Communications Specialist IV

This position provides strategic communications for complex initiatives that have multi-department and countywide impact. Oversees all internal and external communications, event planning, stakeholder and media engagement and program marketing to support the mission of the agency. Makes presentations on behalf of the agency to the community and county and will write speeches for agency leadership and stakeholders. Serves as the primary agency spokesperson and will have regular contact with a variety of public media outlets. Oversees the social media programs, a FOIA coordinator, community outreach program, and a corporate brand manager. Collaborates with other marketing and communications office teams to ensure consistency of public messaging and adherence to the overall marketing and communications strategies. Plans and implements a robust community engagement program that is guided by the County's One Fairfax policy.

Oversees a comprehensive strategic communications plan for both the agency and for complex initiatives that have countywide impact. Serves as agency spokesperson. Collaboratively develops plans for external communications using newsletters, media and community outreach, web-based solutions, editorial coverage, public meetings, and social media communications. Also coordinates internal communications through a variety of agency-wide tools, including regular email, e-newsletters, and web. Writes speeches and develops presentations and multimedia productions to support the goals of the agency. Directs the agency's internal communications team and works to ensure consistent messaging across the department, divisions, and with the executive office. Publishes or assists with a variety of in-house communications and publications. Collaborates with all members of the marketing and communications office team to support all aspects of the strategic initiatives of the agency. Oversees management of Parks mail email box and FOIA coordination public communication tool. Leads agency's crisis response communications efforts and participates in the county emergency communications team, serving as the primary contact for the Office of Public Affairs and attending regular trainings and meetings as required. Performs a variety of professional functions related to project management and event/meeting planning and management including grand openings, ribbon-cuttings, seasonal events, and photo opportunities. Facilitates internal and external meetings and functions. Must be available weekends and outside of regular business hours frequently to quickly respond to media inquiries and to coordinate/attend events, and public meetings, etc. Ensures constant focus on equity and inclusion through all forms of public engagement and conformance with the One Fairfax policy. Supervises a team of professional staff who manage social media programs, FOIA responses, community outreach, and agency-wide marketing efforts. This position works under the direction of the Marketing and Communications Director.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Develops comprehensive strategic communication planning on behalf of the department, deputy area, and the County;
• Supervises and manages other communications specialists within an agency;
• Plans and implements a Speakers Bureau or plans speaking engagements for a department or broader Deputy Area;
• Makes presentations on behalf of the department or system to community and County;
• Plans and implements event and meetings;
• Writes speeches for presentation to community, Deputy County Executive and County;
• Develops proposals in support of departmental or Deputy area goals and projects;
• Coordinates presentations before the Board of Supervisors;
• Implements and supervises the implementation of print production projects;
• Budgeting and cost control for communication projects;
• Conducts audience / constituent research for evaluation and measurement of communication programs;
• Leads the department's communication planning (strategic planning, action planning) team;
• May interact directly with the Board of Supervisors;
• Will interact closely with the County Executive's Office.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Ability to supervise and manage professional and paraprofessional staff;
• Ability to write for departmental publications;
• Ability to write content for Deputy County Executive;
• Ability to manage social media for the department
• Ability to write for multimedia;
• Ability to use current computer software and e-mail;
• Ability to problem solve;
• Ability to manage projects (including budgeting);
• Ability to communicate in a crisis;
• Knowledge of the methods for preparing information to increase the likelihood of its use;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County government officials, regional officials, and potentially national and international dignitaries and government representatives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Bachelor's degree in communication, business or public administration or field related to subject matter expertise, plus 7 years of progressively responsible experience in a communication area of specialization, government relations, management or area of specialization in which the department is represented.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Experience writing, preparing and giving presentations in front of a wide range of audiences, including public elected officials.
• Proficient in Power Point, Canva and other communication tools
• Experience working with a variety of media outlets and building relationships with media contacts.
• Experience collaborating with staff at all levels across a large organization with many competing strategic priorities.
• Extensive experience writing press releases and other internal and external communications tools.
• Experience with all aspects of events and public meetings management.
• Familiarity with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act requirements.

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-SP1