Press Secretary

Full Job Description

Love Colorado? There is no better way to define your future and build your career than to work for the State of Colorado.

Finding Your Purpose

When you work for the State of Colorado, you're working to improve your community, impact the lives of those around you, and ensure that our shared natural resources will be available for generations to come.

Finding Your Passion

Each position makes a difference by helping people, enhancing our livelihood and making Colorado a better place to live. Learn more about the mission of each of our Departments and Institutions and the unique roles they serve!

Colorado for All

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Colorado For All - Colorado Employee Reflections

Department Information

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life.

Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, making housing more affordable and available, improving public safety, and building an economy that works for everyone.

The Office of the Governor's staff includes budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.

Requirements

Position Title: Press Secretary

Department: Communications

FLSA Status: Exempt

Organizational Relationships: This position reports to the Director of Communications and is part of the Communications Team. This position supervises the Deputy Press

Secretary.

Expected Annual Travel: Occasional in-state travel.

Summary of Functions: The Press Secretary is responsible for all daily media relations, media availability, engagement and requests. This position is the primary

point of contact for all media inquiries, serves as the spokesperson for the Governor and Lt. Governor, and supports Public Information Officers throughout the

State of Colorado.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure the Governor and Lt. Governor are prepared for all external speaking engagements (I.e. media availability, speeches and public appearances), working closely with the policy team on content.

• Responsible for drafting all press releases and media advisories.

• In coordination with the Communications Director, approve all video content creation, including requests, scripts and scheduling.

• Work with the Governor’s executive leadership team, the policy team and legislative teams, cabinet and agency public information officers on decisions, memos, press releases, press conferences and initiatives that address media interest.

• Responsible for responding to all Governor’s office and cabinet CORA requests.

• With the Communications Director, manages crisis communications.

• WGA and NGA media contact.

• Participates in senior staff meetings.

• Manages two deputy press secretaries

• Contributes to media strategy with executive leadership,

• Supports executive leadership in external stakeholder role, coordination of social media with the Director of Communications.

• Provides media counsel and advice to the Governor, Lt. Governor, cabinet and executive leadership.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Minimum 7 years closely related work experience.

• Experience creating and implementing strategic communications campaigns.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• A strong understanding of principles of effective communication to a variety of audiences.

• Established media contacts and understanding of the media landscape in the Denver Metro and broader State landscape.

• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines; high energy, self-motivated and proactive.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Conditions of Employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado; however, applicants must reside in Colorado at the time of employment.

Additional Information

Supplemental Information

To Apply:

A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration.

Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)

• 12 paid holidays per year

• Medical and dental plans

• State paid life insurance policy of a minimum of $50,000 or 1x annual salary

• Choice of 2 retirement plans

• 401K and 457 plans

• State paid Short Term Disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Credit Union Membership

• RTD pass

• Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

Inclusion and Belonging

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator (the Senior Human Resources Director) at gov_hr@state.co.us.

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado.

Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions.

Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.