Communications Specialist

This position combines strategic communications, graphic design, digital media production, technical writing, project coordination, and documentation management to support agency communications initiatives and technology implementation efforts.
For this role candidate develops and produces visual and written materials across print and digital channels, including publications, presentations, informational materials, and digital communications.
Responsibilities:
Project Management and Collaboration

• Assist the Project Management Office (PMO) and agency divisions with tasks and documentation for new and ongoing projects.
• Partner with staff, editors, writers, IT, and external vendors to manage projects from concept through delivery.
• Lead cross-functional meetings to discuss projects, tasks, and process documentation.
• Internal and external agency communications, both written and verbal.
• Assist in developing and executing strategic communications plans that integrate both digital and offline tactics.
• Coordinate timelines, resources, and workflows to ensure high-quality, on-time deliverables.
• Develop dashboards and monitoring tools for users to track project and/or task progress.

Digital Communications and Design:

• Concept, design, and produce print and digital collateral such as infographics, presentations, whitepapers, eBooks, etc. while adhering to industry and agency brand standards
• Manage and create engaging content for websites, social media platforms, and other digital assets
• Support campaigns that align with organizational objectives, monitor trends, analyze performance, and track metrics
• Contribute fresh ideas and creative approaches that enhance audience engagement and organizational visibility.
• Ensure digital communications and design deliverables meet accessibility standards, including WCAG guidelines, to support inclusive access across digital platforms and materials.

Technical Writing:

• Develop and maintain implementation and operational documentation to include deployment guides, system configuration documentation, operational procedures, and other project documentation.
• Maintain end-user documentation and training materials including user guides, training manuals, job aids, online help content, and knowledge base documentation to support system implementation and ongoing operation.
• Review agency applications and websites using user feedback and project metrics to recommend improvements to content quality and user experience.

Information Governance and File Management:

• Create and maintain agency document repositories (e.g., SharePoint, Smartsheet) and ensure the documentation is updated as operational processes, tasks, requirements and system functionality evolve.
• Includes initial setup, organization, version numbering, file indexing, and staff training or assistance.
• Initiate and manage a statewide Document Scanning project to digitize paper documents located in each county office and the state office working with a Vendor selected through a bidding process. Includes establishing document naming and numbering conventions to ensure the documents will be unique, traceable, and easy to retrieve by the staff in a digital library. Conduct periodic reviews to audit the naming and numbering conventions to ensure they are supporting the agency process workflows and audit requirements.
• Maintain documentation standards, templates, version control processes, and documentation governance procedures to ensure consistency and traceability across all project documentation.

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor s degree or higher in related field (such as Information Services, English, Communications, etc.)
• Effective communication, organizational, and time management skills. 7+ years
• Strong writing, editing, and visual communication skills; adaptive style for different platforms and audiences. 7+ years
• Proficiency in process optimization and internal documentation. 7 years
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team. 7 years
• Professional experience in graphic design, digital media, or communications. 5-7 years
• Tools: Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word), Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Workfront, Google Workspace, Smartsheet, Confluence, Lucidchart, SAP Business Network. 5-7 years

Preferred/Not Required:

• Experience working with information systems, cloud technologies, data analysis, or technology implementation projects. 5-7 years
• Knowledge of User Experience (UX) design. 5-7 years
• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG). 5-7 years
• Experience with communications related to child welfare