Engagement & Communications Specialist (Communications Specialist III) na King County, WA

About the Department

Public Health – Health Sciences Division is seeking a Communications Specialist III (Engagement and Communications Specialist) to join the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention (ROGVP) team! The incumbent will lead a cross-sector collaboration by working to build, maintain, and strengthen staff-level internal and external partnerships. This position also leads and executes comprehensive communications and engagement strategies for ROGVP by developing key messaging, managing media relations, producing materials and talking points, coordinating events, and providing strategic counsel. Additional responsibilities include managing ROGVP’s strategic engagement efforts, including designing and implementing comprehensive engagement strategies with partners and other interested parties, and representing ROGVP at high-level meetings and events to amplify the office’s impact and priorities.

Background

The Health Sciences division of Public Health is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of residents through innovative, evidence-based programs and services. The Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention (ROGVP) is housed within the Health Sciences division and takes a public health approach to addressing gun violence in King County. The ROGVP team collaborates with community leaders, local and state agencies, and national subject experts to coordinate and align community violence prevention and intervention efforts, partner across systems, and build capacity to sustain lasting community-led and evidenced-backed solutions to end gun violence. In addition to inter and intragovernmental coordination, the ROGVP team supports two key initiatives: 1) Regional Peacekeepers Collective (RPKC) comprised of a coalition of community-based organizations serving South King County, and 2) the Hospital-Based & Community-Linked Intervention. These initiatives are part of nationally recognized Community Violence Intervention (CVI) best practices. They provide a suite of services within an intervention, prevention, and restoration framework to elevate CVI as a core pillar of holistic public safety and gun violence reduction. ROGVP is a member of the of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN).

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months. 

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

This position typically works 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week anytime between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is an Exempt position and is not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible.

Work Location

The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of remote and onsite work. The successful candidate may be expected to report to the office for onsite work typically (at least 1 time per week).  The frequency of onsite work may vary based on business or operational needs and be adjusted accordingly. The primary onsite location is Chinook Building located at 401 5th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104.  Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Position Duties

Build, Strengthen, and Maintain Partnerships:

• Leads ROGVP’s outreach, engagement, and government relations work in partnership with the King County Executive’s Office and multiple local jurisdictions and national subject matter experts.
• Coordinates across King County departments to develop response protocols, shared working agreements and resource deployment plans, and support for cross-departmental data sharing in partnership with Health Sciences’ Assessment, Policy Development and Evaluation (APDE) team.
• Hosts and co-facilitates monthly meetings with local municipalities together with ROGVP’s director and community engagement specialist; co-plans events and meetings with municipal partners.
• Provides support and technical assistance to other local municipalities, including best practice guidance in the field of Community Violence (CVI) and communications strategies.
• Supports engagement with the state office of gun violence prevention; provides peer learning support and technical assistance for other WA counties; develops presentation materials, communication strategies, and best practice guidance.
• Participates in National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) quarterly convenings and national annual convenings, providing updates on ROGVP's work and connecting King County’s work to that of other NOVPN members.
• Provides technical consultation to partners on culturally appropriate communications.
• Represents ROGVP on local and national workgroups. 

Public Awareness and Community Engagement:

• Independently leads public awareness campaigns; identifies and manages public facing information (e.g., partnering with King County Metro on bus banners).
• Designs and implements community outreach plans to raise awareness of gun violence prevention programs, resources, and events.
• Collaborates with local leaders and community members who have been directly impacted by gun violence to co-design engagement strategies that reflect community priorities.

Communications and Media:

• Develops and executes a strategic and comprehensive communications plan, including digital, print, and in-person channels.
• Leads event promotion, including developing proclamations with local municipal leaders and recruiting speakers (such as government leaders, community partners, etc.).
• Serves as a media liaison, preparing spokespeople and developing responses to media inquiries in alignment with King County protocols.
• Develops press releases, newsletters, social media content, talking points, presentations, and policy briefs. 

Minimum Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum): 

• An advanced degree in a related field, or a combination of significant, relevant experience and education in public communications, journalism, and community engagement, preferably in a public health or a health-related field.
• Direct experience in the field of gun violence prevention, including work supporting implementation and promotion of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) models.
• Deep knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices and understanding of the effects of place, race, and policy and systems-based inequities on communities and populations that have been marginalized and most directly impacted by gun violence.
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining cross-sector partnerships, including with community-based organizations, law enforcement, criminal legal system representatives, local municipal and national leaders.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing strategic communications campaigns using various platforms and methods (such as social media, newsletters, flyers, bus banners, etc.).
• Significant expertise with social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs.
• Understanding of how to work effectively with news media, including knowledge of and experience working with community/multilingual media in King County.
• Experience working in communications in the public sector, preferably in the field of gun violence prevention.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple competing priorities and projects under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with the ability to plan and prioritize.
• A demonstrated knowledge of effective community engagement strategies and approaches to overcome challenges.
• Proficiency in conflict resolution and collaborative problem-solving, particularly in community contexts.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage with diverse communities and partners.
• Ability to identify intersecting issues, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration across internal and external partners. 
• Ability to work effectively with creativity and flexibility, both independently and as a team member.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation and facilitation.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired): 

• Lived experience navigating the impacts of gun/community violence, systemic inequities, or trauma—particularly in ways that inform a deep understanding of the root causes and potential solutions to gun violence.
• Experience using trauma-informed and healing centered approaches in community settings.

Other Qualifications

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

This full-time Career Service position is open to all qualified King County employees.

Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume (Outlining relevant experience)
• Cover Letter (Expressing interest in this position)

Please note: Additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above. 

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a labor union.

Contact

For questions about this recruitment, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at [email protected].

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