Title: Director of Strategic Communications

State Role Title: PR & Mktg Mgr II

Hiring Range: $130,000 - $145,000/annually

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Department of Energy

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Agency Website: energy.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Virginia Energy is looking for a Director of Strategic Communications to lead the agency’s internal and external communications and manage its team of communications professionals. The Director sets the agency's communications strategy and ensures that the agency’s broad and growing portfolio is communicated clearly, accurately, and consistently to residents, stakeholders, elected officials, the media, and agency staff. Key programs and initiatives in the agency portfolio include implementation of the Virginia Energy Plan; programmatic initiatives around energy affordability, energy reliability, and economic development; projects related to geology and mineral resources; and regulatory functions in coal mine safety, mined land repurposing, mineral mining, and gas and oil. This is a chance to shape how Virginians understand and benefit from the Commonwealth’s energy future.

The Director serves as the agency's primary media liaison, translates complex technical and regulatory topics into plain language for diverse audiences, partners with program leads to build awareness of and participation in agency programs, and builds the processes and internal communications culture that keep a multi-division agency informed and aligned. The Director also crafts presentations, remarks, and briefings for agency and Administration leaders and supports communications during the General Assembly session.

The ideal candidate has progressively senior experience in strategic communications, public relations, or media relations, including supervising staff. Experience communicating about energy, utilities, or the environment and working in government with an executive administration and legislature is preferred.

Virginia Energy’s mission is to lead the Commonwealth to a safe, reliable and responsible energy future with greater emphasis on renewable energy programs and economic development, as well as implement the Virginia’s Energy Plan to ensure the Commonwealth has abundant, reliable, affordable and clean energy.

Come be a part of an agency that makes a difference. We have offices in Big Stone Gap, Charlottesville, and Richmond, Virginia.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team that manages multiple concurrent priorities.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans with measurable objectives.
• Knowledge of digital communications, including social media management, web content management systems, email marketing, and analytics tools.
• Ability to understand news media needs and provide content management for a website.
• Ability to organize and synthesize complex issues into clear and concise content.
• Ability to positively represent Virginia Energy plans and programs to the media, residents, and elected officials.
• Understanding of media law and agency and state policies regulating release of public information, including the Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act.
• Problem solver mentality with the ability to identify existing/potential issues and provide solutions.
• Results driven through prioritizing, taking initiative, and taking ownership.
• Knowledge of software applications to include various Adobe programs and MS Office products.
• Sound judgment and discretion, with the ability to build trust and collaborate across divisions and with the Administration, external partners, and stakeholders with differing perspectives.
• Knowledge of accessibility and plain-language standards.

Additional Considerations

• Experience communicating about energy, utilities, the environment, or other technical or regulated subject areas
• Government or public-sector communications experience, including work with an executive administration and legislature

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you detail all relevant work experience clearly and specifically; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications. You will receive confirmation of receipt once your application and/or résumé has been successfully submitted. To check the status of your application, refer to “Your Application” in your account.

All applicants for employment must consent to a comprehensive background check. Selected candidates must successfully pass a drug test, reference, driving, and criminal background check.

This position is designated to file a financial disclosure under the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. This is a condition of employment, and you are required to submit the Statement of Economic Interests electronically through the Virginia Ethics Council’s online filing system annually.

This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future. Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form.

Virginia Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer by both policy and practice, therefore prohibits discrimination on basis of sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation or disability in the recruitment, selection and hiring of our workforce.

As a certified V3 organization, Virginia Energy honors the Commonwealth’s veterans hiring preference. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other National Service Alumni are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or any part of the remaining hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email: humanresources@energy.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.