Director of Communications

SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY

SEATTLE, WA

The Seattle Housing Authority provides subsidized rental housing and rental assistance to nearly 38,000 people with low incomes. In addition to providing high-quality housing, SHA offers tenants an array of programs to help them increase self-sufficiency and lead healthy, productive lives.



THE ROLE

Under the direction of the Deputy Executive Director, the Director of Communications will serve as a member of the Senior Management Team and provide counsel to fellow Cabinet members. The person in this role will focus on enhancing the Seattle Housing Authority’s reputation through effective communication strategies. This includes a focus on communicating the Authority’s mission, as well as proactively managing public relations. The Director of Communication will provide leadership and guidance to all departments in their public information and marketing activities in order to ensure consistency, professionalism and appropriate brand management. The Director of Communications will also design and implement a comprehensive public information and communications program that will promote dialog and timely information exchange among constituents, employees, commissioners and stakeholders. The Director of Communications will represent Seattle Housing Authority programs and interests on local, regional and national committees as requested. This role supervises a team of 3- 4, which includes the following functions: Executive Assistant, Communications Manager, Website and Digital Communications Manager, and Communications Specialist.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Listed below are key responsibilities of the Director of Communications:

 

External

  • Establish and articulate the Authorities identity in the community.
  • Set long-range communications and marketing goals.
  • Design communication strategies and processes to enhance agency effectiveness in carrying out its mission.
  • Identify, analyze and make recommendations on emerging issues on behalf of the Board, Executive Director, Cabinet and others
  • Develop partnerships with customers, community organizations, business, residents’ council, and other interested parties to foster understanding, share resources and expand the agency’s support base. 
  • Assist in the development and implementation of the Authority’s communication and public participation processes including advising committees on outreach, community involvement for development and other projects, policy development, service planning, and other activities. 
  • Develop strategies on how best to achieve local, state and national governmental awareness and support for important Authority initiatives.
  • Develop strategies on how best to obtain resident, staff and public input and support for such initiatives. 
  • Manage media relations by serving as the designated spokesperson and principal liaison with the news media on behalf of the agency and its Board.
  • Monitor local and regional press and media for articles and newscasts regarding Seattle Housing Authority and other housing related articles and formulate responses as needed.
  • Create social media strategy and manage content, including responding to public comments.
  • Plan and implement public hearings, briefings, informal meetings, special events and promotions.
  • Develop and articulate (written and verbal) the agency’s key messages to a wide spectrum of stakeholders.  
  • Serve as overall agency editor and speech writer, as needed; review and approve all position papers, public testimony, and advocacy letters for consistency with key messages.
  • Develop, implement, evaluate and maintain a proactive strategic communication plan for the Authority; update this plan on an annual basis. 
  • Generate and implement targeted public information and marketing campaigns.
  • Direct the production of all collateral materials; write, edit and oversee the design, development, production and distribution of Housing Authority publications, as needed, in either digital or printed format.  These may include an annual report, various newsletters to stakeholders, – marketing and promotional materials, and other written communications and publications; provide for video communications and write scripts for presentations.  
 

 

Internal

  • Supervise, hire, train, coach, lead and provide corrective/disciplinary action to assigned staff; provide staff training in effective communication strategies and media relations, as needed.
  • Advise on the deployment of resources and staff.
  • Prepare briefings, write speeches and provide communications materials for senior staff, including the Executive Director.
  • Provide guidance on special communications activities within departments, such as the preparation and evaluation of related requests or proposals.
  • Supervise content development for the Authority’s intranet.  Facilitate cooperation among agency staff in contributing and updating materials on the intranet. Collaborate with Information Technology personnel on the technical aspects of the intranet site. 
  • Maintain liaison with City and other governmental departments and agencies; coordinate information on related programs; respond to problems and issues related to services as appropriate.
  • Manage the Authority’s brand identities and logotypes and ensure agency-wide adherence to appropriate standards of consistency.
  • Serve as producer for the Authority’s external website. Monitor and direct design, content development, organization, updating and archiving of materials on the website. Collaborate with Information Technology personnel on the technical aspects of the Seattle Housing Authority Web site.
  • Monitor and enforce the agency’s Safety and Health Program and actively support and participate in the Emergency Preparedness program and tasks. 
  • Serve as principal liaison with The Voice and Building Community newsletters; monitor the contract and approve invoices. 

