Director II
: Job Details :

Job Description: The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Communications Director performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning within the division Work involves establishing the strategic communications plan and goals and objectives; developing policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; coordinating and evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and reviewing and approving budgets within departments or divisions. Supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions: Directs program activities and/or business functions within a department or division. •Provide communications services to the executive leadership team to facilitate agency priorities, which may include writing, editing, directing, planning, and implementing a variety of communication tactics. •Directs the Communications division to ensure quality and effectiveness of the agency's communications, both with the public and with DFPS employees, by creating, editing and managing the agency's websites, policy handbooks, print publications, and video and multimedia. Develops and implements techniques for evaluating program activities and/or business functions within a department or division; and identifies need for changes. •Provide consultation and support to agency divisions and programs to ensure strategy, alignment, and consistency in messaging. •Plan, implement, coordinate, monitor, approve, and evaluate communication processes, procedures, schedules, priorities, standards, and activities for achieving goals that promote effective communications for the agency, both internal and external. •Proactively develop and implement techniques to partner with divisions and programs on communication activities, including developing, measuring, and adjusting strategies. •Analyzes information from program areas, division staff and DFPS executive leadership to evaluate services, trends, and issues to develop and implement communication strategies and techniques that align with the agency's brand. •Utilizes information from program areas, division staff and DFPS executive leadership to assess and identify needs for improvement and determine actions to address issues and barriers as it relates to the agency's communications. •Conducts communications planning and coordination for internal and external communications initiatives for the division. Develops and establishes goals and objectives consistent with the agency's strategic plan. •Oversees the development, implementation, measurement, and adjustment of strategic communication efforts in alignment with the agency's mission and priorities. •Establish short- and long- term strategic communication plans to advance agency goals in alignment with best practices, agency policies and guidelines including accessibility and branding. •Develops and establishes communication goals, conducting strategic communications planning, setting communications and accessibility policy, developing, and implementing the agency's brand, and developing and maintaining the necessary communications, skills, services, and systems to support the agency's goals and implement the agency's strategic plan. Develops, reviews, and approves budgets and major expenditures; and ensures that requirements of funding sources are met. •Manages the division's budget and approves expenditures, contracts, and subscriptions and collaborates with the Office of Finance to ensure requirements of funding sources are met. •Develops, reviews, and approves the office's budget. Develops policies, procedures, and guidelines, and monitors compliance. •Implements the coordination of agency efforts by developing policies, procedures, and guidelines for the division to comply with laws and additional policies related to electronic accessibility to people who have disabilities. •Develops policies, procedures, and guidelines for the division to further promote effective agency's communications, both with the public and with DFPS employees. •Monitors compliance of division and agency policies, procedures, guidelines, best practices, quality of services and initiatives to ensure effective coordination, and consistency of agency communications. •Oversees the review and evaluation of the impact of proposed federal and state legislation on division policies and procedures relating agency communications. Plans, develops, and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and directs evaluation activities. •Plans, develops, implements, coordinates, monitors, approves, and evaluates communication processes, procedures, schedules, priorities, standards and activities for achieving goals that promote effective communications for the agency, both internal and external. •Manages the agency's advertising firm and approves all aspects of each campaign to include research, marketing strategy, media buys, ads, videos, collaterals, and invoices. Coordinates with programs on their public awareness campaigns to achieve program goals. •Acts as editor and publisher of the DFPS's monthly staff employee newsletter using Word Press. •Administers, writes, edits, and distributes emails to mass external audiences through the Department of Homeland Security's Gov Delivery web-based email subscription management system. •Edits and distributes broadcast email messages to all or subsets of DFPS staff in accordance with communications policy. Represents the agency at business meetings, hearings, trials, legislative sessions, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees. •Represents DFPS at business meetings and conferences, negotiates, and oversees contracts for communications, marketing, creative services, and manages contractors. Reviews and approves management, productivity, and financial reports and studies. •Reviews and approves management and productivity reports on the division's output and accomplishments as it relates to communications. •Reviews, provides direction, and approves videos, print publications, graphics, and other multimedia products. •Reviews and approves financial reports and study to evaluate and implement emerging communication channels, technologies, tools, and techniques to ensure ongoing improvement of office services and agency-wide communications Reviews results of special investigations, internal audits, research studies, forecasts, and modeling exercises to provide direction and guidance. •Reviews results of special investigations, internal audits, research studies and reports as it relates to agency communications and provides editorial direction and guidance to DFPS mass communications, including DFPS websites, social media channels, video production, print publications, policy, reports, employee and public newsletters, all-staff broadcasts emails, and mass public email communications. •Conducts and provides communications consultation, guidance, planning, coordination, and assistance for agency-wide and program area projects, initiatives, and ongoing activities. May develop and oversee the implementation of long-range and short-term plans. •Provides direct communications services to the DFPS Commissioner and executives to facilitate the Commissioner's priorities, which may include writing, editing, directing, planning, and implementing a variety of communications. •Serves as the subject matter expert and point of contact for the Web & Creative Services division to agency executives on key strategic initiatives related to internal and external communications. •Manages informative and critical communications as directed by the Commissioner. Supervises the work of others. •Manages, supervises, and mentors the Office of Communications. •Direct the Office of Communications to ensure strategy, quality, and effectiveness of the agency's communications, both with the public and with DFPS employees, by creating, editing and managing the agency's websites, policy handbooks, print publications, video and multimedia, and other materials. •Leads a team of communication professionals, including recruiting and retaining talented staff. Provide mentorship, motivation, and supervision in an environment committed to professional development, collaboration, and mission-driven work. Performs related work as assigned. Knowledge Skills Abilities: •Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program activities and/or business functions; and the principles and practices of public administration and management. •Knowledge of website design, development, and publication processes, and a fundamental understanding of web analytics. •Knowledge of video and audio production and the ability to serve as a director and/or an executive producer of video or audio projects. •Knowledge of design processes and principles. •Knowledge of photography and video principles and techniques. •Knowledge of branding and brand application. •Knowledge of marketing and the ability to work with and manage advertising firms to assure deliver of high-quality and effective products and services. •Knowledge and skill in communications planning and coordination. •Knowledge of DFPS communications policy and procedures. •Knowledge of accessibility policy and best practices for websites, documents, and other electronic information resources. •Knowledge of communication best practices and emerging tools and trends. •Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy. •Skill in managing teams with diverse communication skillsets. Skill in recruiting, developing, and retaining talented staff. •Ability to direct and organize program activities and/or business functions; to establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan; to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to supervise the work of others. •Ability to identify and analyze audience characteristics and tailor communications appropriately. •Ability to administer and use web-based applications such Gov Delivery, Formstack, and WordPress or other content management systems. •Ability to mentor and motivate individuals to achieve professional development and effectiveness. •Ability to work with all levels of DFPS staff to include executives, IT professionals, program specialists, and field staff. •Ability to write and edit copy using plain language principles. •Ability to conduct basic photo and pdf editing. •Ability to think critically and apply sound professional judgment. Registration or Licensure Requirements: May require registration, certification, or licensure in a specialty area. Initial Selection Criteria: Experience in the management and direction of a program relevant to the assignment. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in a field relevant to the assignment is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for one another. Additional Information: MOS Code: Note: There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply. For more information see the Texas State Auditor's Military Crosswalk . As a state agency, DFPS is required Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-###-####. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.