Communications Consultant 4 In-Training

State-of-Washington-Liquor-and-Cannabis-Boar; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Paid leave & holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Training & career development

Flexible/telework options

Employee Assistance Program

Onsite facilities

Free parking

Job summary

Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is seeking a Communications Consultant 4 to drive agency-wide messaging, media relations, and strategic communication from Olympia with a required weekly in-office day. You will craft education materials, produce and edit video content, manage the intranet and public communications, and advise executive leadership on effective outreach.

This role emphasizes collaboration, DEIB initiatives, and public service excellence across diverse audiences, with a

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.
• Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, or public relations.
• Three (3) years of experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.
• Additional professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations will be substituted, year for year, for education.

Responsibilities

• Organizes intranet content and updates website content using usability standards.
• Produces and edits video content including scripts and audio accompaniment.
• Drafts talking points and presentations for Board and Agency Director.
• Advises senior staff on effective communication techniques and strategies.

Education

Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, or public relations

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

SharePoint Online

Job description

WSLCB Vision

Safe communities for Washington State

Mission

Promote public safety, public health, and trust through fair administration, education, and enforcement of liquor, cannabis, tobacco and vapor laws.

This position is currently eligible to telework and requires a minimum of one (1) day per week in the office. This requirement is subject to change based on business needs.

Who we are

The mission of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) is to promote public safety and trust through fair administration, education and enforcement of liquor, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor laws. We search for people who demonstrate a strong work ethic, excellence in customer service, partnering and teamwork, and quality performance.

We want to create a culture that fosters excellence in customer service, open and honest communication, transparency and accountability, data driven decisions, and business-initiated process improvement.

Our commitment to DEIB

The WSLCB strives to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in all aspects of our work. This includes a commitment to our workforce and external stakeholders. It is our mission to build, educate, and inspire an inclusive environment that recognizes, respects, and celebrates diversity in the workplace and in the community we serve. We are committed to maintaining a thriving culture where employees and those we serve feel safe and accepted regardless of education, background, or beliefs. As a WSLCB team member, you will have opportunity to join statewide business resource groups (BRGs) such as, Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network; Veteran Employee Resource Group; Latino Leadership Network; Blacks United in Leadership and Diversity; Disability Inclusion Network; Washington Immigrant Network; Hawaiians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders Promoting an Empowerment Network; Supporting our Voices, Empowering Rights, and Engaging Indigenous Governance; and Interagency Committee of State Employed Women.

Your opportunity at a gl

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is announcing an exciting opportunity for a Communications Consultant 4(CC4). This position is located in the Director's office in Olympia WA. This position is part of an innovative and collaborative team that supports the mission of the Communications Division by facilitating media relations, producing publications, producing electronic media communications, producing and executing communications plans and furthering internal (intranet) and external (website) communications management. The position also supports the Board’s mission, goals and policies by being proactive in media relations and developing and executing statewide communication.

WSLCB provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including:

• A comprehensive benefits package (including but not limited to Medical/Dental/Vision, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance etc.)
• Paid Vacation, Leave, and Holidays
• Tuition Waiver (enrollment in courses at state universities/colleges on a space availability basis - all or a portion of the tuition/fees may be waived for state employees)
• Tuition reimbursement (courses taken with prior approval in order to further employee’s career development with the WSLCB)
• Training and career development programs (including online courses and LinkedIn Learning)
• A healthy work/life balance (this may include flexible/alternative work schedules and telework/remote work opportunities, when possible)
• Employee Assistance Program- confidential program created to promote the health, safety and well-being of public service employees
• Generous wellness program (we offer reimbursements for certain fitness related activities)
• Onsite exercise facility (for employees working at WSLCB Headquarter Building in Olympia)
• Infants at Work Program to promote parent and infant bonding, parental well-being and healthy infant development. Depending on your job duties, work location and supervisor approval, eligible employees who are new mothers, fathers or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when they return to work
• Free parking

Some of the duties you will perform are:

• Regularly suggests, writes and issues content for the agency-wide intranet.
• Identifies LCB relevant news from online news sources and issues links or summaries for WSLCB Board and staff.
• Organizes and produces website content using usability standards for a broad audience.
• Serves as backup to Graphics Design Senior for updates to website.
• Serves as the agency’s plain language lead to ensure compliance with Executive Orders and meet the needs of the general public.
• Works closely with the agency Public Health Education Liaison and agency staff to create strategic and professional education materials for diverse audiences.
• Determines need and type of information and education programs appropriate for employees, stakeholders and general public.
• Produces and edits video content including scripts and selecting audio accompaniment for internal and external audiences.
• Records, edits and produces video content using Adobe Creative Suite products.
• Drafts and coordinates quarterly-newsletter "Topics and Trends" for internal and external audiences.
• Prepares talking points and presentations for Board and Agency Director.
• Advises senior staff on effective communication techniques and strategies.
• Draft messages for internal and external audiences on behalf of executive leadership.
• Advise LCB staff and management regarding public reaction to proposed programs and/or polices.

Other Tasks:

• Helps coordinate public meetings using MS Teams or similar software.
• Modifies the agency intranet and internet website using SharePoint- and Drupal-based platforms.
• Enhances data visualization using online tools.
• Prepares Board members and executive staff in use of tools in advance of online meetings.

Required Qualifications

Experience for required qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment and educational experience. See below for how you may qualify.

