What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Lead position at State of Washington Dept. of Revenue?
Description
The Department of Revenue’s Customer Experience and Communications (CEC) Division is a team of creative collaborators, strategic thinkers, and idea generators who bring clarity and connection to every corner of the agency. If you excel at guiding communication strategy, translating complexity into compelling content, and leading cross-divisional projects that shape public understanding—this Communications Lead (Management Analyst 5) role may be your next opportunity.
This position supports Revenue's vision and mission, as well as the Agency's customer experience goal to "Build relationships. Empower Success."
This is a Full-time Project position is only open to Department of Revenue employees and is expected to last through June 30, 2029
We value work-life balance and offer the convenience of hybrid remote and in-person work. This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. Some in-office days are anticipated during the onboarding process and throughout this project. This schedule will be based on in-person needs, largely at our office in Tumwater, WA, and may change from week to week. All employees on this team are expected to be in the office once per month for division-wide meetings. Additional events, meetings, trainings, or other work in the office is scheduled in advance and generally held at our office in Tumwater, WA.
Please review the opportunity details below and forward this message to others you feel may be qualified.
Duties
This Communications Lead sits at the center of CEC’s creative and strategic engine, applying expert analysis and project leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate communication strategies that support some of the agency’s most visible and complex initiatives—including legislative rollouts.
In this role, you’ll help shape how millions of Washingtonians understand tax changes, public services, and new initiatives. Your work will bring clarity to complex topics, strengthen trust in public institutions, and support equitable access to information.
Key responsibilities include:
- Translate complex legislation into clear, accessible stories that resonate with diverse audiences.
- Analyze communication needs and develop strategic plans using expert judgment and a customer-focused lens.
- Lead customer-experience-driven communications for medium to large cross-divisional projects, including legislative rollouts and technology initiatives.
- Advise agency leadership on communication strategy, customer impacts, and effective audience engagement.
- Collaborate closely with digital designers and the website redesign team to shape accessible, user-centered online content.
This position will work actively and collaboratively with our website redesign lead and digital designer on all aspects of this implementation project and will have a dotted line reporting relationship to the CEC Assistant Director.
Qualifications
The required qualifications are key competencies that have been successfully demonstrated through experience or education. To join our team, you must possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-divisional teams and manage complex communication projects, gained through progressive experience coordinating legislative, policy, or organizational initiatives.
Proven ability to translate and simplify complex tax, policy, or legislative information for public audiences, supported by experience developing plain-language materials, presentations, or web content.
Progressive experience conducting communication planning and analysis, including assessing customer needs and determining effective education or outreach methods across multiple delivery channels.
Demonstrated skill in developing, producing, and overseeing communication products such as web content, videos, publications, and presentations using tools like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar software.
Proven ability to research, interpret, and summarize complex issues—particularly legislative or policy changes—to support organizational planning, communication strategy, and leadership decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to write, edit, and review materials using Plain Language principles, as shown through experience producing accessible content for diverse internal and external audiences.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams such as digital designers, web specialists, change management experts, and agency leadership in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
Demonstrated interpersonal and relationship-building skills gained through experience working with staff across divisions, representing an organization on interagency initiatives, and supporting customer experience goals.
Progressive experience monitoring and evaluating communication plans or public-facing programs, including presenting findings or feasibility analyses to management or executive stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage time and prioritize multiple projects in an office environment with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines, supported by experience working under general direction and independent judgment.
Equity Competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
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Uses an equitable and inclusive approach.
Preference may be granted to candidates with complimentary expertise in:
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
- User-centered design principles and complex data analysis.
- Plain Talk writing techniques.
- Methods for determining need for public information/education and evaluating the effectiveness of public relations programs.
The incumbent will be motivated, ethical, and have the experience, skills, and abilities to:
- Work cooperatively and effectively within a team environment.
- Effectively communicate with individuals at all levels of the organization.
- Provide leadership and commitment to support continuous improvement of operations.
Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, public relations, or related field and five years of writing/editing/public relations experience; communications strategy; or equivalent education/experience.
To be considered, complete the online application in detail and attach:
- A cover letter explaining your qualifications for this position.
- A resume highlighting your work experience.
- Note - Incomplete applications may be disqualified.
To take advantage of Veteran's preference, please attach your DD-214, member 4 long form, or your NGB-22. Please blackout your social security number and date of birth before attaching.
Questions?
Hello, my name is Lance, and I will be assisting with this announcement. As a 20-year Department of Revenue employee, I understand the importance of finding a rewarding career with a work-life balance. At Revenue, we pride ourselves in connecting talented individuals with opportunity and would like to answer any questions you have.
Please contact any part of the Staffing team at Jobs@dor.wa.gov or give me a call (360) 704-5725.
Supplemental Information
The Human Resource Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.
This position may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Department of Revenue and the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA).
The Department of Revenue is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and offer a respectful, inclusive culture for people with disabilities, as well as members of all protected groups and statuses. We encourage you to apply.
If you need help during the application process, please call the Human Resources Office at 360-704-5731. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.