Title: State Programs Communications Supervisor - #W1647

State Role Title: PR & Mktg Spec IV

Hiring Range: $80,000-$90,000 salary commensurate w/experience

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website: www.dss.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

Job Duties

At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas, and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning, and cultivating environments of trust, respect, and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence, and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.

The Division of Support and Transformation is currently seeking a State Program Communications Supervisor to become part of the State Programs portfolio. The State Programs portfolio includes the following areas: Division of Child Support Enforcement, Division of Licensing, Division of Business Operations and Division of Support and Transformation. The Communications Team provides communications support for the entire state programs portfolio. The Communications Team supports change management and increases customer awareness, participation, and buy-in.

The selected candidate will supervise a team of communications staff, as well as, act as the primary project manager assigned to coordinate State Programs communications. This position creates and executes internal and external communication plans and develops strategies on sensitive issues critical to State Programs divisions; assesses, designs, delivers and evaluates communication campaigns and initiatives that support benefit both external and internal audiences; serves as liaison with assigned key work groups and entities within the portfolio, the agency and outside the agency; serves as the liaison to the agency Public Affairs team, works with other Communications staff to provide logistical support to divisional events and webinars, and manages the design and editing of promotional publications, forms and collaterals. This position reports directly to the Workforce Development and Communications Manager to provide communications support for the state programs portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications

•Demonstrated ability to supervise, monitor, coach, develop, evaluate and recognize staff.
•Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, manage and lead team assignments and projects to meet deadlines.
•Considerable working knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods, to include alternative ways to inform via written, oral, and visual media.
•Demonstrated ability to write, edit and design communication materials for external and internal consumption and review the work of others.
•Significant skills in Microsoft Office Products, virtual meeting tools, social media platforms, online content management programs, and desktop publishing software.
•Knowledge of internet/intranet site design, development and maintenance.
•Skilled in video development and graphic design.
•Demonstrated ability to interpret, explain and adapt relevant program guidance, policies and procedures to communication formats and applications.
•Demonstrated ability to analyze data to identify problems and formulate solutions.
•Demonstrated ability to work independently; manage changing priorities, and make sound, well-informed decisions and consult with Divisional and Agency leadership.

Additional Considerations

Experience in public relations and/or business communications.

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.

To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. This website will provide confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position.

Please be advised that this position may be approved to work onsite for two days per week and work remotely for three days per week.

VDSS values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation is available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process.

Virginia Department of Social Services does not provide sponsorship.

The Virginia Department of Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application or resume. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. For more information about our employment practices, please visit our “Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan”.

In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.

If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must submit this document through the “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site when you apply.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

Contact Information

Name: VA. Dept. of Social Services, Attn: Division of Human Resources

Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

Email: dssrecruitment@dss.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.