Position Description

The Commission

The Community Police Commission (CPC) envisions communities and Seattle’s police aligned in shared goals of safety, respect, and accountability. We listen to, amplify, and build common ground among communities affected by policing in Seattle. We are a small but effective team championing policing practices centered on justice and equity.

Job Summary

The Communications Advisor will drive CPC’s internal and external communications strategies and work in partnership with leadership, staff, and the 15 Commissioners. In this role, you will broaden awareness and engage community members and other interested parties with CPC’s policy work and priorities in a sensitive and often high-profile public setting. You will lead CPC’s communications to advance our work and build recognition of our results and impacts.

Necessary for success are a broad set of capabilities ranging from strategic communications planning, stakeholder communications, media relations, social media, project management, and web content management. You will create written, oral, and visual content for our communications platforms, community outreach and engagement, external communications, and requests from the Mayor’s Office and other partners. You will also advise organizational leaders and staff as communications opportunities and tools evolve.

Job Responsibilities

Here Is More About What You’ll Be Doing

Working closely with and advise senior staff and CPC commissioners, develop and implement the department’s communication strategy – including key messages, materials, tactics, and potential launches or campaigns – to increase CPC’s visibility around key issue areas and initiatives and create and highlight opportunities for community and stakeholder engagement in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
Act as liaison and spokesperson to the media and public, including fostering relationships with reporters, publishers, and ethnic and local media, developing proactive media strategies, managing media requests, and coordinating media events, and opportunities.
Prepare talking points, briefing materials, fact sheets, newsletters, digital and web content, outreach materials, news releases, editorials, reports, and other strategic communications content.
Create and manage communications platforms (social media, website, GovDelivery/newsletter platform, etc.).
Develop graphic designs and layouts for print and online publications.
Update CPC web content using the City’s content management system (CMS); review web pages regularly for clarity, accuracy, effectiveness, and adherence to the Open Public Meetings Act.
Coordinate with other staff to develop and implement community outreach and engagement activities.
Create protocols and standards for external communication; serve as an internal reviewer to maintain consistency; provide support to staff and Commissioners to meet the standards; develop performance measures to track and evaluate the effectiveness of communication activities; monitor achievements and report progress in high-level summaries of our work.
Serve as the Public Disclosure Officer and help coordinate CPC’s responses to requests from the public filed under the Washington State Public Records Act.

Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your ability to:

Demonstrate understanding of public policy development with the knack for translating highly complicated issues into easily understandable, succinct messages that resonate with key audiences.
Develop strategic approaches to emerging issues and high-pressure situations.
Effectively and efficiently lead communication activities within a racial-equity framework.
Navigate high-pressure situations involving often controversial issues while responding to competing interests.
Collaborate with a wide range of individuals and form relationships with external partners within a politically complex environment.
Exercise sound judgment and discretion in a variable environment.
Balance multiple assignments concurrently and meet frequent deadlines.

You will be prepared for this role if you have the following knowledge and skills:

Understanding of institutional racism, racial equity, and social justice principles, with the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to daily work.
Effective leadership to advance constitutional policing and racial equity through proactive and responsive communication strategies.
Strategic communications, crisis communications, and strategic storytelling.
Relationships with or awareness of the local media landscape.
Understanding of government systems, processes, and procedures including the role of appointed and elected officials.
Ability to effectively organize and prioritize multiple complex projects.
Collaboration and engagement with coworkers, city partners, community members, and media.
Presentation to and engagement with diverse audiences, City Council, media, and the public.
Content development experience for all media platforms and proven public communications expertise.
Project management skills.
Proficiency in WordPress, CMS software, social media, Microsoft 365 suite of products for communications, presentations, and reports, as well as Microsoft Teams and WebEx. Adobe Creative Suite a plus.

Qualifications

A Successful Applicant Will Have Experience That Reflects a Commitment To Building And Implementing Communications Strategies Using An Equity Lens Within a Complex, Dynamic, And/or Political Environment. Your Career Trajectory Shows Dedication To Creating Fair And Equitable Outcomes And You Have

Extensive internal and external strategic communications experience in a variety of areas, including materials development, traditional and social media, visual communications (video, photography, graphic design), outreach and/or marketing strategies, and project management.
Ability to work in an atmosphere of ambiguity, rapid change, and involving sensitive issues and information.
A track record of promoting of racial and social equity in your work.
Language access experience.
A commitment to listening, creating space for diverse perspectives, and the pursuit of inclusive and just outcomes must be at the center of your professional practice.
Ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff, management, and internal and external partners and community.
Proficiency in facilitating community engagement initiatives.
Expertise in processing and responding to public disclosure and/ or public information requests is preferred.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, Exempt and is exempt from overtime and the Civil Service System. The full salary range for this position is $43.89 - $65.83 per hour. The salary for this individual role has been identified as $53.64 hourly.

This role may be required to work nights, evenings, weekends; or attend meetings at locations outside of the office. This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be expected to be in-office twice a week. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Why work at the City of Seattle?

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted until 4:00pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. In addition to completing the application at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle fully, for your application to be accepted, you must:

Attach a resume detailing your relevant talents and experience.
Provide 2-3 samples of your work product and/or a link to your online portfolio.
Attach a cover letter that describes:
- Your interest in the position.
- Your motivation to support the work of CPC.

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Who may apply: This position is open to all candidates who demonstrate alignment with the skills and experience described above. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity in the workplace. Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request. The City is a Drug Free Workplace.

Questions? Please contact Nicolette Hornbeck at Nicolette.Hornbeck@seattle.gov or Ira Becton at Ira.Becton@seattle.gov

Seattle Community Police Commission

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Communications Advisor