Director, Communications

Office of Innovation – Other/Cross-team | Full-time

The New Jersey State Office of Innovation

The New Jersey State Office of Innovation is looking for diverse and experienced team members to deploy world-class innovative and digital services that solve pressing public interest challenges for the people of New Jersey. Our work spans numerous issue and policy areas, and is focused on making an impact in the lives of the New Jerseyans that we serve. Our work has decreased the amount of time it takes to apply for Unemployment Insurance, made it easier to start, operate, and grow a business in the Garden State, and connected millions of New Jerseyans to government programs, services, and benefits.

Our team members wear many hats, contributing to both the execution of core projects and the evolution of the Office of Innovation (OOI). We use data and modern research, design, and development methods to inform our decision making, and we collaborate with stakeholders within and outside of government to understand and solve challenges. To learn more about the New Jersey Office of Innovation, read our inaugural impact report here and visit our About Us page.

We are seeking a director of communications with at least 7 years of experience delivering impactful organizational outcomes in a government or related setting. Core aspects of this role will involve developing and implementing communication strategies, managing and responding to press inquiries, and preparing the Chief Innovation Officer and team members for media interviews, press conferences, public events, conference, and other speaking engagements. 

In this position, you will be solely responsible for both executing all aspects of Office communications and leading strategic planning. As a key member of our team, you will play a central role in the strategic advancement of the Office of Innovation, but you will also serve as an individual contributor - no task is too big or too small. The role will report to the chief of staff, and work closely with initiative leads and other team members. Responsibilities may include:

Support and drive organizational goals through external communication

• Collaborate with leadership and team members to help design, implement, and administer comprehensive office communication strategies and initiatives that contribute to the continued advancement and evolution of the Office, its mission, and its projects and outcomes.
• Pitch local and national media proactively to generate impactful news coverage; manage responses to incoming press inquiries, and draft press releases, quotes, and statements to effectively leverage earned media to advance the Office’s communication goals.
• Identify, manage, and track public speaking engagements that advance the Office’s mission and objectives - both within New Jersey and nationally - and support the Chief Innovation Officer and team members by developing talking points, speeches, briefings, and other materials.
• Creatively utilize, develop, and manage owned media channels - including the Office of Innovation’s website, email newsletter, blogs, social media channels and more - to advance the Office’s outcomes and ability to make an impact in the lives of New Jerseyans.

Cultivate and foster a collaborative, transparent, and responsive environment of information-sharing within the Office of Innovation

• Monitor content generated by local and national media, the civic technology community, as well as trade publications and industry communications and ensure that team members are effectively kept up-to-date on industry trends, advancements, and news.
• Provide strategic guidance and tactical support to leadership for internal communications to ensure that the right information is reaching the right team members at the right time.

Utilize data and measurement to inform and iterate on communication activities

• Identify and execute strategies to use data and analytics to enhance communication-related outcomes.
• Establish and meet core key performance indicators that reflect the health of an impactful communications operation.

Do what’s needed for the team

• Execute additional duties and responsibilities to advance the Office of Innovation’s mission and work.

Preferred Technical Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• 7+ years of relevant experience, along with a commitment to public service and impact.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing multi-channel, comprehensive communication strategies to advance organizational outcomes.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, able to write in multiple voices and mediums including press releases, news articles, social media, email, and web.
• Successful experience pitching and placing stories in local and national news outlets.
• Strong communicator, excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a proven ability to make complicated, technical topics easy-to-understand for non-technical audiences.
• A demonstrated ability to meet time-sensitive deadlines, rapidly context switch, re-prioritize tasks, and address in-demand team and stakeholder needs with speed and agility.
• Willing to be available as needed during off hours for occasional rapid/crisis response.
• Proven ability to provide leadership and strategic direction for communication priorities and generate “out of the box” ideas to advance organization goals.
• Demonstrated experience using data to inform and adapt communication strategies and tactics.
• Experience successfully navigating bureaucracy and working with senior leadership.

We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. If you have any questions, please contact heather@innovation.nj.gov.

Compensation: Up to approximately $140,000 (depending on experience) + full benefits.

The New Jersey Office of Innovation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

We are deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and seek to create a pluralistic community for all. We strongly encourage people of color, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, LGBTQI+ people, those with disabilities, and Veterans to apply. We are committed to building a team that is reflective of New Jersey’s incredible diversity.

We do not discriminate against any candidate because of color, race, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, membership in an employee organization, pregnancy, marital status, status as a parent, ancestry, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit based factors.

Eligibility

You must be authorized to work in the United States. Candidates may be required to pass a background check and complete additional steps as part of the application and onboarding process. You will be considered an “at-will” employee, meaning both employer and employee have the right to terminate employment with or without cause or notice.