Director of Strategic Communications. - #179370

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado State Residents.

A n eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

While the full salary range for this position is listed, employees are normally hired towards the lower end of the range.

Positions with the Department of Public Safety are hybrid, requiring a minimum of two days in the office. More time onsite may be required depending on business needs and the nature of the position.

Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values – Unity, Honor, Service

CDPS commits to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment. We ensure that we recruit, retain, and promote engaged employees. Our approach to diversity is simple - it's about embracing everyone! We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative. Our strength is our promise to be inclusive with intentional strategies to welcome and uplift our employees to thrive - while building a more equitable workplace. CDPS is an equal opportunity employer. See our EEOD Utilization Report (2020)

Why Do I Love My Job at CDPS

At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self. We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!

Careers With a Purpose

If you are passionate about public safety service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, this is the organization you want to join!

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.

You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

Unmatched Benefits

We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training, and professional development opportunities!

Did you know that only 15% of employers offer a defined contribution plan? CDPS offers unmatched retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans.

The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.

CDPS provides generous time off including 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation, sick leave, and wellness days.

Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.

Additional benefits we offer include reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.

Description Of Job

About the Work Unit

The mission of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is to safeguard those that live, work and play in Colorado, by reducing threats to lives, property and the environment. The Division safeguards the public through: fire prevention and code enforcement; wildfire preparedness, response, suppression, coordination, and management; training and certification; public information and education; and technical assistance to local governments. The Division is composed of the Chief Administrative Office, the Center of Excellence (COE), the Fire and Life Safety Section (FLSS), the Professional Qualifications and Training Section (PQTS), and the Wildland Fire Management Section (WFMS).

The purpose of this work unit is to provide all aspects of strategic communications, both internally and externally to increase DFPC’s visibility and branding while supporting the informational needs of stakeholders. To increase DFPC visibility and branding, the work unit will inform and educate stakeholders on DFPC programs and services, and internally provide communication and information sharing.

About The Job

This position serves as a member of the Division Leadership Team to plan and oversee all aspects of the division’s communication and branding functions in support of stakeholders both internal and external to the organization.

This position is the manager of all communication activities related to DFPC. This position routinely interfaces with the senior-level staff of DFPC, the Executive Directors Office in (EDO) CDPS, along with the Governor's Press Secretary due to the high visibility of the Division’s programs and services across the State. The position will be responsible for overall communication strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation and will oversee all communication and marketing strategies to include partnerships, social media, marketing campaigns, etc. Additionally, the position will manage organizational messaging through a variety of channels, including written publications, e-communications, web strategy, and public events.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Communication Strategy Management

• Oversees and guides communications in advance of DFPC strategic direction.
• Directs agency managers and executive staff to establish division wide communications standards and plans, oversees outreach activities and special events, and coordinates the dissemination of accurate information released for DFPC.
• Responsible for overall communication strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Oversees all communication and marketing strategies to include partnerships, social media, marketing campaigns, etc.
• Directs the development of agency marketing promotions, agency-wide strategic communications, branding, pro-active community relations, critical strategic partnerships, and community engagement.
• Oversees and manages the agency's response reactively. This includes communication with all media outlets and platforms to manage the division’s image and provide transparent communication to its customers and the communities it serves.
• Measures the effectiveness and impact of communication initiatives that are both proactive and reactive, and internal and external.
• Develops and provides a compressive training program and oversight to each Section's public information lead across the division.
• Manages organizational messaging through a variety of channels, including written publications, e-communications, web strategy, and public events.
• During crisis communications, oversees the overall communication strategy from the beginning of the event through its completion.
• This position is part of the Senior Leadership Team and confers with Division leadership to identify trends or key group interests or concerns to provide advice on public outreach.
  
