AHCCCS

Address: 801 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

All AHCCCS Employees must reside within the state of Arizona.

Salary: $105,000 - $115,000

Grade: 28

Open Until Filled

This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the agency's public-facing communications and internal communications across the agency. The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) leads the agency's communications strategy, promotes the work of the agency through various communications channels (including social media, earned media, and the agency's website), and maintains a positive public image of the agency through brand management and stewardship. The CCO leads the communications team and develops and oversees scopes of work for contractors that may be hired to assist with public relations needs.

The position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs and maintains a close working relationship with the agency's Director, Senior Leadership Team and other members of the leadership team.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Communications Team Management and Overall Strategy - Develop communications strategies, delegate responsibilities and oversee work products of team members. These team members include the Communications Specialist, Public Information Officer, and Graphic Designer. Manage and direct communications staff (including work assignments, setting priorities, hiring, discipline, staff development, and evaluating progress). Offer constructive feedback/coaching to the team as needed.
• Media Relations - Oversee the Agency’s responses to all media outlets through direct correspondence with the media and supervision of the Public Information Officer. Ensure the Agency is responsive to media inquiries by coordinating with team members to craft appropriate responses. Draft press releases and website news posts to amplify messaging and relevant developments. Develop and carry out strategies to proactively facilitate positive stories about the agency's work through multiple media channels.
• Public Relations - Develop and oversee strategy to generate opportunities for the agency to present, be featured, and/or participate in external forums for the purposes of fostering transparency, building trust and maintaining a positive brand. Oversee the agency's website content and design. Provide social media support as needed. Draft and coordinate public-facing messages that are emailed via multiple AHCCCS distribution lists.
• Internal Communications - Provide supervision to the Communications Specialist. Maintain an understanding of key efforts occurring across the agency. Use this knowledge to coordinate mass communications across all agency divisions. Ensure cross-agency compliance with brand standards. Lead editorial review processes for documents prior to public release. Serve as the primary point of contact between the agency and other communications teams within state agencies.
• Design and manage scopes of work for contractors as needed.

Knowledge:
• Media relations and an understanding of Arizona media outlets (print, radio and television) as well as national media outlets that cover health care issues
• Experience in social media (including Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook), website design and maintenance, and brand promotion
• State government, contemporary health care issues and the Medicaid Program
• Media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods including ways to inform via written, oral and visual media
• Key stakeholder groups and forums in Arizona

Skills:
• Writing skills with a professional posture
• Team leadership and strategy
• Recognizing news-worth content, visual materials and graphics
• Strong customer service and communication skills to advise senior leadership on communication strategies
• Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite
• Messaging, framing, writing and editorial skills
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• Managing constructive criticisms
• Planning, organizing, and coordinating assignments independently
• Development and use of social media capabilities

Abilities:
• Manage and prioritize large volumes of fast-faced work
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency management, representatives of other governmental agencies, business and community leaders, employees, media representatives, the public and other stakeholders encountered in the course of work
• Create and deliver high quality written communications and presentation materials
• Adapt to various audiences
• Succeed as a member of a team, while possessing the ability to make independent decisions concerning communication strategies and their effectiveness
• Delegate and manage multiple assignments in an effective manner while under strict deadlines
• Interpret information and situations and make recommendations in accordance with applicable policies, regulations, and guidelines
• Represent the agency effectively in a public setting and with media representatives on a variety of issues

Minimum:
• Five years work experience with a large organization or public relations firm focused on media relations, communications and/or serving as a Public Information Officer.

Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree or Master's in communication, marketing, public relations, journalism or related field.
• Possesses a general understanding of and appreciation for Medicaid.

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.