Technical Communications and Creative Services Specialist - MS - MDCPS

Job Description Technical Communications & Creative Services Specialist

Client: State of Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS)

Location: 750 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39202

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite

Position Description

The Technical Communications and Creative Services Specialist is a cross-functional role supporting both the agency's Communications Department and the MIS Division with its Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) and related applications and functions.

The position combines strategic communications, graphic design, digital media production, technical writing, project coordination, and documentation management to support agency communications initiatives and technology implementation efforts.

In support of the Communications Department, the role develops and produces visual and written materials across print and digital channels, including publications, presentations, informational materials, and digital communications. The role also contributes to communications planning, creative development, brand consistency, and the delivery of clear, accessible materials that advance agency priorities and engage internal and external audiences.

In support of CCWIS and related agency projects, the role is responsible for developing, maintaining, and coordinating technical and project documentation required for system implementation, operational support, federal funding approval, and ongoing compliance with regulations and guidance issued by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Children's Bureau.

The role also translates complex systems, processes, and organizational priorities into clear documentation, visual communications, training materials, and other project deliverables while supporting documentation governance and information management.

This role will work closely with the MIS Development Team focusing on UX and UI design to ensure applications are intuitive, easy to navigate, and create a visually appealing experience for end users.

The specialist will collaborate with Communications staff, project managers, business analysts, system architects, technical developers, quality assurance teams, external vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver effective communications and project outcomes aligned with agency priorities, brand guidelines, project requirements, and applicable federal regulations.

Key Responsibilities 1. Project Management and Collaboration

• Assist the Project Management Office (PMO) and agency divisions with tasks and documentation for new and ongoing projects.

• Partner with staff, editors, writers, IT, and external vendors to manage projects from concept through delivery.

• Lead cross-functional meetings to discuss projects, tasks, and process documentation.

• Internal and external agency communications, both written and verbal.

• Assist in developing and executing strategic communications plans that integrate both digital and offline tactics.

• Coordinate timelines, resources, and workflows to ensure high-quality, on-time deliverables.

• Develop dashboards and monitoring tools for users to track project and/or task progress.

2. Digital Communications and Design

• Concept, design, and produce print and digital collateral, such as infographics, presentations, whitepapers, eBooks, etc., while adhering to industry and agency brand standards.

• Manage and create engaging content for websites, social media platforms, and other digital assets.

• Support campaigns that align with organizational objectives, monitor trends, analyze performance, and track metrics.

• Contribute fresh ideas and creative approaches that enhance audience engagement and organizational visibility.

• Ensure digital communications and design deliverables meet accessibility standards, including WCAG guidelines, to support inclusive access across digital platforms and materials.

3. Technical Writing

• Develop and maintain implementation and operational documentation, including deployment guides, system configuration documentation, operational procedures, and other project documentation.

• Maintain end-user documentation and training materials, including user guides, training manuals, job aids, online help content, and knowledge base documentation to support system implementation and ongoing operation.

• Review agency applications and websites using user feedback and project metrics to recommend improvements to content quality and user experience.

4. Information Governance and File Management

• Create and maintain agency document repositories (e.g., SharePoint, Smartsheet) and ensure the documentation is updated as operational processes, tasks, requirements, and system functionality evolve. Includes initial setup, organization, version numbering, file indexing, and staff training or assistance.

• Initiate and manage a statewide Document Scanning project to digitize paper documents located in each county office and the state office, working with a vendor selected through a bidding process. Includes establishing document naming and numbering conventions to ensure the documents will be unique, traceable, and easy to retrieve by staff in a digital library. Conduct periodic reviews to audit the naming and numbering conventions to ensure they support agency process workflows and audit requirements.

• Maintain documentation standards, templates, version control processes, and documentation governance procedures to ensure consistency and traceability across all project documentation.

5. CCWIS and Federal Compliance Support

• Coordinate, prepare, and maintain federally required documentation for a CCWIS system to ensure compliance with regulations and guidance issued by the ACF and the Children's Bureau.

• Work with the Project Management Office (PMO) and the Finance Division to prepare the required federal information and incorporate it into the required templates. This includes Advanced Planning Documents (APDs) and updates, Operational APDs (OAPDs), supporting narratives, and related documentation required to obtain and maintain federal approval and funding for the CCWIS system.

• Support responses to federal review comments, documentation requests, and audit inquiries from ACF, the Children's Bureau, or other oversight bodies.

• Document system architecture, modular design, functionality, and technical implementation methods to demonstrate compliance with CCWIS regulations (45 CFR 1355 and 1356) and federal system certification expectations.

Required Skills and Experience

The source specifies that candidates without these minimum requirements reflected in their resumes will not be presented to the hiring manager.

Required Qualification

Experience

Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field (Information Services, English, Communications, etc.)

Required

Effective communication, organizational, and time management skills

7+ years

Strong writing, editing, and visual communication skills; adaptive style for different platforms and audiences

7+ years

Process optimization and internal documentation

7 years

Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team

7 years

Professional experience in graphic design, digital media, or communications

5 7 years

Proficiency with the listed software tools

5 7 years

Required tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

• Microsoft SharePoint

• Microsoft Teams

• Adobe Workfront

• Google Workspace

• Smartsheet

• Confluence

• Lucidchart

• SAP Business Network

Preferred Qualifications (Not Required)

Preferred Qualification

Experience

Information systems, cloud technologies, data analysis, or technology implementation projects

5 7 years

User Experience (UX) design

5 7 years

Accessibility standards (WCAG)

5 7 years

Communications related to child welfare

Preferred; no duration specified