Director of Communications

Job Requisition ID: 43192 
 Closing Date/Time: 12/18/2024
​Agency: [[Illinois Department of Early Childhood]]
Class Title: [[SPSA]] 
Skill Option: None 
Bilingual Option: None 
Salary: [[Anticipated Salary Range 115,000-120,000]]
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Cook; DeKalb; DuPage; Kane; Lake
Number of Vacancies: 1
Plan/BU: None

****A RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****

Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV), a copy of your transcripts or diploma for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licensures to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. Please note that the Office of the Governor must verify proof of higher education for any degree earned (if applicable) before any offer can be extended. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

Director of Communications for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood

30%    1.     Serves as the Director of the Office of Communications for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) and reports to the Chief of Staff. 
•    Acts as a policy-making official. 
•    Contributes strategic communications thinking and excellent writing ability to participate in determining and crafting IDEC policy to advance IDEC goals and objectives.
•    Formulates policy for the Office of Communications which has a statewide impact. 
•    As part of the core leadership team, participates in planning and programming agency activities mandated by legislation, regulations and the Secretary. 
•    Confers with the Chief of Staff, Secretary and administrative staff on feasibility of recommended policies. 
•    Applies a communications lens to interpret new legislation and administrative policies and craft messaging and procedures for notifying Agency stakeholders.

30%    2.    Serves as the Agency’s lead, statewide communications professional for all communications related activities. 
•    As a founding leader of a new state agency, develops and advances a single, unifying brand and communication strategy for IDEC.
•    Exerts primary controlling impact on the end results and outputs of the Office of Communications. 
•    Coordinates the activities of communication staff and, when applicable, external vendors, to provide information and interpretation of the Agency’s mission, values, goals, operations, range of available services, and issues concerning all IDEC programs and services. Activities of the communication’s department include promotional activities for IDEC programs, FOIA and media requests, weekly reports, activities at the State Fair and other community engagement events, talking points and speeches for the Secretary and other executive staff, and IDEC conferences, stakeholder engagement (including focus groups, listening sessions, town hall meetings), etc.
•    Leads management of high-profile issues and complex messaging needs.
•    Oversees internal communication for the IDEC.
•    Directs and coordinates the design, preparation, composition and presentation of web sites, social media, publications, brochures, newsletters, and mandated reports to ensure the IDEC message is accurate and consistent, works closely with Department of Central Management Services (CMS) media staff where appropriate.
•    Ensures communication and materials are culturally and linguistically accessible and inclusive for Illinois’ families and providers.

20%    3.     Serves as full line supervisor: 
•    Assigns and reviews work. 
•    Provides guidance, feedback, and training to assigned staff. 
•    Counsels staff regarding work performance. 
•    Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs. 
•    Establishes annual goals and objectives. 
•    Approves time off. 
•    Adjusts first level grievances. 
•    Effectively recommends and imposes discipline, up to and including discharge. 
•    Prepares and signs performance evaluation. 

15%    4.    Serves as an official agency spokesperson on behalf of the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and the agency with officials of federal and state agencies, the Governor’s Office, legislators and consumer groups in events and issues of shared concern. 
•    Directs the planning and execution of publicity-generating appearances, actions and events conducted at the local level and involving appearances by the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and other IDEC staff, in coordination with CMS media staff. 
•    Prepares and directs the preparation of public testimony.
•    Responds to media inquiries and coordinates media interviews with the Secretary and other IDEC leadership.
•    Speaks on the record on behalf of the Secretary and IDEC working closely with CMS media staff in issuing press releases

5%    5.    Performs other duties for the Chief of Staff or Secretary as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications 
1.    Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years college with course work in business or public administration, communication, public affairs or public relations. 
2.    Requires four (4) years progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization or legislative areas.

Preferred Qualifications 
1.    Ability to clearly communicate ideas, methods, and principles, both verbally and in writing. 
2.    Ability to interpret and think critically about data and policy. 
3.    Professional experience working with confidential information or sensitive issues. 
4.    Experience in a supervisory role.
5.    Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in developing, implementing and interpreting departmental policies and procedures.
6.    Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships.
 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 
1. Requires the ability to pass a background check. 
2. Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 
3. 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 requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. 
4. Requires the ability to utilize and maintain state issued equipment such as a cell phone, laptop, etc. 

•    The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

 ​Work Hours: M-F 9-5
Work Location: [[Chicago, IL]]
Agency Contact: Sydney Ellison
Email:Sydney Ellison@illinois.gov
Posting Group: Leadership & Management

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
• systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com