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Role Description

WSDOT is currently seeking a Communications Manager to lead the Southwest Region’s Communications and Government Relations program and guide strategic communications for some of the region’s most visible and complex transportation initiatives. The Southwest Region includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Pacific, and Klickitat counties, including the Vancouver portion of the Portland/Vancouver metro area and six bi-state crossings of the Columbia River.

This position exercises sole responsibility for the strategic direction of regional communications, integrating political, media, and public engagement strategies. The Communications Manager advises regional leadership on messaging for high-profile projects, emergencies, and policy initiatives, while building strong relationships with media, elected officials, partner agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

This role leads a high-performing communications team and coordinates messaging across headquarters, other regions, and external partners to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely communications. By providing clear, strategic guidance and proactive engagement, the Communications Manager helps strengthen public trust, support safety, and ensures communities, stakeholders, and travelers have the information they need to make informed transportation decisions.

What to Expect

• Lead a team of Communications Consultants, setting priorities, coaching staff, and planning resource over a multi-year horizon.
• Develop and implement long-range strategic communications and community engagement plans, while also managing messaging for emergencies, construction milestones, incidents, and high-visibility projects.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with media, partner agencies, businesses, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public, including cross-state coordination in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.
• Advise regional leadership on communications strategy, including political, media, and public engagement considerations, exercising sole responsibility for regional communications decisions.
• Manage communications budgets and oversee consultant contracts to support strategic objectives.
• Serve as the region’s primary Public Information Officer for major projects, incidents, and high-profile initiatives.
• Monitor public perception and media coverage, lead public outreach initiatives, support Title VI reporting, and develop engagement strategies related to Complete Streets and the HEAL Act.
• Provide backup communications support for other regions during emergencies or staff shortages, ensuring consistent agency messaging.

Qualifications

• Advanced Communications Practice: Demonstrated expertise in planning, developing, and delivering effective communications for complex organizations, including journalism standards, public-sector or private-sector messaging, media relations, marketing, social media, web content, and spokesperson responsibilities.
• Strategic and Tactical Planning: Demonstrated ability to develop and implement communications and community engagement strategies that balance long-term objectives with short-term needs, such as construction milestones, emerging issues, and emergency response.
• Leadership and People Management: Advanced ability to lead and support a team by assigning work, setting priorities, building strong working relationships, and fostering collaboration, accountability, and inclusion.
• Media, Stakeholder, and Public Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships with internal and statewide WSDOT communications teams, news media, partner agencies, elected officials, community stakeholders, businesses, and the public, and to translate complex information into clear, accessible messaging.
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Proven ability to analyze communications challenges, assess risk, make sound decisions under pressure, and adapt strategies in fast-changing or high-visibility environments.
• Policy and Public Trust: Demonstrated ability to support outreach efforts, align messaging with organizational policies and statutory requirements, and monitor public perception to maintain credibility and public trust.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Requirements

• Ability to be available on a 24/7 basis to respond to media inquiries and support communications during emergency or critical incidents, including traveling to incident locations on short notice when needed.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strategic Communications Expertise: Ability to develop and deliver effective communications for complex organizations, including media relations, government relations, community engagement, and emergency communications. Education or experience demonstrating these competencies will be considered.
• Policy Awareness: Familiarity with statewide policy initiatives such as Complete Streets and the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, including experience developing outreach strategies or communications plans that align with these programs.
• Community Engagement & Environmental Justice: Experience coordinating public engagement for transportation projects with an emphasis on environmental justice and involving diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Crisis Communications: Experience successfully leading crisis communications efforts during a multi-agency emergency response.
• Emergency Management Training: Completion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute’s (EMI) Advanced Public Information Officer training.
• Government Relations & Legislative Awareness: Knowledge of the legislative process and the ability to navigate complex political environments, including experience working with elected officials to achieve positive outcomes.
• Written Communication: Demonstrated ability to persuasively and clearly communicate in writing for both internal and external audiences.

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Paid Leave: In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance: Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future: WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more.