Water Quality Media & Communications Specialist III - 1606

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health. 

The Work Unit:

This position is in the Communications and Special Projects Unit. This unit is in the Operations Section and supports the division’s programs with respect to internal and external communications, stakeholder relations, special projects, and business process enhancements for better transparency and efficiency.

What You'll Be Doing 

This position fulfills a key strategic role within the division. The MCS III communicates and engages with the media and with customers in policy, regulation, and technical discussions related to water quality issues. The focus of the position is to serve as the division’s public information officer, as well as complete general communications work, manage division special projects, and improve the capacity for stakeholder and community relationships and/or processes. This position will be responsible for reviewing division-produced reports and other written materials produced by the division, reviewing and updating division webpages, and editing, writing, and developing communication materials.

Minimum Qualifications 

(OPTION 1) 
Six (6) years of professional experience in general communications tasks, editing publications, and/or graphic design.
(OPTION 2)  
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or closely related field; 

AND 

Two (2) years of professional experience in general communications tasks, editing publications, and/or graphic design.

(OPTION 3)  

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or closely related degree will substitute for the bachelor’s degree and the required experience.  

Experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated. 

Preferred Qualifications and Essential Competencies

The preferred experience, competencies and abilities are highly desirable for this position and will be considered in selecting the successful candidate:

• Outstanding editorial skills, including Associated Press style 

• Relevant years of State service shall be considered

• Experience working with water quality, biology, chemistry, and/or engineering subject matter

• Prior experience developing, managing, and evaluating comprehensive communications plans or social marketing or marketing campaigns. 

• Excellent skills reviewing and editing technical reports and rewriting technical content, so it is more accessible to the general public.  

• Strong ability to create and/or develop new web content and pages—including graphics—as well as the ability to populate and maintain websites. 

• Excellent skills and abilities in verbal and written communications to audiences of varying levels within an organization, in groups and individual settings, 

• Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management. 

• Demonstrated proficiency working collaboratively with internal teams, technical professionals, and national, state, and community partners. 

• Excellent organizational skills: the ability to set, track, and accomplish priorities, goals, and timetables to achieve maximum productivity, knowing the status of activities at all times. 

• Excellent computer skills, and has experience with platforms such as Microsoft Office Professional Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, web design applications, and Google applications. 

• Initiative and self-management; the passion and ability to dive into the work, prioritize appropriately, and accomplish tasks within established timeframes. 

• Strong problem-solving ability along with the ability and motivation to develop creative solutions. 

• Strong analytical skills; the ability to synthesize, interpret, and report on complex or technical information, collect, and research data. 

• Excellent attention to detail; ability to apply care, thoroughness, and high quality to every task using a concern for all areas and people involved. 

• Demonstrated experience writing about technical, scientific, or complex content, including subject matter on biology, chemistry, and engineering work and relaying this effectively to public and professional audiences. 

• Demonstrated experience and ability to develop social media content. 

• Demonstrated ability to follow social media trends and successfully apply them thereby increasing online engagement. 

• Demonstrated experience with social media and web monitoring analytics platforms. 

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize creative content and communications products across a variety of media forums.                                                                                            

A complete application packet must include:

1. A completed State of Colorado application.
2. A cover letter, explaining why you are the best candidate for this position.
3. An example of work product that demonstrates your communication and design skills.
4. If using education to qualify, or to demonstrate completion of preferred coursework, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts can be attached to your CO Jobs application. Late transcripts will not be accepted. 
5. Answer to supplemental questions.

The Selection Process 

1. All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
2. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
   • Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
3. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

Appeal Rights: If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position or that as a result of no longer being considered, you were discriminated against, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. If an applicant seeks to have an allegation of discrimination reviewed by the Board, that person must file an appeal (petition for hearing) within 10 days of the action or receipt of any final written selection decision. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

E-Verify:  CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
 
You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

ADAAA Accommodations:
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at cdphe.humanresources@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.