Communication Specialist (Information Specialist 3)

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) is seeking a collaborative and enthusiastic professional to join our regulatory department, serving as a Communication Specialist (Information Specialist 3) within our Administration Division at our central office campus near Valley Junction in Des Moines, Iowa.

Who We Are DIAL is a multifaceted regulatory agency charged with protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Iowans, and is comprised of eight core operational divisions: Administration, Administrative Hearings, Building & Construction, Health & Safety, Investigations, OSHA, Professional Licensing, and Workers’ Compensation.

DIAL’s mission is Achieve Compliance through Education, Regulation, and Due Process for a Safe and Healthy Iowa. Our goal is to be an effective, efficient and approachable regulatory agency. To accomplish our mission, the individual selected for this position will work within our Communications team to implement the strategic communications plan, manage social media content, implement public relations programs, and craft communications that represent our department.

What We’re Seeking Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer of the department and under the guidance of the Public Information Officer, the Communication Specialist ensures professional delivery of high-quality communication and public relations services. The successful candidate for this critical position is a creative, motivated, and organized professional who works well with team members at all levels of the organization. The position is be located in our headquarters located at 6200 Park Avenue near West Des Moines. Desired skills and abilities include:

• Working proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and editing software
• Possesses a high level of organization skills
• Experience with Drupal platform content management
• Displays high standards of professional conduct
• Detail-oriented and is highly responsive to colleagues and stakeholders
• Works collaboratively with a diverse group of people
• Commits to providing a high-quality service

What You’ll Do You will be an integral member of our team, providing communications assistance to the department in support of the agency’s operations by:

• Managing the department strategic communications plan
• Developing social media strategies and content
• Developing and delivering content to media representatives and the general public
• Writing, designing, and editing press releases, program manuals, toolkits, reports, etc.
• Utilizing metrics in the preparation of strategic recommendations

What We Offer When you join DIAL, you help to make Iowa safer and healthier while enjoying an outstanding benefits package! In addition to providing a positive work environment, we offer a great compensation package for all our full-time employees, including:

• Excellent pay and robust benefits, including excellent health, dental, life and vision insurance
• Teleworking options after the first six months
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave accrual
• Opportunities for professional development
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package
• Optional 401A plan with employer contribution.
• Retirement Investors Club (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan).
• Employee Assistance Program for support when you need it most.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, and more)
• Access to an on-site employee fitness center

For additional information on benefits click here. Excited to pursue the next step in your career? Apply today!

E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications and experience equal to four years of full-time work planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking.

1. All of the following (a and b): a. Four years of full-time work experience in planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking; and b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications equals one year of fulltime experience.

2. Number two above, where twenty-four semester hours of postgraduate coursework in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required full-time work experience.

3. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work as an Information Specialist 2.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.