Senior Communications Manager

Full-time, hybrid position with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

About the Role

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is seeking a seasoned communications professional to serve as Senior Communications Manager within the Marketing and Economic Development Division. This position provides strategic leadership for the Department’s communications function and supervises a team of four communications professionals.

The Senior Communications Manager will develop and lead a department-wide communications strategy that advances UDAF’s mission, strengthens public understanding of agriculture and food systems, supports the Department’s regulatory and service responsibilities, and helps maintain productive relationships with producers, industry partners, elected officials, media, and the public.

This position works in close coordination with the Office of the Commissioner and executive leadership team, serves as a key advisor on communications strategy and emerging issues, and provides direct supervision, coaching, direction, and quality control for the communications team, including coordination with and supervision of the Public Information Officer (PIO).

UDAF has a unique role: it regulates industries and safeguards public health and consumers while also supporting the development and success of Utah agriculture and food businesses. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, political awareness, strong writing and message-development skills, and the ability to communicate transparently and effectively in a complex environment with diverse and sometimes competing stakeholder needs.

Location: 4315 S 2700 W, Taylorsville. This position may be eligible for a hybrid telework schedule.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive department-wide communications strategy aligned with UDAF’s mission, strategic priorities, regulatory responsibilities, and public-service goals.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate a team of four communications professionals. Establish clear expectations, priorities, workflows, quality standards, and professional-development opportunities; promote a culture of accountability, sound judgment, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Provide direct supervision and strategic direction to the Public Information Officer, including media relations, proactive storytelling, crisis communications, public records coordination, and issues management.
• Serve as a primary communications advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners.
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, technical, and industry issues into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications.
• Coordinate closely with all UDAF divisions to identify communications needs, support program launches and initiatives, elevate public-facing information, and ensure consistent messaging across the Department.
• Lead the development and review of high-stakes communications materials, including press releases, media statements, talking points, speeches, reports, web content, public notices, social media content, newsletters, presentations, and internal communications.
• Coordinate with the PIO to oversee media relations and act as a senior spokesperson when appropriate; build and maintain productive relationships with local, statewide, regional, and industry media.
• Lead communications planning for sensitive, fast-moving, or high-profile issues, including food safety, animal health, drought, natural-resource concerns, regulatory actions, emergency response, and other matters affecting Utah agriculture and food systems.
• Establish and maintain systems for communications intake, editorial review, approvals, project management, brand consistency, content calendars, and performance measurement.
• Ensure communications are accurate, timely, accessible, transparent, and aligned with applicable laws, policies, public-records requirements, and executive direction.
• Balance public transparency with awareness of producer, industry, market, and regulatory considerations; exercise discretion and sound judgment when communicating issues that may affect agricultural businesses or consumer confidence.
• Supervise staff that oversee the Department’s communications channels and assets, including website content, social media, newsletters, publications, multimedia, photography, and external marketing or creative vendors.
• Coordinate with state partners, including the Governor’s Office, other state agencies, local governments, federal partners, universities, industry associations, and community organizations, as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a related field.
• Six or more years of progressively responsible professional communications, public relations, media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications experience.
• At least two years of direct supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans for a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership, elected officials, senior administrators, or other high-level decision-makers.
• Exceptional writing, editing, message-development, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing media relations, responding to media inquiries, preparing spokespeople, and handling sensitive or high-visibility communications issues.
• Experience coordinating communications across multiple programs, divisions, or stakeholders with varied priorities.
• Strong project-management skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage competing deadlines, delegate effectively, and maintain high standards of quality.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism in a public-facing government environment.
• Proficiency with common communications tools and platforms, including website content-management systems, social media platforms, Google Workspace, and Adobe Creative Cloud or comparable design and publishing tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in government communications, public affairs, public information, or a closely related public-sector environment.
• Experience in agriculture, food systems, natural resources, rural communities, public health, environmental regulation, economic development, or another complex regulated industry.
• Experience with crisis communications, risk communications, emergency response, or incident communications.
• Experience working with public records, open meetings, public notices, or other government transparency requirements.
• Experience managing communications contracts, creative agencies, photographers, videographers, or other external vendors.
• Familiarity with Utah agriculture, food production, agricultural markets, and the challenges facing producers and rural communities.

Ideal Candidate

• Is a seasoned communications leader who can provide both strategic direction and practical day-to-day management.
• Has experience working in or closely with government and understands the expectations, pace, transparency requirements, and political awareness required in public service.
• Has a genuine interest in agriculture and food systems and understands the importance of supporting producers, protecting consumers, and maintaining a safe and reliable food supply.
• Understands the balance UDAF must maintain as both a regulator and a partner to Utah’s agriculture and food industries.
• Can coach staff toward stronger judgment, clearer writing, better project management, and greater ownership of their work.
• Is comfortable advising senior leaders, raising concerns early, and offering clear recommendations during complex or sensitive situations.
• Brings calm, sound judgment to high-pressure or fast-moving issues.
• Can move easily between big-picture strategy and detailed editorial review.
• Builds trust across teams and can work productively with technical experts, program managers, producers, industry representatives, elected officials, media, and the public.
• Values accuracy, accessibility, transparency, consistency, and thoughtful public service.

Why You Should Join Our Team

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food supports the development of Utah’s agriculture and food industries, serves as a steward of natural resources, safeguards public health, protects consumers, and helps ensure a safe and reliable food supply. The Senior Communications Manager will have an opportunity to shape and strengthen communications across an agency whose work directly affects Utah producers, food businesses, rural communities, consumers, and the state’s economy.

This role will lead a talented communications team, help elevate the Department’s public presence, and support meaningful work across food security, agricultural markets, animal and plant health, water and natural resources, consumer protection, specialized products, and regulatory services.

Benefits

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food offers competitive wages, excellent health and retirement benefits, fulfilling work, and generous time off to support work-life balance.

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

Pay

$48.48 - $55.00 per hour.