Job Announcement

Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is seeking a dynamic communicator to help connect 1.1 million Fairfax County residents with resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities.

Works with direction from the NCS Communications Director to produce strategic marketing communications campaigns that educate and inform the public on a variety of issues, events, projects, and programs. Responsibilities include:

• Works with NCS subject matter experts and program managers to organize and creatively execute campaigns that meet the needs of programs or departments while supporting the mission of both the agency and the county.
• Oversees production of agency collateral including internal and external newsletters, media releases, fliers, information sheets and brochures.
• Curates content, write and prepare final copy for a variety of platforms including publications, news releases, blogs, social media, presentations, and public events.
• Plans and implements photographic and media coverage of events.
• Assists with making presentations on behalf of the department to the community and county.
• Produces multimedia productions to support the goals of the department, including audio, video and online productions.
• Grows and oversees the department’s social media accounts.
• Assists with response to media requests.
• Conducts customer/constituent research for evaluation and measurement of communication efforts.

Join the NCS team and be a part of an organization that makes a daily difference in Fairfax County communities.

Illustrative Duties

• Develops comprehensive strategic communication planning on behalf of the department and the County;
• Supervises and manages all communication planning and programs for the department;
• Planning and implementing photographic coverage of events;
• Plans and implements a Speakers Bureau or plans speaking engagements for department;
• Makes presentations on behalf of the department to community and County;
• Plans and implements event and meetings;
• Writes speeches for presentation to community and County;
• Develops proposals in support of departmental goals and projects;
• Coordinates presentations before the Board of Supervisors;
• Supervises the production of all communication tools (print, multimedia, online) in support of the department’s mission;
• Implements and supervises the implementation of print production projects;
• Implements and supervises the implementation of website development and new media projects;
• Serves as spokesperson for the department with the media;
• Budgeting and cost control for communication projects that are supervised;
• Conducts audience / constituent research for evaluation and measurement of communication programs;
• Leads the department’s communication planning (strategic planning, action planning) team;
• May interact directly with the Board of Supervisors and County Executive’s Office on behalf of the department.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to supervise the work of others in publication management, multimedia development, community relations or media relations;
• Ability to write, edit and design for departmental publications;
• Ability to write for multimedia;
• Knowledge of photography and planning photography coverage;
• Knowledge of appropriate standards and formatting for online media;
• Ability to manage publications and to generate revenue;
• Ability to use current computer software and email;
• Ability to design and develop Web sites;
• Ability to problem solve;
• Ability to manage projects (including budgeting);
• Ability to communicate in a crisis;
• Knowledge of the methods for preparing information to increase the likelihood of its use;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County government officials, regional officials, and potentially national and international dignitaries and government representatives.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Bachelor’s degree in communication, business administration or field related to subject matter expertise, plus 6 years of progressively responsible experience in a communication area of specialization, government relations, management or area of specialization in which the department is represented.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 
  Direct experience providing internal and external communications for local, state, or federal government.
• Demonstrated success planning, evaluating, and measuring internal and external communications campaigns.
• Experience managing social media accounts for professional organizations.
• Experience producing print publications.
• Experience planning events and ceremonies.
• Experience with website and blog management.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is generally sedentary in nature. However, incumbent may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.