Communications & Engagement Specialist - Local Government

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Communications & Engagement Specialist - Local Government

Salary

$68,000.14 - $84,000.02 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

EFA-CommsSpecLCGovt-11.6.24

Department

Colorado Energy Office

Opening Date

11/12/2024

Closing Date

11/29/2024 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

1600 Broadway, Suite 1960, Denver, CO 80202

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

gov_hr@state.co.us

Type of Announcement

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Department Information

The mission of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency, and zero emission vehicles to benefit all Coloradans. We do this by developing and implementing highly impactful policies and programs, establishing Colorado as a leading state for climate action.

As CEO grows and scales, the need for meaningful and coordinated communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement is crucial to meeting our mission and goals. This includes communications through traditional media, social media, email campaigns, newsletters, and our website, as well as community engagement with a broad array of stakeholders including local governments across the state. Targeted engagement and fostering transformational relationships with disproportionately impacted communities and community members is critical to our work.

CEO currently has an opening for a Communications & Engagement Specialist to join the Communications and Engagement (C&E) team. This position will support the Local Government Climate Solutions and Building Decarbonization teams, with a focus on programming funded through a grant from EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. This role will include developing subject matter expertise on the work of these teams to identify, plan, and implement strategic communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement. The position will also be responsible for developing and implementing a regional coordinators initiative to support local governments. In collaboration with the C&E team, this position will use a variety of traditional media and digital media tools, including owned, paid, and earned media. O utreach and engagement efforts may include in-person and virtual meetings, presentations and events, collateral development, and more. The ideal candidate will be solution-oriented, collaborative, have deep expertise and passion for communications and engagement, and be excited to engage in the work of CEO’s program teams.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

About Local Government Climate Solutions : This is a new team at CEO that supports local action toward meeting Colorado’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. The team’s portfolio includes several existing programs, as well as the upcoming Local Government Climate Action Accelerator program which is funded through CPRG. The Accelerator will be a two-part program that provides grants to support local government policy adoption in the areas of transportation, buildings, land use, and waste, and equity-focused incentive grants to support local project implementation.

About Building Decarbonization : This team is focused on developing stronger statewide minimum energy codes, building performance standards and building code adoption, coordination with other state agencies, and launching comprehensive market transformation strategies and initiatives. This includes rebates and other measures needed to stimulate and bring down the costs of building electrification and other building improvements to reduce emissions. The built environment is a top source of greenhouse gas emissions, and with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, CEO is significantly expanding this effort to meet Colorado’s clean energy goals.

Description of Job

Starting Range: $68,000.14 - $84,000.02 Annually

Percentage Travel Expectations: Up to 20%

*This position is eligible for a hybrid working arrangement with the contingency of appearing in-person at our Denver downtown office a minimum of once a week.

Team Support and Resources

• Work with Local Government and BD teams to identify, develop, and implement proactive communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement plans.

• Develop subject matter expertise on programs, and coordinate with program managers, other teams at CEO, and partner agencies to find common themes and opportunities for cross-promotion.

• Coordinate responses to inquiries from the public, stakeholders, and the media related to Local Government and BD subject matter.

• Collaborate internally with program managers, and externally with state agencies, to align strategies, activities, and key messaging.

• Support procurement of communications and engagement services including standalone such as the regional coordinators initiative and as part of program contracts by helping prepare scopes of work, evaluating proposals, and managing vendors.

  Direct Outreach and Engagement

• Identify and track key audiences, stakeholders, and activities related to Local Government and BD.

• Create collateral materials and other content such as newsletters related to Local Government, BD, and other programs or topics.

• Lead development of new engagement activities and initiatives and support existing activities to advance programs statewide.

• Represent CEO through public-facing events and identify opportunities to partner with local governments and new community members, groups, and the private sector, and explore ways to strengthen these partnerships over time.

• Facilitate and track community and stakeholder input, work with teams to evaluate and respond, as needed, and use to inform program development and refinement.

• Develop relationships with existing stakeholders and lead efforts to engage new stakeholders.

• Maintain expertise in and facilitate best practices for community engagement in serving Disproportionately Impacted Communities and ensure best practices are in use.

  Communications and Marketing

• Work with the Director of Communications & Engagement and the Local Government and BD teams to identify strategic, proactive messaging, and communication strategies to grow awareness of and participation inprograms.

• Serve as Local Government and BD lead on the C&E team to plan and implement communications and engagement activities. Collaborate regularly with C&E team on all communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement efforts, to include owned, earned, and paid media.

• Develop and track messaging and storytelling opportunities related to Local Government and BD.

• Coordinate with CEO Public Information Officer to ensure digital accessibility needs are met, including Local Government and BD program webpages, emails, presentations, and documents follow accessibility best practices; oversee review and updates of team website content.

• Coordinate with Bilingual Communications Specialist and others to draft and post social media content and campaigns.

• Collaborate with other State of Colorado communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement staff members to align activities and messaging.

• Lead design, production, and delivery of materials and collateral.

  General

• Other duties and tasks, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Please note that only applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and experience outlined in the job description will be considered for this position. We kindly ask that you refrain from applying if you do not meet these requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in communications, public administration or related field

• Substitutions: additional, appropriate professional experience may be substituted for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis

• Minimum three years professional experience with a combination of communications, marketing, outreach and stakeholder engagement OR seven years professional experience without a degree

• Possess strong computer skills, including Google Suite or Microsoft Office (email, spreadsheets, documents, presentations, etc.) and Video conferencing applications (i.e. Google Meet, Zoom, MS Teams)

• Experience in energy, buildings, or climate is strongly preferred

• Proven track record of building and managing positive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups

• Comfortable working with a combination of reporting lines, teams, divisions, and content areas

• Ability to independently start and finish projects with minimal supervision and passionate about working collaboratively as part of a team

• Strong time management, attention to detail, and organization skills

• Valid driver's license

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

• Flexibility to work periodic weekends, evenings, and overnight travel, as needed

  Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish: writing, reading, and oral

• Relevant professional experience in the state of Colorado

• Experience working with local governments

• Experience working on climate and energy issues

• Experience with marketing, digital media campaigns, and graphic design

• Experience with Salesforce

Supplemental Information

To Apply:

A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)

• 12 paid holidays per year

• Medical and dental plans

• State paid life insurance policy of $50,000

• Choice of 2 retirement plans

• 401K and 457 plans

• State paid Short Term Disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Credit Union Membership

• RTD pass

• Training and professional development

  To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits .

  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

  The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

  ADAAA Accommodations

  The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.

  Conditions of Employment

  Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Did you attach the required resume and cover letter?

• Yes

• No

  02

  What interests you most about this role at the Colorado Energy Office?

  03

  Briefly describe the components you would include in a communications and engagement plan?

  04

  Please describe how you would prioritize CEO's values of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work in this role.

  05

  Where did you hear about this position?

  Required Question

Agency

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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