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Communications Director

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Communications Director

Salary

$120,000.00 - $130,000.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

EDA-MarComm-CommDir-05/2025

Department

Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Opening Date

05/30/2025

Closing Date

6/2/2025 12:00 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

1600 Broadway, Suite 2500, Denver CO 80202

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

[email protected]

Type of Announcement

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

Department Information

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (“OEDIT”) was created to foster a positive business climate that encourages quality economic development through the support of local and regional economic development activities throughout the State of Colorado. A comprehensive slate of programs within OEDIT’s divisions work together to offer economic development services for all Colorado businesses – new and expanding, traditional and emerging, small and large – including retention programs to ensure continued competitiveness of Colorado’s economic base, and job training to keep Colorado’s workforce the best in the nation.

Description of Job

NOTE: This posting is open only to individuals on a promotional list of the listed department. The posting is for transparency purposes only to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Applications from individuals not on the department promotional list will not be accepted.

The Communications Director will report to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and work closely with the OEDIT Executive Director and Division Directors. The Communications Director will function as the primary point of contact for media, and in conjunction with CMO, create and manage an integrated external communications strategy for the Department. The Communications Director is responsible for promoting the Colorado brand business objectives, OEDIT programs and messages to target audiences and key constituents.

The Communications Director will help develop and support both a proactive and reactive press strategy with primary responsibility for press/media related to OEDIT and the Governor’s Office. The Communications Director is responsible for developing strategy and plans to secure positive media coverage and external brand awareness of OEDIT’s mission and objectives.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communications Strategy and Content Development

+ Develop, lead and manage comprehensive communication strategy for the organization and Division Directors.

+ Collaborate with OEDIT Divisions and the Governor's Office to ensure alignment of key messages.

+ Manage list of upcoming press releases, blogs, calendars, and media contacts.

+ Serve as the Editor-in-Chief and storyteller for OEDIT including being the primary writer, implementing writing and messaging guidelines and ensuring that all products/collateral are in compliance with our visual brand.

+ Provide editorial direction and collaborate with the Marketing Copywriter and Marketing and Communications Assistant to identify and fulfill content needs, including press releases and media alerts, blog posts and impact stories, etc.

+ Write press releases, blogs/impact stories, and public statements for OEDIT and individual divisions as needed.

+ Review and edit content completed by Marketing Copywriter and Marketing and Communications Assistant.

+ Collaborate with the Senior Marketing Manager to implement a multi-channel marketing strategy.

+ Collaborate with the Executive Assistant and Special Projects Coordinator to develop key messages and talking points for the Executive Director.

+ Collaborate with the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) on in-state communications relating to CTO programs and initiatives.

+ Incorporate accessibility best practices into digital content creation including website content, documents, and social media.

Media Strategy and Outreach

+ Lead the OEDIT media engagement strategy, serving as the primary media contact and distributing media opportunities to appropriate OEDIT spokesperson or the Governor’s Office.

+ Lead media outreach to establish awareness and increase media coverage of OEDIT and Colorado’s key industries, to advance a thriving and vibrant Colorado.

+ Provide OEDIT leadership with insight and direction on media opportunities, seeks placements in print, broadcast and digital media outlets, and monitors media coverage.

+ Coordinate with Marketing and Communications Assistant to implement regional pitching strategies to ensure statewide and regional coverage of OEDIT programs.

+ Oversee tracking and reporting on media metrics and impact in coordination with the Marketing and Communications Assistant, and identify opportunities to amplify engagement.

+ Cultivate and nurture relationships with journalists, editors, bloggers, etc. to ensure a successful and dynamic public relations program and pitch priority story ideas.

Crisis Communications and Records Requests

+ Manage crisis communications plans including the development of key messaging in partnership with the Executive Director, Division Directors and key staff.

+ Responsible for coordinating responses for all Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests.

+ Manage CORA training and media training for OEDIT staff members.

Administrative:

+ Negotiate and manage vendor relationships on PR-related platforms and activities.

+ Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Coordinator on PR-related purchase orders, contracts and invoices.

Team Leadership:

+ Manage Marketing and Communications Assistant to achieve goals.

