Operations Communication Supervisor - Communications Supervisor

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment; Saint-Paul; Hybrid; CAD 122,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Human Services (State of Minnesota) seeks an Operations Communications Supervisor to lead the DHS Communications Office, planning and delivering timely, accurate communications across agency priorities. The position supervises staff, directs work, and ensures alignment with policies and labor agreements. Telework is eligible for Minnesota or bordering-state residents with supervisory approval.

Work hours are day shift, 8:30am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday, in St. Paul.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in the communications field within an organization.
• Experience supervising staff or leading a program.
• Strong knowledge of media relations, social media, web communications and campaigns.
• Ability to advise leadership on implications and risks of communications.
• Experience creating public awareness campaigns and leading initiatives.
• Experience planning, project management and problem‑solving for communications needs.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and hold members accountable.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic workload alignment and ensure compliance with agency priorities and agreements.
• Lead internal communications strategies for DHS employees, leaders and programs.
• Oversee strategy, coordination and execution for complex projects and communications initiatives.
• Provide expert leadership for rapid coordination, messaging and cross-team execution.
• Ensure communications work is triaged, tracked and completed to standards.
• Manage systems to respond to urgent leadership requests and sensitive issues.
• Lead operational planning and continuous improvement of the Communications Office.

Skills

Leadership experience

Supervision

Communications

Public relations

Journalism principles

Project management

Campaigns

Job description

• Telework Eligible: Yes

Working Title: Operations Communication Supervisor

Job Class: Communications Supervisor

Agency: Human Services Dept

• Job ID: 96722
• Location: St. Paul
• Telework Eligible: Yes
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 09/01/2026
• Closing Date: 09/14/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Human Services Dept / DHS Central Office MMA
• Division/Unit: DHS-Central Office / Program Area Communications
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift, 8:30am - 5:00pm
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $41.81 - $60.10 / hourly; $87,299 - $125,488 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 216 - Middle Management Association/MMA
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Executive
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position is eligible for telework for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.

As the Operations Communications Supervisor, the incumbent will provide supervisory leadership and communications expertise that enables the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Communications Office to plan, coordinate and deliver timely, accurate and effective communications across complex agency priorities. The position supervises assigned communications staff, directs communications work, controls workflow, establishes expectations and ensures staff effectively perform assigned duties in alignment with agency priorities, Communications Office standards, labor agreements, human resources requirements and applicable state and federal policies.

Responsibilities Include But May Not Be Limited To

• Drive strategic workload alignment, maximize operational capacity, control unit workflow, and ensure absolute compliance with agency priorities, labor agreements, and state administrative frameworks.
• Lead internal communications strategies that help DHS employees, leaders and program areas understand agency priorities, operational updates, policy changes, emerging issues and major initiatives.
• Lead Communications Office strategy, coordination and execution for complex projects, internal communications and high‑priority agency initiatives.
• Provide expert communications leadership for initiatives requiring rapid coordination, strategic judgment, message development, operational awareness and cross‑team execution.
• Ensure communications work is triaged, assigned, tracked, reviewed and completed in a way that supports agency priorities and Communications Office standards.
• Manage the systems and routines that allow the office to respond effectively to planned communications, urgent leadership requests, complex projects and sensitive or high‑visibility issues.
• Lead operational planning, communications systems improvement and continuous improvement efforts that strengthen the Communications Office’s ability to respond to complex projects and agency priorities.

• All DHS Leaders are expected to demonstrate and develop the five (5) competency themes from the Enterprise‑wide Leader Competency Model:
• Leading Self
• Leading Others
• Leading the Organization
• Leading Outside the Organization
• Getting Work Done

Minimum Qualifications

• To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

Demonstrated Leadership Experience. Leadership Experience Can Include

• Experience as a supervisor, lead worker, team lead, project lead;
• Completion of a State of Minnesota leadership program (e.g. ELI, L4);
• A paid/unpaid position leading a program or chairing a committee.

(e.g. ERG) - Experience Must Include

• 1+ year of experience identifying issues, goals and strategic actions
• 100+ hours per year time commitment

AND

Four (4) years of experience providing or consulting in the communications field across an organization and/or business.

Experience Must Also Demonstrate

• Expertise and substantial experience in the public relations or communications fields and in the principles and practices of journalism.
• Solid knowledge of media relations, social media, web communications, print media and communications campaigns to lead colleagues and external partners on communications.
• Experience creating communications strategies to address controversial internal and external issues, highlight key services and issues, and build support for communication proposals.
• Experience in assessing communications’ implications and risks of sensitive and visible issues and ability to advise leadership appropriately.
• Strong skills to research, plan, develop, manage and lead public awareness campaigns.
• Experience in planning, project management and problem‑solving to address communications needs and resolve communications issues.
• Experience communicating with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to hold team members accountable for their work product and meeting established goals.
• Ability to identify internal and external pressures/roadblocks that impact or may impact the work of the agency and navigate them effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the program, projects and current operations to best support children and families statewide.
• Experience collaborating and seeking out feedback from subject matter experts and peers when reviewing or planning work.