Director of External Affairs

About the role

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) seeks a Director of External Affairs to join the department's executive leadership team. This role oversees the management of HSD's integrated public affairs program and related strategies and activities, focusing on building interest and understanding of HSD's mission, priorities, services, and impact through consistent and compelling communications.

Responsibilities

• Owns responsibility for managing direction, planning, analysis, implementation, and oversight of HSD’s overall integrated public affairs program.
• Builds interest and understanding of HSD’s mission, priorities, services, and impact through consistent and compelling communications.
• Forges shared vision through collaboration and delivers actionable insights and analysis that shape decisions with significant impact on HSD’s service, operation, reputation, or bottom line.
• Manages a team of 3-4 FTE’s providing functional daily direction and supervision.
• Works in a large, dynamic, cross-function and matrixed business environment, reporting to the Department Director.
• Delivers strategic counsel and support services to executives and elected officials to advance HSD’s business needs.
• Adaptable and agile, collaborates effectively with the departmental executive and senior leadership teams, the Mayor's Office, City Council and Council Central staff, City employees, the City's Budget Office, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

This role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, or a related field, combined with at least seven years of experience working in a strategic communications or external affairs role in a large mission-driven organization, government agency, or environment of similar size and complexity. Two years of leading and supervising direct report staff is also required.

Skills

• Good understanding and successful application of communication and public relations methodologies and strategies, including the use of social media platforms, marketing techniques, and promoting controversial matters to a highly sensitive and unpredictable audience.
• Excellent strategic writing ability and presentation skills.
• Ability to analyze issues and problem solve, results-driven.
• Comfortable working in a politically sensitive environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Passionate about contributing meaningfully through public service.
• Value a diverse workforce with authentic perspective.
• Firm work ethic and integrity to "do the right thing" on behalf of the City of Seattle.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a competitive salary range of $52.36 - $78.53 hourly, located at the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, Washington. The position is Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time, Day Shift, and Not represented by a bargaining unit. The closing date is Continuous.