COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - 64026745

Requisition No: 849577 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - 64026745

 Pay Plan: SMS

Position Number: 64026745 

Salary:  $90k -$110k 

Posting Closing Date: 03/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The Communication Director position for the Florida Department of Health (Department) reports to the Chief of Staff. This position is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Office of Communications to include developing effective messaging and communication strategies. The Director serving as the lead for media correspondence, and supervising positions and responsibilities within the Office of Communication.

Responsibilities Include:

• Serves as the Department spokesperson and responds timely to media requests. Prepares clear, concise, and consistent information, and identifies sensitive and confidential information.
• Coordinates responses with related program area subject matter experts and Executive Management.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of state and local agencies.
• Supervises staff and serves as liaison between the Office of Communications and State Health Office divisions and offices as well as county health department public information officers.
• Oversees day-to-day operations of the section, including tracking and responding to media calls, communications content, ensuring media clips are compiled and shared, etc.
• Develop communications to be disseminated by the section to the media, public, and other interested stakeholders.
• Conducts media relations for selected events in coordination with state and local agencies.
• Assists in organizing press conferences, media events, and other events in which the Department hosts.
• Develops positive relationships with statewide print, radio, and TV outlets, as well as with other press/communication offices and outreach staff.
• Writes and distributes press releases, press advisories, Department statements, talking points, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor.
• Coordinates the compilation of Department information for weekly, monthly, and annual reports.
• Identifies media opportunities and strategies to proactively communicate information to the public.
• Travels for and/or with leadership to events as needed. Travel may be required 25 percent or more of overall time in this position.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to provide information succinctly, accurately, and clearly in verbal and written communiques.
• Attention to detail and grammar accuracy.
• Superior writing and editing abilities, must know AP Style.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other commonly-used programs.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate and work with all people from racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender diverse communities.
• Ability to perform multiple duties effectively independently in an environment of continuous change and interruptions.
• Ability to work well independently and as a member of a highly integrated and diverse team.
• Ability to organize, delegate, and carry out assignments independently.

Qualifications:

Minimum: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and five years of professional experience in news reporting, editing, public relations, public information, advertising, marketing, mass communications, or journalism. A master's degree from an accredited college or university in

communications or English can substitute for one year of the required experience. Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

This position is located in Tallahassee, FL at the Capital Circle Office Complex

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (for more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

Please be advised: Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.