Crisis Communications & Strategy Lead

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia; On-site; USD 90,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Emergency Management is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to lead and coordinate outreach and communications across multiple platforms, ensuring accurate, timely messaging during emergencies and public events.

The role involves acting as the agency spokesperson, guiding press relations, and overseeing content development for web, print, and digital media while promoting inclusive and effective communications in all activities.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of strategic communications, public relations, crisis communications, and media relations principles and best practices.
• Knowledge of emergency management operations, incident response frameworks, and JIC functions in disaster response and recovery.
• Skill in media relations, public speaking, and spokesperson preparation.
• Knowledge of digital communication platforms (web, social media, and emerging communication technologies).
• Knowledge of public education and outreach strategies (audience analysis, message development, and campaign evaluation).
• Ability to develop clear, concise, compelling, and audience-specific messaging in AP Style.
• Skill in strategic planning, project management, and coordinating multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively during emergencies and high-pressure situations, exercise sound judgment, and adapt messaging for diverse audiences.
• Experience in public relations or news media and conducting media interviews.
• Experience managing proactive crisis, emergency and marketing campaigns.

Responsibilities

• The Strategic Communications Manager supports the Director of Communications to carry out the objectives of the Communications Division; to support the agency's mission by helping protect the lives and property of Virginia's citizens from disasters through effective strategic use of multiple communications platforms, educational outreach initiatives, and training of public information officers.
• This position is responsible for managing the agency’s outreach initiatives and communication efforts, as well as assisting with creative and content development across all channels, including web, mobile, print, and digital media.
• This position is responsible for establishing strong working relationships and acting as a central resource across all divisions of the agency.
• Role is responsible for assuring intentional cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in all internal and external communications, messaging and all activities delivered from the Communications division, including interviews with the public and media, relaying broad perspectives and stories.
• This role is responsible for leading the routine, time sensitive and delegated aspects of agency communications and public relations, including the implementation of communication deliverables and management of projects.
• This role manages the internal and external communication structures and timelines, including social media, web, internal platforms, ie SharePoint messaging, and other mediums.
• This position serves as the primary agency spokesperson for the agency and is the point of contact for media relations.
• All VDEM managers and leaders are expected to lead diversity, opportunity and inclusion (DOI) efforts and lead and enable DOI within perspective operational units, and those efforts impacting the agency’s external stakeholders.
• All VDEM employees are designated as essential personnel and may be required to work during emergency situations, such as inclement weather, and natural or man-made disasters/events as directed. This may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee’s official EWP.

Skills

Strategic comms

Public relations

Crisis comms

Media relations

Emergency mgmt

Digital platforms

AP style writing

Project management

Public speaking

Crisis leadership

Job description

Virginia Department of Emergency Management is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to lead and coordinate outreach and communications across multiple platforms, ensuring accurate, timely messaging during emergencies and public events.

The role involves acting as the agency spokesperson, guiding press relations, and overseeing content development for web, print, and digital media while promoting inclusive and effective communications in all activities.