Local recruitment: TWDB - 26-11 - Director of Agency Communications and Chief Communications Officer (Director III)

General Description

Performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work administering the daily operations of the Agency Communications Division and provides strategic direction, oversight, and guidance in advancing the mission of the Texas Water Development Board. Work involves establishing goals and objectives, developing guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations, schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals. Writes and edits communications for a variety of stakeholders. Responsible for developing and evaluating budget requests, and monitoring budget expenditures. Directs the agency’s social media, media, multi-media, publications, editorial, and graphic design functions. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Assistant Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board.

Essential Job Functions

• Directs the agency’s social media, media, multi-media, publications, editorial, and graphic design functions.
• Plans and develops the agency’s messaging and editorial framework.
• Develops, reviews, evaluates, and recommends changes to division’s goals and priorities.
• Identifies appropriate benchmarks and evaluation techniques for communications programs in line with the agency’s strategic goals and executive direction and implements new evaluation methods as needed.
• Researches and reviews new communications technologies and strategies to guide division and agency practices.
• Oversees all aspects of the TWDB’s biennial Water for Texas conference.
• Develops and reviews budget for Agency Communications.
• Provides direction, guidance, and assistance on communication issues to staff, Board, and executive team.
• Represents the agency at conferences, committees, and other meetings.
• Reviews and approves agency reports, graphics, print projects, and other written materials.
• Reviews, approves, and monitors social media posts on all social media platforms.
• Plans, develops, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates department policies and procedures.
• Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of the Agency Communications Division.
• Provides effective leadership, strategic oversight, and management of the Agency Communications division.
• Manages all project activities within the division, providing technical direction and guidance.
• Authorizes division hiring, separations, disciplinary actions, and employee performance rewards.
• Assigns job duties, conducts performance evaluations, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and monitors and measures performance against goals.
• Evaluates division performance and recommends and leads improvements in support of organizational goals.
• Supports division’s administrative requirements related to organization, budget, and personnel.
• Ensures the provision of quality customer service from the division to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Manages the performance of direct reports, to include timely completion of performance appraisals, and follow-through on disciplinary actions as needed.
• Maintains confidential and sensitive information.
• Ensures individual and team files (electronic and hard versions) are appropriately maintained and disposed of in accordance with the agency’s records retention procedures and schedule.
• Maintains required certifications and licenses and meets the continuing education needs and requirements of the position to include attending mandatory training courses.
• May be required to operate a state or personal vehicle for business purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, English, or a related field.
• Eight years of experience in Media Relations and/or Public Relations.
• Five years of relevant experience leading projects or teams.
• Extensive experience in strategic communications, including communication plans and strategic messaging.
• Experience with writing and editing a wide range of materials in a variety of media.
• Experience working with State or local elected or appointed officials.
• Submission of five (5) writing samples with the SOT application.

Preferred Qualifications

• More than eight years of experience in the Media Relations and/or Public Relations fields.
• More than five years of relevant experience leading projects or teams.
• Experience working directly with the Texas legislature or statewide elected or appointed officials in Texas.
• Experience with critical event communications.
• Experience with supervising publications from conception through production.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to Agency Communications.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of creative design concepts.
• Knowledge of techniques and methods of planning, organizing, and writing various types of materials.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, and Excel.
• Skills in use of internet, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.
• Skills in the use of office equipment.
• Skills in media writing and editing.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure within Texas.
• Ability to meet agency in-office requirements.
• Ability to adhere to work schedules, follow procedures with respect to leave and submit accurate timesheets by prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to make mature, objective decisions and identify areas of potential problems.
• Ability to perform effectively and willingly when changes occur in scope and nature of the work and work environment.
• Ability to perform routine and non-routine work assignments accurately and on-time with little or no supervision.
• Ability to perform assigned duties and improve work habits and/or output.
• Ability to complete assigned work, on time, neatly and in order with infrequent errors.
• Ability to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner and persists until tasks are completed.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to provide prompt, courteous and accurate assistance, and clear and concise communication to agency staff, as well as to employees of other political entities and the public both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work with others in a team environment and cooperate with supervisors, co-workers, and others.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and schedule work in order to maintain regular progress on assignments and meet deadlines.
• Ability to stand/sit/move to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel 25% of the time, primarily within the State of Texas
• Ability to operate a vehicle (state or personal) for state business and maintain a driver’s license and driving record that complies with state and agency requirements.
• Ability to work shifts that may exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to assign and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to utilize organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to deliver projects on strict deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, Board members, executive team, media, and general public.
• Ability to direct and organize program activities.
• Ability to establish program goals that support the strategic plan.
• Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implements effective solutions.
• Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures, prepare reports.
• Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.