Communications Specialist II
- Summary
Be a part of King County Parks! King County Parks has evolved from 150 acres in 1938 to more than 28,000 acres. Today, our system consists of more than 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 215 miles of backcountry trails. Our mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities. We seek to cultivate strong relationships with community partners to enhance park amenities for all King County residents to enjoy today and for generations to come. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/parks.
And check us out on the socials at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr.
We are seeking a Communications Specialist II who will focus on graphic design, system signage, and translated materials. This full-time position is part of a fast-paced, collaborative team that supports the work of the Parks division and enhances Parks' presence in communities throughout King County. Examples of projects include creating original artwork for posters and other promotional materials, designing educational brochures and reports, ensuring standardization of on-site signage, coordinating translation of print and online materials, and creating graphical and multi-media content for various social media platforms. The position requires creativity, customer service, flexibility, teamwork, ability to deliver products on time, and an independent work ethic.
Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified candidates.
King County and the Parks and Recreation Division values diverse perspectives and life experience and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Forms and materials required: (1) A completed online King County application, (2) Resume, (3) Cover letter, and (4) Three work samples (either attached or link to your portfolio in supplemental questions)
Work schedule: This full-time position works a 40 hour work week, Monday through Friday. This position is overtime eligible. The person in this position may be required to work extended and/or flexible hours to respond to service needs.
Work location: King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle WA 98104
Contact Information: For any question regarding this recruitment, please contact Shawna Ousse at shawna.ousse@kingcounty.gov or (206) 263-3536.- Job Duties
- Collaborate with communications team staff to guide and manage the production of translated materials, such as signs, promotional materials, maps, and social media content.
- Educate staff on Parks' system signage protocols. Ensure standardization of Parks' system signage: work with staff across the Division to identify new and replacement signage needs, prepare and proof materials to meet Parks' sign standards, support the ordering and printing of system signage, and assist in creating graphics and multi-media content for various social media platforms.
- Produce, edit, and prepare posters, promotional and outreach materials, maps, reports, signs and other collateral for print and web for different teams, such as Capital Improvement Projects, Operations and Maintenance, Business Development and Partnerships, Regional Trails, and Land Management.
- Support members of the communications team at Parks events, such as staffing outreach booths and milestone events, as necessary.
- Assist in creating graphics and multi-media content for various social media platforms.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:
The most competitive candidates will understand the power of strong visual messages in connecting people to nature and the outdoors. The candidate should be creative and customer service-oriented. The candidate should be a team player, but also be prepared to work independently. The candidate should have a professional background that demonstrates facility across a range of media and should be looking to expand and develop his/her visual presentation and storytelling skills.- Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint). Experience with Canva a plus.
- Skillful at balancing time-dependent tasks effectively.
- Demonstrated experience in responding to direction from different levels of staff, including directors and senior management, and incorporating a variety of feedback into designs and other products.
- Demonstrated ability to write/design for a variety of audiences and utilizing different types of communications tools, including Storymap, print and motion graphics, and video editing.
- Experience creating content for a variety of social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, preferably in a professional capacity.
- Knowledge of procedures for printing signs and other collateral, experience coordinating language translation projects a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to interact positively with a variety of people and work groups in a diverse work environment.
- Ability to create content that involves collaboration with multiple internal and external partners where the end products represent the partnership in a positive manner.
- Ability to read, speak, and/or write in a language identified in King County's top five languages a plus (Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, Chinese).
- Knowledge of and passion for outdoor recreation and open space protection a plus!
- Valid Washington State Driver's License upon hire or ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Briefly describe a graphic design project you managed from start to finish. How did you organize yourself to keep the project moving forward and delivered on time? (150 words max)02The following questions will ask you to provide details about three samples of your work.
Did you attach sample or will you be providing links to your portfolio?- I have attached three work samples
- I will include a link to my portfolio in the questions below
- I do not have samples of my work
03Work Sample 1: Please provide the following
a. Title of attached document or link to work sample in your portfolio
b. Describe the sample material you have provided including background information, medium, tools you used and your role in the production.04Work Sample 2: Please provide the following
a. Title of attached document or link to work sample in your portfolio
b. Describe the sample material you have provided including background information, medium, tools you used and your role in the production.05Work Sample 3: Please provide the following
a. Title of attached document or link to work sample in your portfolio
b. Describe the sample material you have provided including background information, medium, tools you used and your role in the production.Required Question