COMPETENCIES:

+ Leadership- Creates and communicates a compelling vision; engage others to implement vision; builds enthusiasm; participation and positive morale and loyalty; takes charge of groups and situations; sets a strong leadership role by walking the talk; promotes a safe, challenging work environment.

+ Strategic Planning- Identifies and analyzes organizational opportunities; accurately forecasts trends and emerging needs; frames strategic questions; makes decisions and deploys resources in alignment with strategic priorities; plans for future problems and opportunities by forecasting business trends and outside forces.

+ Negotiation & Issue Resolution-Openly manages conflict and disagreement through collaborative discussion to reach positive conclusions; arrives at constructive solutions while maintaining positive working relationships; seeks win-win situations; diplomatically explores common and opposing options to reach mutually acceptable positive solutions.

+ Communication-Is understood and understands others; clearly articulates key points when writing and speaking; actively listens; effectively interprets non-verbal communication and truly hears what a wide variety of people are trying to say; accurately assesses personal styles and adjusts own style of communication to optimize personal effectiveness.

+ Results Driven- Drives for successful results; makes things happen and conveys sense of urgency; sets aggressive goals and works hard to achieve these goals; move tasks and assignments toward closure; invests considerable effort to assure goals are met in a high-quality manner.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

+ At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or related field.

+ 6+ years of communications and media relations experience or equivalency. Experience must have included writing press releases, media advisories, fact sheets and/or briefs, or news stories/articles and pitching stories to the media.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The preferred candidate will exhibit:

+ Strong background in journalism, print, TV, radio, daily journalism, monthly publications; previous experience in media communications

+ Excellent communication skills; comfort with and experience in public speaking and superior writing skills

+ Highly motivated and organized

+ Experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization

+ Ability to identify and successfully pitch stories to the media

+ Existing relationships with Colorado reporters, a keen understanding of the media landscape, and the stories that interest local media.

+ Experience with the press and in coordinating press conferences and other media events

+ Comfort with crisis management; ability to manage the media and communicate professionally under pressure

+ Ability to effectively log media stories, synthesize media tracking, and put into reports for the executive team

+ Experience writing speeches and talking points using the voice of an executive

+ Experience responding to requests made under the Colorado Open Records Act, Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act or the Freedom of Information Act is preferred.

Conditions of Employment

+ Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

+ Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position.

Supplemental Information

Salary Range: $120,000 - $130,000 Annually

This position is considered non-classified, which means the position is not part of the Colorado State Personnel System. Therefore, the individual appointed to this position is considered at-will, and is not covered by the State Personnel Rules or the State Classification System. However, this position does come with the same benefits (retirement, insurance, etc.) as every other State employee, and with the same opportunities, pride and passion that comes with working for the great State of Colorado. Even though employment is at-will, non-classified positions have protections against discrimination and retaliation in state and federal employment laws. “At-will” employment means that either the employee or the State may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice or cause, as long as no federal or state law is violated.

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis.

Benefits

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers generous benefits to full-time employees including:

+ Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month

+ Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month

+ 11 paid holidays per year

+ Medical plans - choice of Cigna or Kaiser; several plan options (including High Deductible Health Plan with HSA); most plans offered with significant state contribution towards premium

+ Dental and vision plans

+ Flexible spending accounts

+ State-paid life insurance policy of $50,000

+ Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined contribution or defined benefit) with generous state contribution

+ Optional 401(k) and 457 plans for additional retirement savings

+ State-paid short-term disability coverage

+ Additional optional life and disability plans

+ Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program

+ Membership opportunity with the Credit Union of Colorado

+ RTD (transit) EcoPass

+ Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits

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.

To learn more about the “State of Colorado For All”, visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website (https://dpa.colorado.gov/about-us/edi) .

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor 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 ADAAA Staffing Coordinator, the Director of Human Resources: [email protected]

Application

Your application must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

Due to the large volume of resumes we receive, we do not acknowledge receipt of each application and are unable to give status updates. If a strong match is found between your qualifications and the requirements of the position, a member of the recruiting staff will contact you to further discuss the career opportunity.

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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