H1025 - Communications Coordinator Hourly

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Bristol (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 84,000; Part time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers in Bristol, VA, seeks a Communications Specialist to support the District Communications Manager and implement the district's strategic plan for internal and external audiences.

You will produce brochures, scripts, public alerts, speeches, and news releases; maintain media contacts; monitor coverage; and assist during emergencies while collaborating with staff to ensure consistent, accurate messaging.

Qualifications

• Interviews with internal and external stakeholders for communications material.
• Develop content across multiple platforms: newsletters, web, social media, presentations.
• Generate visual content for internal and external materials such as social media, newsletters, websites, videos.
• Perform administrative tasks as assigned.
• Work independently and collaboratively and meet deadlines.
• Experience with crisis or emergency communications is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop brochures, scripts, and templates for district communications.
• Create routine traffic alerts, responses, speeches, talking points, news releases and presentations.
• Maintain district media contact list and monitor outlets daily.
• Support public engagement and stakeholder communication efforts.
• Coordinate with media and serve as spokesperson when designated.
• Assist in emergency communications planning and incident response.

Skills

Interviewing

Content creation

Written communication

AP style

Adobe tools

Canva

Education

Communications degree

Tools

Canva

MS Office

Adobe Creative Suite

Video editing

Job description

Hiring Range: $24.88 to $40.43

Full Time or Part Time: Part_Time

Description for Candidates

• Perform special duties as assigned. Provide support to the District Communications Manager, District Communications Team, and other VDOT staff regarding internal and external communications. Responsible for executing the VDOT strategic communications plan and statewide initiatives in the district.
  How you will contribute:
• Communication Materials: Contribute information for use in VDOT's internal communications tools. Research and develop brochures and public involvement material and scripts. Create routine and weekly traffic alerts, customer inquiry responses and templates, speeches, talking points, news releases and presentations for district. Keep electronic communication materials current with latest information according to statewide policy.
• Communications Engagement: Maintain comprehensive district media contact list in VDOT news account. Monitor media outlets for VDOT stories and related content and upload information daily. Provide support for Communications initiatives that promote transparent and positive engagement with internal and external stakeholders and ensure consistent, effective communication. Contribute to communication outreach and efforts to enhance public understanding, which may include stakeholder communication and guidance to staff on Communications practices. Duties may also include media relations activities such as coordinating with media, serving as a spokesperson when designated, maintaining media contact information, and monitoring or sharing coverage as applicable.
• Emergency Response : Provide critical information to public citizens before, during, and after natural disasters, emergencies, and traffic congestion-causing incidents. Reinforce VDOT's role as a first responder. Provide communications support for other VDOT offices or state agencies as called upon during emergency incidents. Assist in devising plans for district and regional external communications during emergency activities. Handle emergency response and crisis communications duties as needed (serve in the state or VDOT joint information centre during events or handle media calls).
• Perform duties as assigned.: Perform duties, tasks, activities and/or projects as assigned.
• Strategic Communications Program: Assist in executing strategic communications plans to include district, regional and statewide Communications programs. Serve as a member on committees as assigned. Implement best practices and procedures developed by Central Office and the Communications Working Group. Support identifying Communications objectives, messaging approaches, and strategies to ensure alignment with VDOT's brand and reputation.

What will make you successful:

• Ability to conduct interviews with internal and external stakeholders as it relates to Communications material.
• Ability to generate visual content to be used for internal and external communications (e.g., social media, newsletters, websites, bulletin boards, videos, etc.)
• Skill in developing, editing, and delivering clear, effective written and verbal communications for diverse audiences.
• Skill in news writing techniques and AP style communications.
• Skill in the use of digital cameras, video cameras, computers, and various software applications for editing pictures, graphics and video (e.g., Canva, MS Office products, and Adobe products).
• Skill in writing for diverse audiences using multiple formats and tools.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to conduct interviews with internal and external stakeholders as it relates to Communications material.
• Ability to develop content across multiple platforms (e.g., newsletters, web, social media, presentations).
• Ability to generate visual content to be used for internal and external materials such as social media, newsletters, websites, bulletin boards, or videos.
• Ability to perform administrative duties as assigned.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in emergency situations including weekends, holidays and after normal business hours; assignments may vary based on business needs.
• Knowledge of communications methods and theory as they relate to public relations and media relations.
• Skill in developing, editing, and delivering clear, effective written and verbal communications for diverse audiences.
• Skill in news writing techniques and AP style communications
• Skill in the use of digital cameras, video cameras, computers and various software applications for editing pictures, graphics and video (e.g., Canva, MS Office products, and Adobe products).
• Skill in writing organizational activities using multiple formats and tools.

Additional Considerations:

• A combination of training, experience, or education in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field desired.
• Experience supporting public engagement efforts such as public meetings, outreach efforts or special events.
• Knowledge of crisis or emergency communications.
• Knowledge of public sector communications operations.

Physical Requirements

VDOT employees must abide by VDOTs Code of Ethics and the Commonwealths Standards of Conduct.