Communications Manager

Description

State of Idaho Opportunity

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM MST on the posting end date.

The Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the technology infrastructure, services, cybersecurity, and support that help State of Idaho agencies serve Idahoans every day.

Working at ITS means being part of an organization with an impact that extends across state government. Our teams support the technology that agencies rely on to carry out their missions, deliver critical public services, protect state information and systems, and serve communities throughout Idaho.

We are looking for a talented, strategic, and highly collaborative Communications Manager to help tell that story and strengthen how ITS communicates with our employees, agency partners, state leaders, stakeholders, and the public.

This is more than a traditional communications position. The Communications Manager is a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and serves as a trusted communications advisor to the ITS Administrator/State Chief Information Officer and other senior leaders. This position will have an opportunity to help shape how ITS communicates during major initiatives, organizational changes, technology incidents, service disruptions, cybersecurity events, and the day-to-day work of supporting technology across Idaho state government.

If you enjoy translating complex issues into clear communication, advising executive leaders, building relationships, and helping an organization tell its story, this is an opportunity to make an impact across the State of Idaho.

The Communications Manager leads internal and external communications for the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services.

This position independently plans, organizes, and implements ITS communications strategies across multiple channels, including agency and stakeholder communications, employee communications, social media, website content, newsletters, publications, executive communications, presentations, and other communications materials.

As a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team, the Communications Manager works closely with the State CIO, executive leadership, technical leaders, and teams throughout ITS to communicate complex technology issues in a way that is timely, understandable, transparent, and appropriate for the audience.

The position also plays an important role in communications with the state agencies ITS serves, particularly during technology outages, service disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, major system changes, and other issues affecting agency operations.

• Develop, recommend, and implement ITS communications strategies, goals, and priorities, and monitor the effectiveness of those strategies.
• Serve as a member of the ITS Executive Leadership Team and provide strategic communications advice and counsel to the State CIO and other senior leaders.
• Develop operational plans, policies, procedures, and protocols for internal and external communications.
• Draft, develop, coordinate, and/or oversee the publication and distribution of ITS communications to ensure messaging is accurate, timely, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead and coordinate communications to state agencies and other stakeholders regarding technology outages, service disruptions, incidents, cybersecurity issues, planned maintenance, service changes, and other issues affecting ITS customers, working closely with technical and operational teams to provide clear and timely information.
• Apply data and analytical insights to inform communications strategies and tactics and evaluate the effectiveness of ITS communications.
• Develop narratives, messaging, and content that clearly communicate ITS priorities, accomplishments, challenges, services, and statewide impact.
• Develop and implement crisis and incident communications plans and support ITS leadership during significant technology, cybersecurity, operational, or organizational events.
• Provide communications support for major ITS projects, initiatives, events, technology implementations, and organizational changes.
• Create and manage an editorial calendar that supports ITS priorities, initiatives, and key milestones.
• Develop and/or oversee speeches, presentations, talking points, white papers, briefing materials, executive correspondence, and other communications for the State CIO and senior leadership.
• Prepare and coordinate video, print, digital, web, and other…