Deputy Communications Director

Position Overview

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is seeking a motivated professional to serve as the Deputy Communications Director. Reporting directly to the Director of Communications, the Deputy Communications Director will serve as a policy-making official and will assist the Director of Communications with leading the agency’s internal and external communications efforts, which include organizing, planning, executing, controlling and evaluating the communications team’s operations. The Deputy Communications Director will also help lead and execute communication strategies related to federal Public Law 119‑21 (known as H.R.1 or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) initiatives, with a focus on federal regulatory and administrative program requirements, ensuring consistent, accurate, and accessible information is provided to internal and external stakeholders impacted by the new federal regulations and administrative program changes.

The ideal candidate will exhibit strong attention to detail, demonstrate leadership skills to achieve set goals while demonstrating independent initiatives and strong interpersonal skills and experience setting and meeting short and long-term deadlines. Strong writing and organizational skills are critical for this position.

HFS values employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents. 

Essential Functions

• Subject to management approval, serving as the Deputy Communications Director for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and under the direction of the Director of Communications
• Assists with statewide marketing efforts, including but not limited to ongoing customer and stakeholder communications related to the Department’s implementation of new federal requirements
• Provides input and support to the HFS Communications Director in the development and implementation of statewide public communications, including, but not limited to, creating and overseeing content on the agency’s public website and social media channels
• Prepares materials for and drives or travels to attend, support, and provide guidance on special events, including but not limited to press engagements, legislative hearings, the Springfield and DuQuoin State Fairs, and other events as assigned
• Serves as a representative of the HFS Communications Director in collaborating with the Governor’s Office and other government agencies regarding highly sensitive, complex responses, reaffirming the Department’s position on sensitive and controversial issues
• Serves as a full line supervisor
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in journalism, communications, marketing, or liberal arts
• Requires four (4) years of related administrative experience in media relations, communications, public affairs, or a comparable field

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional experience managing a communications strategy for a public or business organization
• Four (4) years of professional experience in a public-facing role presenting, delivering or communicating on behalf of a public or business organization
• Four (4) years of professional experience in the management or implementation of a marketing plan for a public or business organization
• Four (4) years of professional experience planning, organizing, and conducting special events for a public or business organization
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or marketing

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history
• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends
• Requires the ability to utilize and maintain state issued equipment such as a laptop
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job
  description

About the Agency

At the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), we value staff as our greatest asset. We work in a spirit of teamwork to help millions of Illinoisans access high quality healthcare and fulfill child support obligations to advance their physical, mental, and financial well-being. We provide healthcare coverage for children and adults through Medicaid and other medical programs, and we help ensure that children receive financial resources from both their parents through Child Support Services. The HFS Office of the Inspector General investigates, audits and reviews program activity to ensure the integrity of our programs is maintained.

HFS is committed to promoting and preserving a workplace culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.  We welcome and value employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents.  It is the collective sum of our individual differences that provides a broad perspective, leading to greater innovation and achievement.  In recruiting for our team, we recognize the unique contributions of each applicant regardless of culture, ethnicity, race, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. HFS is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits Statement

Employees receive a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday work schedule
• Flexible work schedules are available in many program areas. (Remote work may be an option for certain positions.)
• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually.
• New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually.
• Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually.
• (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)

If you are seeking a new opportunity, and this position appeals to you, please apply today!