Climate Pollution Reduction Communications Consultant (Communications Consultant 4) (Two Positions)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) is looking to fill two Climate Pollution Reduction Communications Consultant (Communications Consultant 4) positions. These positions will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
Are you passionate about preserving our natural environment and climate policy? Do you have a knack for writing compelling and effective content? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!
 
As a Climate Pollution Reduction Communications Consultant, you’ll help shape multichannel communication strategies across multiple projects and take the lead on implementation. You’ll work with experts throughout the program, synthesizing their knowledge to create informative and accessible content for both niche and broad audiences. You’ll be tasked with crafting messaging, shaping and implementing strategic communications plans, media and public relations activities and coordinating communications with other state and local agencies and elected officials. If you enjoy a creative challenge and working alongside purpose-driven colleagues, then we encourage you to apply!
The principal department strategic priorities and goals that relate to the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) include: reduce and prepare for climate impacts; prevent and reduce toxic threats; and deliver efficient and effective services. The CPRP’s mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work schedule (Tuesdays in the office). Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change. Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on April 8, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before April 7, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 
Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

 Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Duties

You’ll get to apply your expertise in crafting communications about the critical work of the Climate Pollution Reduction Program. This will include sharing updates on Washington’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Commitment Act, investments in clean transportation, the fluorinated gas reduction program, greenhouse gas emissions inventory development, the clean fuel standard and other environmental initiatives, through print, blogs, web content, graphics, videos, social media copy and press releases. With your knowledge of climate policy, you’ll support program leadership and senior staff with preparing legislative testimony, talking points, briefing documents, presentations, and other materials. You will also engage with the public participation process in support of rulemaking, which may include making presentations, overseeing public meetings, answering questions, and developing communication materials for public engagement. Additionally, you’ll help maintain key communications assets, like our website.
 
Some other duties of the Climate Pollution Reduction Communications Consultant include:

• Contact and interface with news media to promote and explain news content relevant to the CPRP.
• Respond to inquiries from citizens, community groups, reporters, and regulated entities
• Updating web content and creating new web content following accessibility and user-centered design best practices
• Research, write, edit, and update written materials such as focus sheets, prevention bulletins, program brochures, conference displays, posters, and other publications for public distribution. 
• Develop graphics and videos for the website.
• Track and share analytics.
• Edit copy for a wide variety of work; review copy for correctness, clarity, form of presentation, and suitability for submission; confer with project staff on technical accuracy and rewrites as necessary.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A total of seven years of education and/or experience:

• Professional experience may include, but is not limited to, journalism, public relations/information, news media, marketing, digital accessibility or writing/editing. Experience must include or demonstrate:
  1. Writing and editing.  
  2. Developing web content strategy, writing/editing and managing web content. 
  3. Working with the media.
  4. Strategic communications.
  5. Using project management tools to prioritize work and meet deadlines. 
  6. Working effectively both as part of a team and independently.
  7. Proficient use of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and Adobe products, such as Photoshop, Acrobat Pro and InDesign.
• Education involving major study in journalism, communications, public relations, news media, digital/social media, English, marketing, humanities, or closely allied field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations: College credit hours or degree - as listed above: Years of professional level experience - as listed above.

Combination 1; No college credit hours or degree; 7 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits; 6 years of experience.

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree); 5 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits; 4 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree; 3 years of experience

Combination 6; A Master’s Degree or higher; 1 year of experience

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Experience with a content management system. 
• Experience with InDesign or similar graphic production software.
• Experience with video recording and editing.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.
• Two writing samples -- one long form and one short form. Samples should either be policy-related or explaining a complex topic to a lay audience.

Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Caroline Halter at: Caroline.Halter@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Caroline to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. 

State of Washington Job Opportunities | Work that Matters (governmentjobs.com)