STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER - 55000372
Florida
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Florida Department of Transportation is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager in Tallahassee to lead public information efforts. You will craft messaging for internal and external audiences, coordinate media relations, and manage communications planning for the department.
The role requires skilled writing, public speaking, and the ability to translate complex transportation topics into clear public information. Strong collaboration and project management are essential.
Qualifications
- Knowledgeable of journalistic writing style and AP style.
- Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
- Ability to translate technical information into plain language for the public.
- Strong written and verbal communication, and ability to write press materials.
- Excellent research, writing of releases, and newsletters for public understanding.
- Ability to establish relationships and manage public communications.
Responsibilities
- Develop strategic and targeted messaging for internal and external communications and educational campaigns.
- Serve as spokesperson and point of contact for media relations; plan and coordinate news events; write/edit news releases and articles.
- Assist with management of the Office of Communications in the absence of the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director.
- Support development of annual strategic plans, social media plans, and department communication guidelines.
- Research and write speeches, talking points, and responses for the Secretary; respond to inquiries from the Governor’s Office, officials, media, public, and agencies.
- Develop messaging for transportation issues affecting the department.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Requisition No: 876779
Agency: Department of Transportation
Working Title: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER - 55000372
Pay Plan: SES
Position Number: 55000372
Salary: $60,948.04 - $78,873.94
Posting Closing Date: 09/30/2026
912 / Public Information Office
Previous applicants need not reapply.
CONTACT PERSON: Natalie Lowers
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 850-414-5211
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: Natalie.Lowers@dot.state.fl.us
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $2, 344.16 - $3,033.61 /biweekly range / $60,948.04 - $78,873.94 /annual range
Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system.
To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration.
Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers. Visa sponsorship is not available.
The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities.
As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.
As part of FDOT Communications, you’ll be part of a fast-paced team that helps tell FDOT’s story.
Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication.
FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development. Through our agency’s learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses.
Burns Building – 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida
60,948.04 - $78,873.94
This position develops strategic and targeted messaging to be used in internal and external communications as well as educational campaigns; serves as a spokesperson and point of contact for FDOT media relations; plans and coordinates news events and writes/edits news releases and articles; and assists with management of the Office of Communications in the absence of the Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director. Duties may include, but are not limited to:
Assists with the development of Office of Communications annual strategic plan, the social media strategic plan and overall strategic communications plans. Assists with developing communication guidelines and templates for the Communications Office and the Department. Assists with the research and writing of speeches, messages, speaking points and responses for the Secretary of Transportation. Assists in responding to inquiries and issues from the Governor's Office, elected officials, the media, the public, and other agencies. Assists in message development for key transportation issues affecting the department.
Identifies media opportunities and strategies to proactively communicate the Department's mission and provide information to the public. Writes, edits and publishes news releases and articles for internal and external publication. Coordinates press events as necessary. Writes speeches and talking points for members, including executive level staff. Represents the Department through on-air broadcasts, public speaking and community engagements. scripts to communicate the Department's mission to the public. Assists in managing messaging and strategy on department social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Manages strategic internal communications initiatives to ensure members of the department are engaged in department efforts and activities. Strategizes opportunities for department leadership to interact with members of the department to help create a cohesive and collaborative culture. Create video scripts for internal communications efforts, which can be shared externally as well.
KNOWLEDGEABLE OF JOURNALISTIC WRITING STYLE AND THE CONCEPTS OF GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION AND ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLE. KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SKILLED MICROSOFT WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, PUBLISHER, OUTLOOK AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. SKILLED IN IN TAKING TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND TRANSLATING INTO PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND. ABILITY TO RESEARCH AND WRITE NEWS RELEASES AND REPORTS AND NEWSLETTERS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING. SKILLED IN STRONG WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION. KNOWLEDGEABLE AT PERFORMING BASIC MATHMATICAL CALCULATIONS. ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. SKILLED IN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC IN A PROMPT AND COURTEOUS MANNER. ABILITY TO ORGANIZE AND MANAGE MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. ABILITY TO SET AND MANAGE PRIORITIES. ABILITY TO REMAIN CALM AND BE EFFECTIVE UNDER PRESSURE.
- Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
- $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
- Dental, vision and supplemental insurances
- State of Florida retirement package
- 10 paid holidays a year
- Generous vacation and sick leave
- Career advancement opportunities
- Tuition waiver for public college courses
- A variety of training opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, visit: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/
You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS), unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
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