  

Internal DFPC Strategic Communications

• Responsible for internal communications, marketing and supporting critical partnerships within DFPC and CDPS Divisions.
• Ensures compliance with digital accessibility regulations and requirements by creating content with accessibility in mind.
• Designs, develops, and distributes relevant information and education materials to internal staff including a weekly DFPC update.
• Oversees the upkeep of the DFPC intranet.
• Responsible for the communication oversight of internal outreach program initiatives, member wellness and safety, and strategic engagement initiatives.
• Administers agency-level communication and programs in order to carry out agency objectives and monitors field public information officer initiatives.
• This position is responsible for developing and implementing an integrated and efficient, strategic, and operational communication process.
  
  

External DFPC Strategic Communications

• Responsible for development, coordination, and oversight of communications with external stakeholders, media, and public.
• Ensures compliance with digital accessibility regulations and requirements by creating content with accessibility in mind.
• Oversees the design and upkeep of the DFPC website.
• Facilitates and responds to media inquiries and participates in interviews.
• Provides oversight over DFPC's public information and crisis communication along with overseeing the modern media platforms that support and facilitate these important activities. Designs, develops, and distributes relevant public information and education materials. Utilizes marketing principles to enhance the division's outreach efforts and communicate effectively to external audiences.
• Responsible for communication strategies related to recruiting, programmatic updates, and other campaigns.
• Designs outreach strategies to publicize DFPC achievements, which may include developing special events or social media campaigns.
• Prepares videos that enhance the DFPC brand.
• Coordinates responses to media inquiries that require input from multiple DFPC work units. Attends and represents the DFPC at sponsored community and media events.
• Develops plans or materials to communicate organizational activities that are beneficial to public safety.
• Conducts service delivery surveys to external partners.
  
  

Special Projects and Other Duties as Assigned

• Position performs other duties as assigned or requested by the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control or Chief Administrative Officer or their designees.
• Provides support as requested to meet the needs and mission of the Division.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Nine (9) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the marketing and communication field. Including experience creating accessible content reflecting diversity and inclusion, using plain language and clear and structured content, and providing alternatives as needed.
  
  

OR

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the marketing and communication field. Including experience creating accessible content reflecting diversity and inclusion, using plain language and clear and structured content, and providing alternatives as needed.
  
  

OR

• Advanced degree from an accredited institution in any field.
• Three (3) year of progressively responsible professional experience in the marketing and communication field. Including experience creating accessible content reflecting diversity and inclusion, using plain language and clear and structured content, and providing alternatives as needed.
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior professional communications experience in fire or law enforcement.
• Demonstrated experience responding to crisis situations or those involving sensitive issues.
• Experience developing effective media response strategy.
• Experience creating content that follows Plain Language Guidelines.
• Experience incorporating production of alternatives (e.g., captions, image descriptions) into content authoring workflows.
• Experience incorporating accessibility into content authoring resource, such as style guides.
  
  

Core Skills Required

• Knowledge of digital accessibility and disability inclusion.
• Knowledge of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and other regulations related to content accessibility.
• Knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA requirements related to content authoring and production.
• Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Communication and Media knowledge–Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods.
• Communication–Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience, demonstrating purpose in writing.
• Ability to apply standards and create practical solutions.
• Strong strategy development and execution skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with demonstrated experience in collaborating effectively and building relationships with stakeholders at all levels within an organization as well as external partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to forge strong working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization, community partners, and peers in other agencies.
• Ability to deliver targeted messages clearly, concisely and persuasively
• Strong public speaking skills
  
  

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must be Colorado resident at the time of application.
• Current valid driver's license at time of hire, and must obtain a Colorado-issued driver's license within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to operate a state vehicle and ability to travel frequently in and out-of-state with overnight stays.
• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search and drug test.
  
  

APPEAL RIGHTS

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb . A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

Equity, Diversity And Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ARE YOU IN NEED OF AN ACCOMODATION?

Colorado Department of Public Safety is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Please direct questions and requests for reasonable accommodations to [email protected] .

NOTIFICATIONS

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from " state.co.us " and " [email protected] " addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - RECRUITMENT TIMELINE INFORMATION

• Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.
• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.