Job description
Our organization, mission, and culture:
The mission of the Department of Health is to promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans. Our team members are expected to be high-performing professionals who can work independently with limited direct supervision. Our office values positive attitudes, teamwork, innovation, efficiency, and a growth mindset. To be successful in this environment, team members must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, both in the work we produce for the department and with our clients, fellow coworkers and other collaborators.
The benefits of joining our team:
Our team is hard-working and supportive of each other. We have high standards for our work and offer an environment that is nurturing and encourages team members to try new skills and become more proficient in existing skills. Our work is critical to the DOH mission to improve the health and well-being of Alaskans by conveying important health information to Alaskans.
The working environment you can expect:
This position is part of the Public Information Team, the centralized group of communications professionals that supports our department, and is based in Anchorage. We are currently working hybrid schedules from home or in an office setting, as appropriate. Because our department is so broad in scope and one of the largest State of Alaska departments, the work is highly varied in both content and the audiences we strive to reach with our communications efforts.
Who we are looking for:
The candidate will demonstrate proficiency in the following areas of knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Skill in writing and editing content; preparing written and visual materials for press releases, radio, television, web sites, lectures and displays; interpretive writing; digesting, editing, abstracting, and condensing technical reports and studies.
- Ability to plan, coordinate and implement information and education programs with respect to target audiences.
- Ability to work cooperatively with coworkers and contributors from other areas of the department to solicit ideas and develop informational and educational materials in a variety of formats.
- Ability to use originality in presentations and public information campaigns; interpret statistical charts, graphs and tables; and write materials adapted to the needs and interests of various audiences served by the agency's information and education programs; write in good grammatical style; provide background research for news releases, newsletters, radio scripts, addresses, lectures and talks; prepare research material for public presentation.
- Ability to screen news outlets and other publications for information relevant to or which may reflect agency programs; informs department management of current events, and public concern, and prepares department position announcements and general comments.
Special Notice:
Please provide examples of how you meet these demonstrated strengths in your cover letter, and be prepared to describe in greater detail during an interview:
Experience developing and executing a public relations communications and/or marketing plan for an organization.
Experience managing social media accounts and developing a digital communications plan.
Knowledge of health and social service issues, and experience developing informational materials on public health, behavioral health, social services, or other health-related topics for diverse audiences.
Experience working with conventional media outlets (print/TV/radio), and interacting with reporters.
- Ability to communicate using strong writing skills and the ability to explain complex topics in a clear and concise manner. Experience writing press releases, feature stories, scripts, speeches, and social media posts.
Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in
Communications and Media: Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, visual media and social media.
- Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
- Multimedia Technologies: Knowledge of the principles, methods, tools, and techniques to develop or apply technology using text, audio, graphics, or other media.
- Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
- Organizational Awareness: Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
Equivalent to those typically gained by:
Any combination of preparatory post-secondary education and/or progressively responsible experience in journalism, communications media, education, English, literature, fine arts, library science, radio, television, photography, advertising, marketing, sales, public relations and/or promotional work, freelance writing, technical writing and/or research, education, library work or other information dissemination field.
Special Note:
“Competencies” means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.
“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.
“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.
“Progressively responsible” means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.
At time of interview applicant is requested to submit:
- A current resume
- Three writing samples for at least two different target audience types. Please include one long-form and one short-form writing sample (examples include a radio ad script, social media post, newsletter or blog post);
- Three business references with contact information
- Sample materials from at least one public education or advertising campaign you developed and implemented
- A copy of academic transcripts, to verify post-secondary education used to meet the minimum qualifications. (Unofficial transcripts are accepted provided the institutions name is listed)
COVER LETTER
EDUCATION
To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview or if not provided, transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.
WORK EXPERIENCE
When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.
If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.
MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.
APPLICATION NOTICE
NOTICE
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465- 4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains. For information on allowing emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [email protected].
For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword
Shirley Sakaye, Project Analyst
The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)
Insurance Benefits
- Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/programs/index.html for additional information.
- AVTEC
- Confidential
- Correctional Officers
- Marine Engineers
- Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
- Supervisory
- Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
- Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
- The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
- General Government
- Labor, Trades and Crafts
- Public Safety Employees Association
- Masters, Mates & Pilots
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/programs/index.html for additional information.
- Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)
- Group-based insurance premiums for
- Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Supplemental Survivor Benefits
- Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
Retirement Benefits
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
- Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
- Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
- Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
- Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
- Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
- Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
- Eleven paid holidays a year
- Gym discounts at participating fitness providers in multiple locations throughout the state.
See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/ghlb/employee/health/gymListing.html for additional information