To qualify at the Communications Consultant 4 level:

Seven (7) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.

OR

A Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, or public relations.

AND

Three (3) years of experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.

Additional professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations will be substituted, year for year, for education.

To qualify at the Communications Consultant 3 level:

Five (5) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.

OR

A Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, or public relations.

AND

One (1) year of experience in communications, journalism, or public relations performing tasks such as writing news releases in AP style, preparing messages and presentations for executive-level staff, and communicating with broad and diverse audiences using a variety of communication tools.

Additional professional experience in communications, journalism, or public relations will be substituted, year for year, for education.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

Skilled in Adobe Products and/or video production and editing.

Skilled in SharePoint Online

Required Competencies:

The ability to take action to learn and grow

This equity competency identifies people who are curious about themselves and others, who take responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, and who use their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.

The ability to take action to meet the needs of others

This equity competency identifies people who are flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.

Competencies:

Accountability

Accept personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness necessary to achieve excellent results. With little oversight, develop innovative solutions to a variety of issues. Make timely decisions although faced with limited data or resources.

Accept own role when expectations are not met, and respond quickly to resolve issues with others by

• Making the best use of available time and resources to meet productivity standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Acknowledging and correcting errors or problems; working though problems with people quickly and directly.
• Ensuring that work products meet customer expectations.
• Adapting to changing business needs, conditions and work responsibilities; modifying approach, goals and methods to achieve successful solutions and results in dynamic situations.
• Identifying and providing alternatives to reach a given end, and developing new strategies or tactics if current ones are ineffective.
• Coping with and helping others deal with the ongoing demands of change; proactively embracing change as a way to accomplish goals more effectively; acknowledging the benefit of change and inspiring others to accept change.
• While staying within the parameters of good practice, generating unique, workable and useful solutions to difficult problems, successfully describing vision and possibilities to others.
• Recognizing when a decision must be made and moving forward with that decision.
• Moving quickly to find common ground for solutions among diverse interests.
• Logically integrates various ideas, intentions and information to form effective goals, objectives timelines action plans and solutions.
• Can be relied upon to achieve excellent results with little need for direct oversight.
• Ability to apply and adapt established accounting methods to a variety of accounting transactions; assemble analyze and prepare reports; train employees of lower classification.

Communication:

Convey clear, timely persuasive messages that positively influence the thought and actions of others by:

• Listening well to all individuals and accurately conveying their ideas to others.
• Clearly and effectively communicating with individuals and groups within and outside of the WSLCB Responding to the various styles and needs of the individuals and groups with whom he/she is communicating and effectively clarifying messages when asked to do so.
• Presenting ideas effectively in formal and informal situations.
• Keeping his or her supervisor and co-workers informed of need-to-know items; sharing complete and accurate information with others.
• Communicating the intention and rationale behind decisions and /or actions.

Serving Customers:

• Build and maintain internal and external customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the WSLCB, develop innovative ideas that provide solutions to our customers' challenges by:
• Making excellent customer service a high priority.
• Knowing our customers and their expectations; anticipating, assessing and responding in a timely manner to changing customer needs.
• Consistently going beyond basic service expectations to help customers implement complete solutions and helping both internal and external customers achieve desired outcomes.
• Searching out ways to enhance customer satisfaction by improving efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, regularly taking action to solicit feedback and ensuring the customer's needs are being met.
• Gaining customer confidence and trust by making sure those long-term needs are being met.
• Recognizing adverse customer reactions and developing better alternatives.
• Emphasizing a team approach to providing excellent customer service; sharing customer service lessons with others with the WSLCB.
• Staying within the parameters of good practice; generating unique but workable and useful solutions to customer' difficult problems.

Build and Maintain Relationships:

• Earn the trust, respect and confidence of co-workers and customers through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions. Build and maintain working relationships characterized by mutual acceptance and cooperation. Contribute to an environment that honors diversity and uses diverse perspectives to meet the agency's mission and goals by:
• Respecting and maintaining confidentiality.
• Being honest in all interactions.
• Keeping commitments made to others; meeting proposed goals and deadlines.
• Appropriately using the public's funds and resources.
• Treating everyone with respect; acknowledging the talents and contributions of all individuals; and supporting fair treatment and equal opportunity for everyone.
• Recognizing the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other individual differences in people; creating an environment that values, encourages and supports differences; striving to eliminate barriers to diversity.
• Actively seeking out different points of view listening, discussing, negotiating, rewarding, encouraging and motivating; actively supporting the good ideas of others.
• Recognizing and celebrating workplaces success and achievement; promoting the contributions and accomplishments of customers and co-workers to others.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. At the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Other

Applicants for employment with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board should also be aware of RCW 66.08.080, which states in part: "No employee of the board shall have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture of liquor sold under this title, or derive any profit or remuneration from the sale of liquor, other than the salary or wages payable to him in respect of his office or position, and shall receive no gratuity from any person in connection with such business."

RCW 69.50.351, no member of the state liquor and cannabis board and no employee of the state liquor and cannabis board shall have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the producing, processing, or sale of cannabis, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products, or derive any profit or remuneration from the sale of cannabis, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products other than the salary or wages payable to him or her in respect of his or her office or position, and shall receive no gratuity from any person in connection with the business.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers with diverse backgrounds. Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. You are welcome to include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email [e-mail] or call [phone]. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.