STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Strategic Communications Manager

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system. To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration. Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers. Visa sponsorship is not available.

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state's economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida's environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state's communities. As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.

The work you will do: As part of FDOT Communications, you'll be part of a fast-paced team that helps tell FDOT's story. Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication. FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development. Through our agency's learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses.

Your specific responsibilities: This position develops strategic and targeted messaging to be used in internal and external communications as well as educational campaigns; serves as a spokesperson and point of contact for FDOT media relations; plans and coordinates news events and writes/edits news releases and articles; and assists with management of the Office of Communications in the absence of the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director. Duties may include, but are not limited to: assisting the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director with strategic planning and messaging for the Communications Office; assisting with the development of communication guidelines and templates for the Communications Office and the Department; assisting with the research and writing of speeches, messages, speaking points and responses for the Secretary of Transportation; assisting in responding to inquiries and issues from the Governor's Office, elected officials, the media, the public, and other agencies; assisting in message development for key transportation issues affecting the department; serving as contact for department media relations; identifying media opportunities and strategies to proactively communicate the Department's mission and provide information to the public; writing, editing and publishing news releases and articles for internal and external publication; coordinating press events as necessary; writing speeches and talking points for members, including executive level staff; representing the Department through on-air broadcasts, public speaking and community engagements; assisting in managing messaging and strategy on department social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; managing and strategizing department internal communications; managing strategic internal communications initiatives to ensure members of the department are engaged in department efforts and activities; strategizing opportunities for department leadership to interact with members of the department to help create a cohesive and collaborative culture; and creating video scripts for internal communications efforts, which can be shared externally as well.

The successful candidate will have the following required knowledge, skills, and abilities: knowledgeable of journalistic writing style and the concepts of grammar, punctuation and associated press style; knowledgeable and skilled Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook at an intermediate level; skilled in taking technical information and translating into plain language that the public can understand; ability to research and write news releases and reports and newsletters for the general public's understanding; skilled in strong written and verbal communication; knowledgeable at performing basic mathematical calculations; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; knowledge of social media; skilled in dealing with the public in a prompt and courteous manner; ability to organize and manage meetings and special events; ability to set and manage priorities; ability to remain calm and be effective under pressure.

The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including: health insurance (over 90% employer paid), $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid), dental, vision and supplemental insurances, State of Florida retirement package, 10 paid holidays a year, generous vacation and sick leave, career advancement opportunities, tuition waiver for public college courses, a variety of training opportunities, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Location: Tallahassee, FL, US, 32399