Description
This position offers a hybrid work arrangement combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our DOH facility in Tumwater, WA.
This Non-Permanent Appointment has a duration of 9 months.
The Opportunity
This position is part of the
Agency Communications and Health Education team and will plan, organize, schedule, and carry out low risk, routine informational and/or public relations activities. The
Communications Consultant Generalist will work with others to determine the need and most appropriate methods and techniques to inform various audiences, publicize and promote programs, develop and implement changes for communication effectiveness, and resolve issues.
Key Responsibilities Include
Content Creation & Strategic Alignment
- Draft and review routine content and materials. This includes creative storytelling pieces, correspondence, reports, presentations, key messages, talking points, fact sheets, social media messages, FAQs, and web content.
- Consult with DOH subject matter experts and program staff. Use this to recommend appropriate communications channels and materials to raise awareness of programs, activities, and services independently or as part of a communications team.
- Join project teams. This involves supporting communications on routine agency and partner projects.
Compliance, Quality Control & Accessibility
- Help ensure content and materials comply with agency standards. This includes the agency’s editorial style guide, plain language guidelines, accessibility and publication standards, and others.
- Work with program staff to ensure accuracy, consistency, relevance and accessibility. This applies to low-risk, routine program and/or public health information shared via various channels.
- Ensure all content obtains appropriate approvals.
- Facilitate program use of available translation services. This includes utilizing accessibility tools, and other cultural and language access services for their content.
- Apply quality improvement tools. Use these to improve efficiency, accuracy, and overall quality of assigned work.
Project Operations & System Administration
- Support routine communications processes. Approach this from an administrative and organizational perspective (e.g., curating regular reports, coordinating contributions to various channels in line with standards, and maintaining content calendars).
- Track and update workplan deliverables. Do this as necessary to maintain project goals.
- Enter and maintain tickets. Keep the OCHE request for work system updated to accurately reflect work status.
- Contribute to team planning and process improvement.
Team Collaboration & Emergency Support
- Ensure timely and effective communication. Maintain this with program staff, colleagues across OCHE, and partners working on the project.
- Proactively identify the need to engage with other OCHE team members. Coordinate projects with health educators, the web team, social media, and graphic designers.
- Participate in regularly scheduled meetings of DOH/OCHE.
- Back up fellow team members on routine communications tasks. Step in as needed.
- Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities. Provide support during public health emergencies and perform other duties as assigned.
Why You’ll Enjoy This Role
As the Communications Consultant Generalist you will specialize in promoting clear, strategic, accessible, and audience-focused communication for an array of programs, services, and initiatives. You’ll provide?communications guidance and hands-on support?to?program leaders and help program staff follow content development and publication processes and standards. You’ll partner with local health jurisdictions, community organizations and other governmental bodies and workgroups.
Required Qualifications
There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.
Option 1: 4 or more years of professional writing and editing experience.
Option 2: A bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field; AND two years of professional writing and editing experience.
Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Experience
Demonstrated experience and high proficiency in:
- Writing and editing for diverse audiences, including hard-to-reach communities and those most impacted by health disparities.
- Adapting communication products to ensure they are culturally and linguistically appropriate for target audiences.
- Applying plain talk principles and an equity lens to communications.
- Managing numerous complex issues and projects simultaneously.
- Collaborating on projects with other communicators and staff at various levels
Preferred Qualifications
- Working-level fluency in English and at least one other language
- Experience in a public relations agency environment or similar client-service setting
- Demonstrated proficiency with the following:
- AP style
- Communicating public health messages
- Understanding public health theory and application
- Using marketing strategy to change health behavior
Employee Benefits
We want you to have the support and benefits you need to do your best work while building a career that fits your life. As a DOH employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, with resources to support you now and help you plan for the future. Learn more about DOH benefits and what it’s like to work with us by visiting Work@Health .
The
Agency Communications and Health Education team supports agencywide efforts to consistently and effectively inform, engage, listen to, assess and motivate external and internal audiences. Our work helps ensure DOH is viewed as a credible source of health information and a great place to work.
About The Washington State Department Of Health
We're nearly 2,700 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience.
At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health . Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website .
Working Conditions
The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Work Setting: The position may require occasional in-person attendance to perform duties on-site at the DOH Office in Tumwater, WA. When not working on-site, this position may work from home, a DOH office, or an alternate location. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in indoor at-home or office environments. This position is sedentary, working at a computer for extended periods.
Schedule: Standard DOH business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; however, an alternate or flexible work schedule may be considered at the employee's request, subject to supervisory approval. The position would not normally require working in excess of 40 hours per week, but if it became necessary for business needs, your supervisor would notify you in advance.
Travel Requirements: When traveling for work, the position may require traveling alone or with another employee for multiple days and nights in or out of state. When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternative transportation while on state business.
Tools & Equipment: This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer, monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse; and when in the office, the position may also require the use of a printer, phone, fax machine, and/or copy machine. This position requires reliable access to an internet connection sufficient to perform all job duties remotely.
Customer Interactions: Work with local health staff, health care providers, internal and external partners, government agencies, community organizations, and the public. Frequent contact with office-level managers and staff. Daily or weekly contact with internal health education and communication consultants.
Other: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment. This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.
We Encourage You to Apply
If you meet the required qualifications for this position; we want to hear from you. Preferred qualifications describe additional experience, knowledge or skills that may be helpful in the role, but they are not required to be considered for the position. We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences, identities, and perspectives.
Application Directions
Required
To be considered, you must complete the online application in full and submit all required materials. Incomplete applications or applications missing required materials will not be considered. When completing your application, please include the following required materials:
- Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
- Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
- Three (3) professional references: References must be entered directly into the designated references section of your application or attached as a separate document. At least one reference must be a current or recent supervisor.
DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.
Veterans Preference: We value the experience and skill veterans bring to the workforce and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Eligible veterans may qualify for veterans’ preference in accordance with Washington State Law. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must attach your applicable DD-214, NGB Form 22, or other equivalent discharge or separation documentation. Please redact your social security number, date of birth, and any other sensitive information before uploading and attaching the document.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve. DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, the presence or perception of a disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.
Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Kristina Cox at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference
DOH9010.
Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.
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Supplemental Information
This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
To be considered, please follow the application instructions and complete all required application materials. Information provided in your supplemental question responses, including education and experience, must be supported by your applicant profile and verifiable.
