As the Visual Communications Lead you’ll be part of the team working under the Communications Manager that directs the Puget Sound Partnership’s communications program. You will use your creative problem solving and clean typographic aesthetic to support the Partnership’s efforts to restore the Puget Sound ecosystem. Using your strong communication skills, you will work with a wide variety of partners internally and externally, helping translate complex science and policy issues into understandable and impactful websites, infographics, factsheets and other visual materials. You will also be the caretaker of our agency brand look and feel, refining guidelines and educating teams in collaboratively generating content that meets our high standards of communications.

A little bit about the Partnership
The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency leading the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. We bring together hundreds of partners to mobilize partner action around a common agenda, advance Sound investments, and advance priority actions by supporting partners.

Our main office is in a LEED Platinum-certified building on the waterfront in Tacoma within a 15 minute walk of downtown (restaurants, shopping, museums, farmer’s market, etc.). We promote flexibility in work schedules and offer a range of options, including, alternate work schedules, telecommuting 1-2 days per week with supervisor approval. Staff are also issued laptop computers and mobile phones and have access to state vehicles for travel.

We are proud to offer a suite of “Employer of Choice” initiatives, including:

• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• A Commute Trip Reduction program
• Focus on healthy work/life balance
• Fully vested in modern workplace practices and design
• An Infant at Work Program

For more information, visit our website: www.psp.wa.gov.

About the Strategic Communications Program
The Puget Sound Partnership’s Strategic Communications Program is a three-person team that fosters the networks and relationships through the which the Puget Sound recovery community can come together to create and deliver effective, decision-critical communications. The Communications Team engages partners in Puget Sound recovery to build trust, reinforce relationships, and foster commitments, enabling key decision-makers to have the tools, information, and support needed to make policy and funding decisions that support Puget Sound recovery

Who we are looking for
We are looking for someone with a strong portfolio of work that shows clean design and typographic sensibilities. You’ll have experience distilling complexity into the core ideas and messages.  You’ll have experience creating infographics that bring numbers and data to life in innovative and compelling ways. You’ll be someone with excellent communication and analytical skills who can work with a variety of academic and policy professionals on a wide range of intricate topics. You’ll have an eye for detail as you support our ongoing agency communications tasks. You’ll be someone who has shown that they are passionate about collaboration and has a desire to contribute to, and help create, a high-functioning team.

Duties

Some of what you will enjoy doing include:

• Responsibility for the design and production of all visual communication projects and for overseeing contractors across a variety of media including publications, displays, exhibits, PowerPoint and video presentations, major reports, fact sheets, Partnership websites and a range of other materials.
• Contributing creative and visual design expertise and skills to solving a wide range of communications problems.
• Performing functions such as establishing Communications Program goals and priorities, developing and implementing graphic design policies and standards. Works with the Communication Manager to assist in visual communication strategy and implementation.
• Working collaboratively with the communications team to provide direction and consultation on communication projects’ scope, focus, audience, and media selection. Working with the Communications Manager to support the strategic thinking in planning and implementing communications plans.
• With the guidance of the Communications Manager, responsibility for brand and agency design standards; setting goals, objectives, and standards; developing and implementing organization-wide graphic design policy and procedures; ensuring adherence to department or organization-wide design standards.
• Managing content updates across agency websites.
• Providing training to staff on visual design strategies and concepts.
• Providing creative insights and creative influence to team problem-solving.

QualificationsQualifications
The successful candidate should be a team player, defined as possessing initiative and a driving passion for the work, bringing humility to their job and interactions with others, and having excellent people skills.

Required Experience, Competencies, and Technical Skills:
Education, Experience, and Competencies.

• At least 5 years of experience in visual communications or related field
• Professional level knowledge of communications design technology including Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft office
• Experience with HTML and WordPress.
• Must have an understanding of graphic principles including, typography, hierarchical display of visual information, color theory, infographic design, and the basics of UX and UI design.
• Must have a proven track record of developing and maintaining brand guidelines
• An understanding of tailoring communications to specific audiences.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• A track record of using visual communications to explain complex ideas to lay audiences.
• A proven ability to think creatively to solve difficult problems.
• A willingness to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Project management experience; ability to work with diverse individuals and teams in both lead and support capacities.
• Must be organized with an ability to time manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Required Personal Competencies

• Communicates Effectively: Listens for understanding to message/content owners and aligns those goals with the communication goals and mission of the organization; is able to fit messaging strategies and tools to a variety of audience types, able to simplify complex issues into simply understandable content.
• Cultivates Innovation: Comes up with useful ideas that are new, better, or unique; introduces new ways of looking at problems; can take a creative idea and put it into practice; encourages diverse thinking to promote and nurture innovation.
• Instills Trust: Follows through on commitments; is seen as direct and truthful; keeps confidences; shows consistency between words and actions.
• Business Insight: Understand the work and functions of the organization, its relation to the Management Conference and other partners, understand the organization’s strategic communication messages.
• Builds Networks: Builds strong formal and informal networks; maintains relationships across a variety of functions and locations, draws across relationships to exchange ideas, resources.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture and geography; acts with diplomacy and tact; builds rapport in an open, friendly and accepting way; builds constructive relationships with people both familiar and different to self; picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies.

• Master’s degree in design or related field
• Photography experience
• Video editing and production experience
• High skill level in HTML or other web programming languages, and WordPress
• Experience with natural resource issues

Conditions of the working environment
With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a work day, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions;
• Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment;
• Work a 40-hour work week. A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period;
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines;
• Travel throughout the state, which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position;
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines;
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position; and
• Interact and work with partners and staff in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.

Supplemental Information

Ready to apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• A letter of interest (WORD version), describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position;
• A current resume (WORD version), detailing experience, and education; and
• A list of at least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers. Please include at least one supervisor, peer and (if you have supervised staff) a subordinate.
• Answer the supplemental questions attached to the application.

**This agency is committed to anti-bias hiring and practices ‘blind’ resume reviews. Letters of interest and resumes must be submitted in WORD documents in order for staff to redact details that may disclose your identity, gender, age, etc.
Do not attach transcripts or other documents that are not requested in the application process or that are password protected.

By submitting materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or jobs@des.wa.gov

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or that need this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.