Public Affairs & Communications Leader

State of Washington; Olympia (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington is seeking a Public Affairs Manager in Olympia. The role leads public affairs and media relations, develops communication plans, and supports emergency response needs. The incumbent will work hybrid, with most days remote and occasional in-person requirements in Olympia.

The incumbent reports to the Communications Director and supervises the Public Affairs team, contributing to branding and stakeholder engagement across state government.

Qualifications

• Total of five years of professional communications experience or education is required.
• Supervisory experience is not counted toward the five-year requirement.
• Alternative: Bachelor’s degree with major in a relevant field plus one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement public affairs strategies that align with agency goals.
• Manage media relations and communications planning across platforms.
• Lead crisis communications and incident response efforts.
• Direct the Public Affairs team and coordinate with leadership.
• Contribute to agency policy development and cross-agency communications.

Skills

Experience in communications

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English/communications/public info/journalism/public relations/marketing

Job description

State of Washington is seeking a Public Affairs Manager in Olympia. The role leads public affairs and media relations, develops communication plans, and supports emergency response needs. The incumbent will work hybrid, with most days remote and occasional in-person requirements in Olympia.

The incumbent reports to the Communications Director and supervises the Public Affairs team, contributing to branding and stakeholder engagement across state government.