Risk Communications & Media Relations Specialist (CC 5) DOH9029

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Risk Communications and Media Relations Specialist is a Communications Consultant 5 who primarily supports the Washington State Department of Health’s Environmental Public Health division. The position plans, develops, and delivers information to help ensure DOH is viewed as a credible and capable source of public health information. It serves as a communications consultant and public information officer, representing DOH to news media, local health partners, and the public on public health programs, policies, priorities, and issues. The role leads risk communications and media relations for Environmental Public Health programs and other DOH priorities as needed. It advises program staff and agency leaders on communications strategies for routine, complex, high-profile, and emerging issues; supports strategic storytelling; and prepares and coaches staff and leadership for media engagements. During emergencies and crises, the specialist leads public information and risk communications activities and coordinates with agency leadership, incident management teams, and local, Tribal, state, and federal partners. The position develops and reviews communications materials, coordinates information distribution, and builds effective working relationships across DOH and with external partners. The official duty station is Tumwater, Washington. The position may work from home, a DOH facility, or remotely from an alternate location, with onsite work planned and communicated in advance if requested. The work is 40 hours per week, normally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; longer hours may be needed to meet business demands and deadlines. An alternative or flexible schedule may be considered with supervisory approval. Occasional overnight travel is required, primarily within Washington, with statewide and out-of-state travel as necessary. The job is sedentary and involves extended computer work in a fast-paced environment. It may require participation in public health emergency preparedness and response activities and is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees bargaining unit.

Requirements

Four years of experience in public affairs, public health policy or communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree with a major in one of these fields or a related field, plus four years of media relations experience, including establishing and maintaining working relationships with the media.
Experience organizing, facilitating, and hosting virtual and in-person media interviews and briefings.
Experience preparing and coaching agency leadership and staff for media engagements, including media training, ongoing media relations capacity development, and risk communication.
Proven ability to write clearly and engagingly, including use of AP Style in news releases, blogs, and other media relations materials.
Experience communicating complex, technical, or controversial issues to varied audiences.
Experience in risk communication, emergency response, or a related field.
Experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans, including integrating social media into a broader communications strategy.
Experience building positive relationships with external partners.
Experience writing and editing for diverse audiences, including hard-to-reach communities and people most impacted by health disparities.
Experience adapting communications products to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for target audiences.
Experience applying plain-language principles and an equity lens to communications.
Ability to meet the position’s travel requirements, including long-distance travel by day or night and in snow and rain, by legally operating a state or privately owned vehicle or providing alternative transportation.
Reliable access to an internet connection sufficient to perform job duties remotely.

Nice To Haves

Five years of writing, editing, or public relations experience.
Master’s degree or higher in communications, public relations, journalism, or a closely aligned field.
Demonstrated experience working with state or federal legislatures.
Experience serving as a Public Information Officer on an Incident Management Team and/or completion of FEMA PIO training.
Knowledge of Washington State government structure, including branches of government, laws, and regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead risk communications and media relations for Environmental Public Health programs and other DOH priorities as needed.
Determine communications approaches and coordinate media activities across Environmental Public Health and other DOH areas to support consistent messaging.
Represent DOH as a communications liaison and spokesperson to news media and the public on public health policies, priorities, and issues.
Lead public information and risk communications during emergencies and crises, coordinating strategies with agency leadership, incident management teams, and local, Tribal, state, and federal partners.
Advise senior agency leaders on public information policies and issues, media strategy, emerging issues, and communications priorities, including participating in decision-making processes.
Advise program staff, agency leadership, and executives on media relations strategies and public information approaches for complex public health issues and agency priorities.
Prepare and coach agency staff and leadership for media events, provide media training, and give feedback to strengthen communications effectiveness.
Organize, facilitate, and staff virtual and in-person media interviews, briefings, and meetings.
Anticipate and meet communication needs, opportunities, impacts, and expectations for DOH and interested parties on a wide range of public health issues.
Advise Environmental Public Health leadership on communications strategies and methods for high-level division policies and programmatic issues.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships across DOH and with news media, division communications staff, local health agencies, other state agencies, and other organizations.
Work with policy and legislative relations teams, subject matter experts, program staff, agency leaders, and external partners to ensure public health information is accurate and consistent.
Coordinate and lead information distribution to media, state agencies, DOH staff, key partners, the governor’s office, and elected officials.
Develop and review communications content and materials, including news releases, media advisories, statements, presentations, speeches, press kits, key messages, talking points, fact sheets, social media messages, FAQs, and web content.