Communications Specialist - Communications Specialist 3

Working Title: Communications Specialist
Job Class: Communications Specialist 3
Agency: Minnesota IT Services

• Closing Date: 08/10/2023
• Classified Status: Classified
• Division/Unit: IT PR Reports DOC CEN-OFC / IT Operations Division
• Travel Required: No
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Minnesota IT Services
• Telework Eligible: Yes #LI-Hybrid
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes
• FLSA Status: Nonexempt
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day
• Date Posted: 08/04/2023
• Salary Range: $28.96 - $42.67 / hourly; $60,468 - $89,094 / annually
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

This position will develop, plan, implement, and coordinate communications strategy and activities and marketing campaigns for Minnesota Information Technology Department of Corrections (MNIT DOC) projects and initiatives to ensure internal and external stakeholders are well informed. This role includes assistance with communications strategy, message development, writing, and editing. This includes related email communications, web communications, mass mailing and drafting, editing, and publishing content.

The incumbent will ensure that communications follow DOC and MNIT Enterprise standards and related laws and rules.

This position is responsible for creating and administering strategic communications plans and communications for MNIT DOC programs, services, and products. This position is the primary technical writer for content for technical and non-technical audiences. Includes the following:

• Primary technical writer and editor for service communications using plain language principles, AP style, and brand voice.
• Supports MNIT DOC with agency-wide content and communications strategy for MNIT’s services, operations, product/portfolio/project, and program units, and MNIT DOC teams.
• Consults with work units to develop communication strategies and plans, draft content, and carry out campaigns and promotions.
• Consults with MNIT DOC IT Leadership to develop strategic plans for communicating the agency’s priorities.
• Consolidate duplicative activities to ensure efficient and effective administration.

This position is currently eligible for full-time telework:

• Telework for Minnesota IT Services allows an employee to perform work from a telework location and an employee may be required to be in the office based on business needs and other dependencies.
• Candidates residing outside of Minnesota and bordering states (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin) require additional review prior to telework approval upon becoming a finalist.
• Candidates located in Minnesota, or a bordering state, do not require additional review.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must clearly demonstrate all of the following qualifications in their resume:

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English or a closely related field and/or at least three (3) of years of professional experience in planning and implementing multi-faceted communications and marketing strategies suitable for wide audiences.

Experience must include:

• Americans with Disabilities (ADA) guidelines and digital accessibility best practices sufficient to ensure documents are accessible.
• Working with subject matter experts, senior leaders, or executives to develop presentations, talking points, or remarks for external and internal audiences.
• Writing, editing, organization, and independent working sufficient to share technical, complex information or issues to a broad and varied audience.Applying plain language principles and AP style to communications materials sufficient to ensure clear and concise messaging.
• Designing effective communications materials sufficient to share technical, complex information or issues to a broad audience.
• Working with the media sufficient to proactively identify media opportunities and effectively respond to media inquiries.

It is the policy of Minnesota IT Services that a successful candidate must pass all legally required checks prior to employment which may consist of the following:

• Criminal History Check
• Social Security and Address Verification
• SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past state employees only)
• Reference Check

• Education Verification
• Other legally required checks

Minnesota IT Services will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English or a closely related field.
• Ability to plan and implement multi-faceted, complex communications and marketing strategies suitable for wide audiences.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people both inside and outside the agency, including state employees and Minnesotans.
• Experience gathering and organizing complicated information into an easily understandable format.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and balance multiple demands simultaneously.
• Work well under time pressure and in stressful situations and a rapidly changing environment.
• Leads in a team environment and direct the work of vendors, consultants, contractors, or other staff to ensure communication efforts are completed as planned.
• Communicates effectively both in person and in writing.

How to Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected]. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

If you have questions about the position, contact Jolene Blaser at [email protected].

Connect 700 Program

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Jolene Blaser at [email protected].

Veterans

To be considered for any Veteran's Status, you MUST indicate this on your application.

RECENTLY SEPARATED VETERANS (RSV): Effective July 1, 2009, legislation provides that the top five RSV applicants who apply and meet the qualifications for a vacancy shall be granted an interview. You must:

CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS: Effective August 1, 2012, legislation provides state agencies with the option to appoint certain disabled veterans on a noncompetitive basis if you:

Current State Employees

• Bidders: This vacancy is open for bids and all qualified applicants simultaneously. This vacancy will be filled in accordance with applicable union contract provisions. Current employees of Minnesota IT Services who are currently in a Communications Specialist 3 position and who are eligible to bid and apply within the seven (7) day bidding period will be considered prior to filling the position via other means.
• Current State Employees: Please note that employment provisions (including but not limited to seniority and leave accrual) vary among the three branches of Minnesota State government. When considering a job with another branch of state government, you are highly encouraged to explore these differences. For assistance, please direct questions to your current or anticipated Human Resources office.

About Minnesota IT Services

Join the 2,500+ professionals of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) who connect Minnesotans to services that will improve their lives. This position serves our partners at the Department of Corrections (DOC). The MNIT DOC team runs many unique applications that manage the information and security of the department, supporting 4,500 employees across 10 prisons and 50 field offices located throughout the state.

Why Work for Us

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule
• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

• Tax-deferred compensation
• Public pension plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Prescription drug coverage
• 11 paid holidays each year
• Dependent care spending account
• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Health care spending and savings accounts
• Low-cost medical and dental coverage
• Employer paid life insurance
• Training and professional development
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Vision coverage
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness programs and resources

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] and indicate what assistance is needed.