Head of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Energy seeks a Director of Strategic Communications to lead internal and external communications and manage a team of communications professionals. You will set the agency’s communications strategy and ensure clear, accurate, and consistent messaging to residents, stakeholders, elected officials, the media, and staff.

The role covers programs in the Virginia Energy Plan, energy affordability, reliability, development, geology and mineral resources, and regulatory activities.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team that manages multiple concurrent priorities.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans with measurable objectives.
• Knowledge of digital communications, including social media management, web content management systems, email marketing, and analytics tools.
• Ability to understand news media needs and provide content management for a website.
• Ability to organize and synthesize complex issues into clear and concise content.
• Ability to positively represent Virginia Energy plans and programs to the media, residents, and elected officials.
• Understanding of media law and agency policies governing release of public information.

Responsibilities

• Lead the agency’s internal and external communications and manage its team of communications professionals.
• Set the agency's communications strategy and ensure portfolio is communicated clearly, accurately, and consistently to residents, stakeholders, officials, the media, and staff.
• Serve as the agency's primary media liaison and translate complex topics into plain language for diverse audiences.
• Partner with program leads to build awareness of and participation in agency programs.
• Craft presentations, remarks, and briefings for agency and Administration leaders; support communications during the General Assembly session.
• Build processes and internal communications culture to keep a multi-division agency informed and aligned.
• Ideal candidate has progressively senior experience in strategic communications, public relations, or media relations, including supervising staff.

Skills

Team leadership

Strategic communications

Media relations

Digital communications

Plain language

Analytics tools

Public speaking

Tools

Adobe programs

MS Office

Job description

Virginia Energy seeks a Director of Strategic Communications to lead internal and external communications and manage a team of communications professionals. You will set the agency’s communications strategy and ensure clear, accurate, and consistent messaging to residents, stakeholders, elected officials, the media, and staff.

The role covers programs in the Virginia Energy Plan, energy affordability, reliability, development, geology and mineral resources, and regulatory activities.