Director of Strategic Communications-SDA

Full Job Description

King County Metro is hiring a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Strategic Communications and Brand Manager who will play an integral role in helping Metro connect with our partners, policy makers, and the diverse communities we serve and advance our work to deliver integrated, safe, clean, and welcoming mobility options in a way that strengthens equity, sustainability, and the economy.

This Manager will help shape and strengthen Metro's communications programs, elevate Metro's brand, and advance a wide range of organizational objectives.

They will support and advance the work of several highly talented teams, including Public Affairs, Creative & Marketing, and Web Communications.

They will collaborate closely with other teams within the Office of the Chief of Staff, including Internal Communications and Partnerships & Engagement, as well as with department and division leadership.

Position Info: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment vacancy. The SDA is anticipated to last for 6 months from hire and may be extended.

Who may apply: We are only accepting applications from current King County Metro career service employees who have passed probation in their current position. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work. This position is comprised of the following core duties:

• Lead the strategic development of enterprise-wide communications plans and programs, including assuring coordination across matrixed teams to stay aligned in messaging, develop accessible products, and implement communication activities.
• Build strong working relationships with agency leadership and other partners throughout Metro to promote an integrated communications approach with internal and external stakeholders and audiences.
• Execute a consistent brand messaging strategy and agency voice that is reflected across all products and service programs, both internally and externally.
• Develop methods to ensure alignment of communications and marketing strategies with agency goals.
• Manage diverse teams to communicate effectively in accessible, linguistically diverse, and culturally relevant ways
• Strengthen the agency's online and social media strategy.
• Lead emergency communications.
• Support elected official communications and policy and program rollout.
• Develop messaging platforms and editorial content.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have:

• At least 10 (ten) years of increasingly responsible experience directly supervising or managing teams and individuals, and skilled with working with customer experience, communications in the transportation field, OR any combination of experience and education that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Relevant experience in strategic marketing and communications, public affairs or relations, and crisis communication.
• Skilled in brand development, content development, writing, and dissemination of messaging and content via digital and print mediums in ways that successfully engage diverse perspectives and communities

• Commitment to equity and social justice.
• Demonstrated experience as a people leader, enabling teams to successfully collaborate and produce results and supporting direct reports in their own professional development.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively at all organizational levels.
• Superior written and verbal communications skills – multilingual a plus.
• Ability to embrace and work effectively with a broad-based and complex organization.
• Ability to actively support media relations, partner agency relationships, and relations with other important constituencies.
• Understanding of digital tools and strategies.
• Willingness to work as part of a collaborative team and enthusiasm for building relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

Highly competitive candidates will have (desired, but not required):

• Knowledge of King County Metro Transit policies & procedures.
• Experience working with large, unionized organizations/agencies, and/or public sector experience.
• Knowledge of transit operations and optimization.
• Experience with facilitation and change management.
• Experience with SharePoint and SharePoint site administration.
• Experience in a public sector setting.

Additional Information

Who may apply: This recruitment is accepting applications from current King County Metro career service employees who have passed probation in their current position.

To Apply

The following application materials are required:

A letter of interest (cover letter) that addresses why you are interested in this role and how your experience, skills, and/or education have prepared you for this position.

Briefly explain your leadership experience in a public sector setting, describing your ability to work with customer experience and communications in the transportation field.

Completed supplemental questions.

Selection Process:

Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered.

Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewed—additional documents or information will not be evaluated. Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements.

Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application/assessment process, or have questions, please contact: Aimee Higbee at ahigbee@kingcounty.gov.

Other Position Information Work Location: This is a hybrid position. The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting.

Currently, the team is required to work 2 days in the office each week. In-office requirements are anticipated to increase to 3 days per week in 2026.

The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule: The position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible.

The typical workweek is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.Union Representation: The position is not represented by a union

Class Code: 113004/Transit Section Manager

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native Americans and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.