Public Sector Communications Leader - Crisis & Media Strategy

WV Department of Human Services; West Virginia; On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Retirement planning

Paid leave & holidays

Job summary

WV Department of Human Services seeks a visionary Director of Communications to join the Executive Team. You will lead all public information, crisis management, and media activities to ensure transparent stewardship of the public trust.

You will oversee a team of specialists and public information officers, collaborating with the Governor’s Office, Legislature, and key stakeholders to align messaging with strategic goals and respond to high-profile scenarios with rapid, compliant communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Significant public-sector PR, media, and public information experience.
• Crisis management and rapid-response planning experience.
• Familiarity with federal and state legislative processes; ability to translate policy for the public.
• Strong leadership, supervision, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and content management tools; knowledge of ADA rules.

Responsibilities

• Oversee public information, crisis management, and media activities for the agency.
• Lead a team of public information officers and specialists.
• Collaborate with Governor’s Office, Legislature, and key stakeholders to align engagement with goals.
• Direct rapid-response planning and high-profile risk mitigation; author executive statements.
• Manage on-site press logistics for legislative sessions, hearings, and briefings.
• Ensure communications meet accessibility standards and public disclosure requirements.

Skills

Public sector PR

Crisis management

Legislative & policy fluency

Leadership & stakeholder management

Emergency operations

Digital content tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Digital content management tools

Job description

WV Department of Human Services seeks a visionary Director of Communications to join the Executive Team. You will lead all public information, crisis management, and media activities to ensure transparent stewardship of the public trust.

You will oversee a team of specialists and public information officers, collaborating with the Governor’s Office, Legislature, and key stakeholders to align messaging with strategic goals and respond to high-profile scenarios with rapid, compliant communications.