadership, manages a team of communications professionals, and serves as a key liaison between policy, leadership, and communications functions. Operating with a high degree of independence, this role shapes how complex policy decisions are communicated to diverse audiences and ensures coordinated, consistent messaging across internal teams, external partners, media, and government agencies. This position is eligible to telework but is required to report on-site once a week to meet business need. The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in English, public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field and five (5) years of professional public relations, communications, journalism, or media experience.
Associate degree in a field identified above, and seven (7) years of professional public relations, communications, journalism, or media experience.
Nine (9) years of professional public relations, communications, journalism, or media experience.
Experience serving as a strategic communications advisor to all levels of an organization, including executive or senior leadership and influencing decision-making on high-visibility issues on sensitive issues, including media strategy and engagement.
Experience leading, supervising, and developing staff, or operating as a senior individual contributor with significant independent responsibility.
Experience working with or supporting government agencies, health care systems, health insurers, or other highly regulated organizations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Adobe Acrobat.
Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver clear, and accurate communications about complex technical or policy-related topics, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences, including application of “Plain Language” principles to legally precise content.
Demonstrated ability to assess communication needs, develop goals, strategies, and comprehensive communication plans, and manage work across multiple channels and priorities.
Advanced writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce and oversee high-quality content across multiple formats (e.g. web, media, executive materials, stakeholder communications).
Demonstrated ability to present complex information to internal and external audiences, including staff, stakeholders, partners, and community members.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects at the same time and stay productive in an environment of changing priorities, timelines, expectations, and agency needs.
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading media relations efforts, including managing inquiries, and advising leadership on strategic communications.
Knowledge of state health care programs, commercial health care insurance, and current health care issues.
Experience working for or with local, state, federal, or Tribal governments.
Experience with digital communication tools and platforms, including social media strategy and best practices.
Experience using a web content management system (e.g., Drupal) and mass email marketing system (e.g., Granicus Communications).
Experience engaging with diverse communities, including community outreach or partnering with communities on special projects, programs, or efforts.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior advisor to agency leadership including the Chief Communications Officer, Deputy Chief Communications Officer, Chief Policy Officer, Office of Tribal Affairs Administrator, and Health Equity Director on messaging, media strategy, communication approaches, and stakeholder engagement.
Lead and manage strategic communications and day-to-day delivery of communication tactics for complex, high-visibility initiatives, including major policy initiatives, legislative priorities, federal actions, and statewide transformation efforts.
Manage media relations for assigned areas, including development of messaging, coordination of responses to inquiries, and preparation of agency leadership for media engagement.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of communications staff; set priorities, ensure accountability, and foster a high-performing, collaborative work environment.
Identify communication risks, gaps, and emerging issues, and proactively develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive communication strategies for Policy, Office of Tribal Affairs, Health Equity, Legislative Affairs, and other assigned priority initiatives in environments where precedent may be limited or evolving.
Oversee the development and execution of integrated communications plans, including messaging, audience segmentation, stakeholder engagement, and multichannel delivery.
Provide quality assurance and final review of communication products, to ensure accuracy, compliance with agency brand, accessibility, and the application of plain language principles.
Build and maintain strategic relationships across the agency and with external partners, including other state agencies, serving as a connector and liaison between policy, leadership, and communication functions.
Develop and oversee the development of leadership and executive communications including speeches, talking points, briefing materials, and presentations.
Plan, advise, develop, and collaborate with agency leadership, including the Health Equity Director and project teams, to support the implementation and communication of health equity strategies and initiatives.
Use the full suite of communications tools, including but not limited to print materials, web content, social media, GovDelivery announcements and blog articles, webinars, and visual communications to engage partners, stakeholders, HCA leadership and staff, and consumers in a proactive and strategic way.