Communications Manager

Information Technology Services - ITS

State of Idaho Opportunity

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM MST on the posting end date.

The Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the technology infrastructure, services, cybersecurity, and support that help State of Idaho agencies serve Idahoans every day.


Working at ITS means being part of an organization with an impact that extends across state government. Our teams support the technology that agencies rely on to carry out their missions, deliver critical public services, protect state information and systems, and serve communities throughout Idaho.


We are looking for a talented, strategic, and highly collaborative Communications Manager to help tell that story and strengthen how ITS communicates with our employees, agency partners, state leaders, stakeholders, and the public.


This is more than a traditional communications position. The Communications Manager is a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and serves as a trusted communications advisor to the ITS Administrator/State Chief Information Officer and other senior leaders. This position will have an opportunity to help shape how ITS communicates during major initiatives, organizational changes, technology incidents, service disruptions, cybersecurity events, and the day-to-day work of supporting technology across Idaho state government.


If you enjoy translating complex issues into clear communication, advising executive leaders, building relationships, and helping an organization tell its story, this is an opportunity to make an impact across the State of Idaho.


Summary:


The Communications Manager leads internal and external communications for the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services.


This position independently plans, organizes, and implements ITS communications strategies across multiple channels, including agency and stakeholder communications, employee communications, social media, website content, newsletters, publications, executive communications, presentations, and other communications materials.


As a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team, the Communications Manager works closely with the State CIO, executive leadership, technical leaders, and teams throughout ITS to communicate complex technology issues in a way that is timely, understandable, transparent, and appropriate for the audience.


The position also plays an important role in communications with the state agencies ITS serves, particularly during technology outages, service disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, major system changes, and other issues affecting agency operations.


Examples of Duties:

• Develop, recommend, and implement ITS communications strategies, goals, and priorities, and monitor the effectiveness of those strategies.
• Serve as a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team and provide strategic communications advice and counsel to the State CIO and other senior leaders.
• Develop operational plans, policies, procedures, and protocols for internal and external communications.
• Draft, develop, coordinate, and/or oversee the publication and distribution of ITS communications to ensure messaging is accurate, timely, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead and coordinate communications to state agencies and other stakeholders regarding technology outages, service disruptions, incidents, cybersecurity issues, planned maintenance, service changes, and other issues affecting ITS customers, working closely with technical and operational teams to provide clear and timely information.
• Apply data and analytical insights to inform communications strategies and tactics and evaluate the effectiveness of ITS communications.
• Develop narratives, messaging, and content that clearly communicate ITS priorities, accomplishments, challenges, services, and statewide impact.
• Develop and implement crisis and incident communications plans and support ITS leadership during significant technology, cybersecurity, operational, or organizational events.
• Provide communications support for major ITS projects, initiatives, events, technology implementations, and organizational changes.
• Create and manage an editorial calendar that supports ITS priorities, initiatives, and key milestones.
• Develop and/or oversee speeches, presentations, talking points, white papers, briefing materials, executive correspondence, and other communications for the State CIO and senior leadership.
• Prepare and coordinate video, print, digital, web, and other communications.
• Develop internal communications strategies and protocols that promote employee awareness, engagement, organizational culture, and connection across ITS.
• Develop and oversee ITS social media and digital communications in alignment with organizational communications strategies and applicable legal and state requirements.
• Provide communications guidance, coaching, and support to managers, supervisors, technical experts, and executive leaders.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, executive leadership, technical teams, agency relationship teams, and others to ensure communications support ITS strategies and organizational goals.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with communications professionals throughout state government and coordinate messaging when issues or initiatives affect multiple agencies.
• Develop and administer surveys or other methods of gathering feedback from employees, agency partners, and stakeholders when appropriate.
• Ensure accessibility of ITS communications and published materials.
• Coordinate with graphic designers, photographers, vendors, and other communications resources as needed.
• May supervise communications staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:


Good knowledge of:

• Effective communication strategies, including verbal and written communication skills.
• Current trends in digital and social media;
• Writing, editing, proofreading, and layout and design;
• Printing and publishing tools such as: Microsoft Word, Publisher, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Adobe In Design, Drupal, or WordPress.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Providing strategic communications counsel to executives or senior organizational leaders.
• Developing communications for a large, complex organization with multiple customers, stakeholders, or business units.
• Communicating complex, technical, or highly specialized information in clear language for non-technical audiences.
• Developing and coordinating crisis, emergency, incident, or outage communications.
• Working with information technology, cybersecurity, infrastructure, digital services, or other technical organizations.
• Developing communications for organizational change, major technology implementations, or enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Working effectively with senior government officials, agency executives, elected officials, media, employees, customers, and other external stakeholders.
• Developing executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, briefing materials, and organizational announcements.
• Leading internal communications and employee engagement efforts within a geographically or functionally diverse organization.
• Managing digital communications, websites, newsletters, social media, and other communications channels.
• Building collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries and coordinating communications among multiple teams or organizations.
• Exercising sound judgment when communicating sensitive, confidential, rapidly changing, or high-profile information.
• Experience working in government, public-sector organizations, or other complex and highly accountable environments.

Supplemental Information:


Please note: The successful candidates will be required to pass fingerprint-based background checks specific to the agencies ITS supports.


ITS is looking for a communications leader who can be both strategic and hands-on-someone comfortable advising the State CIO on an important issue one moment and working directly with technical teams to turn complicated information into a clear agency communication the next.


Benefits


This position is eligible for the state benefits package, including:

• Excellent low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Paid parental leave
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Participation in one of the nation's best state retirement systems: PERSI
• Multiple retirement plans
• Life insurance
• Wellness programs; ongoing training opportunities; and more

EEO/ADA/Veteran:


The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.


The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact View phone number on click.appcast.io (TTY/TTD: 711), or email View email address on click.appcast.io.


Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.