Communications Specialist II

King County   Auburn, WA   Full-time
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Summary

The Solid Waste division’s Strategy, Communication, and Performance (SCP) section is currently looking for a creative self-starter with at least two years of professional writing and digital engagement experience and a strong working knowledge of solid waste systems who wants to deepen their skills in user-centered design methodologies (UX), video production, and multimedia to join their team as a Communication Specialist IIThis position provides communication services for the Solid Waste Division in support of the division’s mission, vision, goals, and values. This position is a Term Limited Temporary (TLT) position expected to conclude in 2023. This position is also available to eligible King County employees as a special duty opportunity.

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the person will assist in improving the usability and functionality of SWD digital products by supporting efforts to make web and Sharepoint interfaces and content more accessible, intuitive, and consistent for employees, customers, and stakeholders. They will also support the development of creative content on a variety of topics for both internal and external audiences using tools such as video, social media, multimedia, photography, graphic design, and print. The person must possess exceptional oral and written communication skills, a good working knowledge of solid waste systems, understanding of User Experience (UX) design principles and data visualization, and a solid understanding of communication best practices, including sensitivity to occupationally and racially diverse audiences and the ability to anticipate and respond to emerging issues. Working proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite applications and Tableau is required.

Who May Apply:  This position is open to all qualified applicants. Eligible Solid Waste division and King County employees will be given first preference.

Work Location: This is a remote working position. However, there will be an expectation to travel to various worksites throughout King County as needed for your work. 

Forms and Materials required: Applicants must submit a (1) King County Application, (2) resume, (3) letter of interest, and (4) at least 2 recent, relevant writing samples (excerpts from longer documents are acceptable), up to 6 pages total. The letter of interest should describe how your education and experience meet the qualifications and have prepared you to perform the essential functions of the job.  

About the Solid Waste Division: A division within King County's Department of Natural Resources & Parks, the award-winning and innovative Solid Waste Division (SWD) has been recognized for operational excellence.  The division's line of business is comprised of waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal. This robust and dynamic enterprise funded division has an annual budget exceeding $100 million. More than 400 employees create value for customers across ten active locations (eight recycling and transfer facilities). Resources are harvested on-site and refuse is transported by SWD to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill in Maple Valley, Washington. Through a public/private partnership, landfill gas is captured and converted to clean natural gas. In 2019, SWD and the partnership proudly produced enough pipeline quality fuel to heat 19,600 homes in King County.

King County’s Solid Waste Division brings the best people together to deliver value to our customers and stakeholders and continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal.

Examples of Job Duties: 

Support the work team’s efforts in the following areas:

  • Help plan and manage visual communication projects coordinated with graphic designers, videographers, photographers, and IT professionals. Actively engage with employees across the division to identify communication needs and issues and participate in developing and executing long and short-term communication strategies and plans.
  • Audit website, intranet and SharePoint content and lead a team effort to design and redesign sites to meet user-centered needs for clear, accessible, and up-to-date content and information.
  • Support content creation and management of the division’s social media channels. Develop and curate content, including video and multimedia in coordination with DNRP public affairs, and assist in the coordination and execution of campaigns and social media ad buys. 
  • Use a variety of design tools including Adobe Creative Suite and Tableau to produce data visualizations, multimedia content, website content, and informational videos that quickly communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Identify key audiences and messages and the appropriate communication methods and tools to effectively reach them.
  • Develop communications that drive employee engagement for a diverse workforce and improve employees’ workplace experience and connection to the division’s mission and goals. 
  • Provide occasional writing and/or editing in support of other division projects as needed.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have: 

  • Solid understanding of user experience (UX) design principles, and experience communicating ideas through journey maps, storyboards and prototypes.
  • Outstanding research, presentation, and interviewing skills.
  • Experience in the environmental field, especially waste management.
  • Ability to use data and research as a rationale for creative decisions.  
  • Exceptional copywriting skills and demonstrated skills in accurate, clear, and concise writing and editing.
  • Strong project management skills and the ability to effectively track and manage competing deadlines while producing high-quality work.
  • Demonstrated ability in relating well to a diverse group of employees and building trust.
  • Skills in identifying and assessing the communications needs of target audiences and creating audience-specific communications.
  • Experience using digital engagement tools for communication (internet, social media, Sharepoint)

Our Highly Competitive Candidate Will Have:

  • Professional communication experience in the solid waste sector.
  • A degree or certificate in UX design.
  • Experience providing internal communication services in an organization with employees in multiple locations including office, telework, and industrial field settings.
  • Photography, video, graphics skills.

Union Membership: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117 – Professional and Technical

Contact Information: Please direct questions about this recruitment to Prakash Meloot, Senior Human Resource Analyst at Prakash.meloot@kingcounty.gov.   

Supplemental Information

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
Please describe your experience, including any degree or certification in UX design.
02
Do you have communication experience in the environmental field?
  • Yes
  • No
03
If yes, please describe your experience.
04
Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program Participant And Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No.
05
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question

This job is no longer available.

King County

Auburn, WA