Paid Leave External Communications Manager

Job Summary

The Paid Leave External Communications Manager is responsible for the communications and content strategy of the Paid Leave division, supporting all division initiatives, managing associated vendor relationships, contracts, and deliverables, and collaborating with the DEED Communications team.

Paid Leave is a historic new program in Minnesota, and will offer approximately $1 billion in benefits annually to individuals and families facing a significant moment in life. Paid Leave offers Family Leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or bond with a new child in the family, and Medical Leave when a serious health condition prevents someone from working. Additionally, Minnesotans will be able to take leave to support a family member in the military deploying overseas, or when facing a significant personal safety issue.

People that the program will serve are trying to figure out their benefits and how to get food on the table, balancing schedules while trying to absorb complex medical information. Imagine if, in these heavy moments, they are relieved to find the Paid Leave program is easy to access. Imagine that employers clearly understand their role, removing barriers for employees and creating a more supportive workplace. Communicating the vision is key to program success, reaching the people that need Paid Leave most, and collaborating effectively with our partners in implementation between now and 2026.

The Paid Leave division is new, and we’re committed to smart growth and ways of working. This role is an opportunity to define the public face of Paid Leave for Minnesota, and craft meaningful messages to bring the program to life. As Manager, you’ll be founding the communications unit, and will be identifying the internal and external resources, skillsets, and roles you need to deliver a best-in-class communications strategy across platforms and channels.

Key Responsibilities:

• Builds, mentors, and manages a high-performing communications team that nurtures a customer-driven culture fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement to drive success.
• Builds and maintains trusting, productive relationships with communications-focused vendors and contractors.
• Develops and manages communications solutions and strategy for the division in coordination with DEED’s enterprise communications team, directing public information and outreach, contributing to crisis response, media relations, and messaging on topics that are highly visible and political in nature.
• Leads the work of crafting a multifaceted and multicultural narrative that proactively and transparently communicates the progress and impact of the Paid Leave team and tells the broader story of how Paid Leave improves the health and well-being of all Minnesotans.
• Responsible for interfacing with leaders across the Paid Leave division to understand communications needs and proactively translate that in a way that shows value to the public and various parties interested in the program or that must be reached by the program.
• Responsible for delivery of communications artifacts such as website articles, FAQs, webinars, infographics, toolkits, posters, and newsletters that convey complex information to a variety of audiences.
• Supports creation of presentation materials including PowerPoints slides, talking points, and collateral.
• Responsible for ensuring Paid Leave program communications are accessible, plain-language, multi-lingual, inclusive, and culturally competent.
• Leads the development of a Paid Leave “voice” and creative brand identity.

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Three (3) years* of content strategy for external communications across multiple channels – including digital, print, video, e-mail, and SMS.

AND

One (1) year managing teams to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, or goal accomplishment.

*Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communication, Journalism or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; master’s degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience; PhD substitutes for twenty-four (24) months of experience

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

Knowledge of journalistic principles, communications, and public relations practices sufficient to provide technical consultation to the division leader and senior staff, as well as to direct the development, implementation, and alignment of communications strategies, initiatives, programs, and services.

Project management and coordination experience, including strategic planning and budgeting.

Ability to plan, organize, and direct technical and administrative activities of staff and partners.

Experience in:

• Leading new initiatives that include integration with numerous partners and stakeholder communities.
• Negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building with diverse groups to solve difficult and sensitive problems.

Incumbent must maintain valid driver's license, & insurance, OR have other reliable transportation.

Why Work for Us

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

• Public pension plan
• Training and professional development
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave
• Low-cost medical and dental coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Vision coverage
• Wellness programs and resources
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Health care spending and savings accounts
• Dependent care spending account
• Tax-deferred compensation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program