Strategic Communications & Change Leader

Iowa National Guard; Ankeny, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

IPERS retirement

9 paid holidays

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) seeks a dynamic Communications and Change Officer to join its leadership team. This role drives the division’s communications strategy, oversees change management initiatives, and manages MVD’s digital presence, supporting modernization and stakeholder engagement across internal and external audiences.

Serving as a direct partner to the MVD Director, the role will align communications with the division’s CORE values and mission

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field and experience equal to four years of full-time professional-level work in program administration, program development, program operations, or management.
• A total of eight years of education and/or full-time experience as described, where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
• All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Two years of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations, or management; and b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area equals one year of full-time experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes twelve months of full-time work as an Executive Officer 1 or comparable specific management-level position.

Responsibilities

• Lead organizational change management using frameworks like ADKAR and Prosci.
• Develop and implement change management tools, templates, and training.
• Conduct stakeholder analyses and readiness assessments.
• Measure and report on change adoption and effectiveness.
• Serve as the OCM lead for the MVD360 modernization project.
• Develop and execute communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders.
• Engage high-impact stakeholders as part of major change and policy initiatives.
• Create messaging for legislative, regulatory, and modernization initiatives.
• Draft speeches, talking points, and executive communications for the MVD Director.
• Facilitate division-wide webinars and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Oversee MVD’s web content and digital strategy.
• Coordinate with the Iowa DOT External Communications Team.
• Manage internal and external publications, press releases, and outreach campaigns.
• Maintain a comprehensive communications and events calendar.

Skills

Change management

Strategic communication

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector communications

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

ADKAR framework

Prosci methodology

Web/digital management

Job description

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) seeks a dynamic Communications and Change Officer to join its leadership team. This role drives the division’s communications strategy, oversees change management initiatives, and manages MVD’s digital presence, supporting modernization and stakeholder engagement across internal and external audiences.

Serving as a direct partner to the MVD Director, the role will align communications with the division’s CORE values and mission