SKILLS AND COMPEENCIES

Knowledge of:

  • Comprehensive communications practices and methodologies, including both traditional and “new” media technology (e.g. social media) and the internet/intranet.
  • Public relations management and technical skills including long-range planning, issues analysis and management, project management, program administration, and public involvement techniques and procedures.
  • Crisis communication strategies.
  • News media procedures and preferences.
  • Public speaking and event planning.
  • Presentation skills.
  • Community relations techniques.
  • Project planning and management.
  • Budget preparation and control.
  • Principles of layout and publishing.
  • Printing technologies and video production.
  • Experience using audio-visual equipment.

 

Ability to:

  • Identify emerging issues and develop strategies aimed at assuring the fulfillment of the agency’s mission.
  • Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with audiences possessing varied education, economic, cultural, language, and ethnic backgrounds using an appropriate and effective portfolio of communication styles and techniques.
  • Maintain current knowledge of, and advise on changes to program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.
  • Effectively use Microsoft Office programs and Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, InDesign) to create web pages, documents, spreadsheets, etc.
  • Work in an office environment, utilize remote work options, as well as work at field sites.
  • Engage and manage contact with dissatisfied, rude, or frustrated individuals.
  • Work in a high stress work pace involving continuous deadline pressure.
  • Possess or acquire a valid Washington driver’s license and have fully insurable driving record.

 

EXPERIENCE

The preferred experience below will likely contribute to the development of the necessary skills needed to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities listed for this role. Additionally, combinations of work and lived experience, education and other forms of training that demonstrate the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the role may be considered.

  • Ten years of experience in public information, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field, including two years in a leadership position.
  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations or journalism required; however, five additional years of directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the degree.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $141,000 – 214,000 annually. This is a full-time position which requires three in office days, Tuesday through Thursday.

The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is pleased to offer an excellent benefits package. The following is a summary of the SHA benefit programs: 

  • Medical Insurance
    Employees may select from four medical plans – Kaiser Permanente Standard Plan, Kaiser Permanente Deductible Plan, City of Seattle Preventive Plan, and City of Seattle Traditional Plan. Each plan has a cost to the employee that could range from $25.00 per month to $99.00 per month depending on coverage.
  • Dental
    Employees may select from two dental plans – Delta Dental, an incentive plan, or Dental Health Services, a managed care plan. Our dental plans include coverage for eligible dependents and are paid for by SHA.  
  • Vision
    SHA offers two vision plans through VSP Vision Care. The Basic plan is fully paid for by SHA. The Vision Buy-Up plan is paid for by the employee. 
  • Retirement Plan – Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
  • Leave Benefits
    Annual Leave is provided for vacation and personal time off. First year employees earn up to (100 hours annually) and may earn up to 200 years annually once reaching 25 years of service. Seattle Housing Authority has ten legal and personal holidays, as well as a max of three personal holidays per year.  
  • Additional Benefits – Long Term Disability Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Group Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Employee Transportation Program and Flexible Spending Account, and Deferred Compensation Program.


HOW TO APPLY

For more information about this position, please contact Nicole Leckband at nicole@diversityrecruiters.com. Otherwise, please complete the form below:

 

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Seattle Housing Authority is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Research shows that women and members of structurally marginalized groups often only apply if they have met all of the qualifications of the job, but in our experience, no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. YouthCare encourages you to apply if you’re interested! We look forward to your application.

 

 

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