Associate Director of Communications

Location: Augusta,Maine,United States

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Coordinator II

Opening Date: June 27, 2024

Closing Date: July 19, 2024

Job Class Code: CA30
Grade:  30 (Confidential)
Salary: $ 69,742.40-$ 94,827.20
There will be a 3% across the board general salary increase effective June 30th, 2024
Position Number: 02000-4163
Location: Augusta, OFI Central Office

Core Responsibilities:

As Associate Director of Communications for the Office for Family Independence (OFI), you will help bring the story of our work to life in a way that builds shared understanding of our programs and impact among the people we serve, the people who work here, and our partners across the state. You will help this Office navigate challenges as well as celebrate successes. And you will ensure that the message is clear when it matters most.
You will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of internal and external communications and serve as a liaison to a broad range of committees, work groups, and organizations. You will also support the work of other OFI leaders in developing communications plans, strategies, and products that affect one third of Maine’s population. In this key leadership role, you will also help develop office-wide priorities, maintain strong internal and external partnerships, and continuously assess what’s needed and whether our efforts are effective.

Additional responsibilities:
•    Develop and maintain a detailed communications plan for internal and external communications that outlines key messages, target audiences, and timing.
•    Ensure that OFI’s internal and external communications are consistent, appropriate, and accessible. Lead office-wide outreach efforts, including e-mail newsletters, webinars, and social media  .
•    Act as a liaison between OFI and key stakeholders including other DHHS and State components and external organizations. Prepare reports and presentations to explain OFI’s programs, policies, and positions to a variety of audiences including clients, staff, Federal partners, the public, and the Legislature.
•    Research, evaluate, and draft rules, legislation, and testimony. Write reports, develop presentations, and summarize information as appropriate for the intended audiences.
•    Ensure information about OFI programs, projects, and activities are accessible by and communicated to the public, clients, staff, and stakeholders. Coordinate updates to OFI’s website through program and policy experts across the Office.
•    Serve as a designee on a variety of work groups and committees to communicate OFI’s position, develop policies and procedures, and promote stakeholder coordination and cooperation.
•    Collaborate in developing organization-wide policies, procedures, and documents. Ensure that OFI’s programs and service delivery systems support attainment of its mission.
•    Partner with the senior management team and DHHS leaders to identify and effectively use necessary resources to communicate effectively.
•    Partner with a variety of stakeholders for strategic planning, policy oversight, program and operations reviews, and information exchanges.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, your background must include an eight (8) year combination of education and experience in community development, social services, health, communications, and/or public policy.
Preferred experience includes:
•    A professional degree in social services, communications, public administration, or other comparable field
•    Professional or lived experience with Medicaid, SNAP, and/or TANF 
•    Communications or public relations related experience
The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:
•    Knowledge of: state/federal laws, regulations, and rules pertaining to OFI programs; legislative process; public policy development, formulation, and execution; social, economic, and public relations issues affective OFI, its programs, and people served; communications strategy and execution; social media development; history and purpose of public benefits
•    Ability to: communicate effectively with diverse audiences; make things that seem complicated easier to understand; write clearly; work effectively in a team environment; work under administrative direction and meet deadlines; prepare and deliver presentations, training, and agency positions; formulate administrative goals, objectives, and plans; and establish and maintain effective working relationships (internal and external).

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