Salary: $50,592.00 – $68,076.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-6-7889-07702
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Opening Date: 06/13/2023
Closing Date: 6/20/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

The Employee Engagement Specialist position reports to the Workplace Culture and Development (WCD) Director, leading strategies for programs designed to engage and recognize DNR employees and enhance the agency-wide culture. This position offers key support to agency engagement and recognition initiatives. This position will assist in regular communication, employee recognition, and engagement goals for WCD and stakeholders, and track and evaluate recognition efforts for the agency.

This position works to develop, coordinate, implement, and facilitate aspects of employee engagement, internal communications, and outreach activities specifically targeted at retaining and informing employees at all levels of the agency. The position will develop strategies to retain underrepresented employees and represent the agency in collaborative relationships with multiple workgroups and employee resource groups.

Workplace Culture and Development (WCD) Division offers key support to programs designed to grow and develop WA State Department of Natural Resources employees and enhance the agency wide culture utilizing an equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging focused lens to foster safe and respectful workplaces where employees can bring their authentic selves to work.

WCD’s cultural and developmental programs foster employee engagement and leadership development. These concepts work to attract and retain a workforce within DNR representative of the public we serve. WCD initiatives increase inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety; increasing productivity, improving communication, and creating a climate of innovation.

Duties
Responsibilities:
Employee Engagement Strategy and Recognition

  • Champion a positive environment where people can thrive, do their best work, and feel appreciated and recognized.
  • Participate in the design and execution of program strategy with input from WCD, leadership, employee engagement resource groups, and special project workgroups.
  • Support the final execution of employee engagement or recognition projects.
  • Identify, track, and prioritize agency-wide focus on engagement and recognition.

Special Events Management

  • Take the lead in the development and execution of WCD events.
  • Identify necessary resources to support and coordinate special events.
  • Facilitate agency-wide events such as the DNR Monthly Spotlight Series, Public Service Recognition Week, Bring Your Kids to Work Day, and other similar events.
  • Draft and distribute agency-wide event announcements.
  • Work closely with internal and external partners and stakeholders in the development, planning, and execution of agency events.

Agency Internal Communications

  • Use proven strategies and best practices that build trust and ensure internal communication objectives support and celebrate the agency’s values and competencies.
  • Perform writing and editing duties relative to major internal communication projects.
  • Maintain positive relationships with divisions, regions, and offices to tell agency stories.
  • Utilize DEIB best practices for internal communications.

WCD SharePoint Administration and Content Creation

  • Serve as the WCD SharePoint Administrator, ensuring that internal content is up-to-date and utilizes best practices for dissemination of WCD content.
  • Work with Communications, Internal Communications, and Stakeholders to create content for both internal SharePoint and External websites and social media sites. 

Internal Communications and Employee Engagement Intern Management

  • Identify key work and goals of intern positions, submit paperwork and documentation, and assist in providing networking opportunities.
  • Coach intern through best practices, goal development and achievement, and review progress throughout internship.

Performs other duties as assigned and Professional Development

  • Engage in ongoing professional development and identify advanced Employee Engagement practice strategies through participation in classes, forums, workshops, and conferences committed to DEIB best practices.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: 

  • A Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Natural Resources or related field.
    OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
  • Effective and concise communication, capable of transforming complicated subject matter and diverse source material into coherent, engaging, and accurate content for a variety of audiences utilizing plain talk standards.
  • Experience with designing and implementing culture and engagement strategies in complex/diverse situations.
  • Has strong writing and editing credentials, capable of handling various communications tasks ranging from interviewing a colleague and telling their story to constructing an agency-wide safety announcement.
  • A working knowledge of Microsoft products.
  • Working knowledge of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging concepts.
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines across multiple communications and outreach projects simultaneously, prioritizing demands on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
  • Is a strong communicator, comfortable both asking the right questions and drawing from professional expertise to give quality feedback.
  • Ability to work as a team member, engaging with others using empathy and compassion, using healthy conflict resolution and communication.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with employees, managers, supervisors, and top executives and autonomously to get things done.
  • High proficiency in communications, problem-solving, and project management skills.
  • Independent self-starter who can self-educate as needed and adapt to new concepts and technologies.
  • DNR Core Competencies: 
    • Personal Accountability 
    • Value Others 
    • Compassionate Communication 
    • Inspire Others 
    • Commitment to Excellence 

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

  • Position requires periodic (5%) travel for meetings, trainings, outreach, and networking; travel may be to DNR events, region offices and work centers in remote locations throughout the state to gather promotional information on events and initiatives.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field. Experience will substitute for education year for year.
  • Experience utilizing video and image editor programs, and marketing programs.
  • Demonstrated experience working with top executives or senior managers.
  • Rev. January 2023 HRD) Page 8
    Experience running branding and marketing initiatives.

Application Requirements

  • To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov. You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
  • Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
  • Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
  • Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
  • Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).
  • Complete all supplemental questions.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4078383/employee-engagement-specialist-communications-consultant-3

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