Communications Officer (Public Affairs Specialist 3)- Limited Duration/Job Rotation Opportunity!

Initial Posting Date:

12/11/2025

Application Deadline:

12/29/2025

Agency:

Employment Department

Salary Range:

$7,004 - $10,311

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Communications Officer (Public Affairs Specialist 3)- Limited Duration/Job Rotation Opportunity!

Job Description:

Are you an experienced communications professional with a passion for leadership and making an impact? Do you possess exceptional strategic communication skills and excel in high-pressure environments with competing priorities? If so, we invite you to apply and become a valued member of our team!

At the Oregon Employment Department, we actively support a workforce that is representative of the people we serve including people from various races, genders, abilities, cultures, language skills, geographic locations, and justice system involvement. We value your life experiences and encourage everyone to apply with your transferable skills and qualifications from your work, school, and volunteer experiences. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

As the Modernization Communications Officer, you will develop and execute strategic, comprehensive, and integrated communication plans designed to inform internal and external audiences about the agency and its programs, including Modernization, the Workforce Modernization Project, job seeker services, employer and business services, and more. This position leads the planning and project management activities related to strategic communications, collaborating with colleagues from Modernization, Workforce Operations and other OED divisions, local workforce boards, and WorkSource Oregon partner agencies to ensure accuracy and execute these plans.

In this role you will:

• Serve as the point of contact for the Communications Office staff to plan and implement the agency’s Modernization project communications infrastructure, strategic communications plan, and Modernization-specific communication strategies.
• Advise the Communication Director and agency leadership about optimal communications approaches.
• Serve as an agency spokesperson for media interactions.
• Conduct proactive media and public outreach activities.
• Collaborate with multiple partners and interested parties toward the best outcome for shared customers – job seekers and local businesses.
• Conduct advanced internal communication programs for employees and WorkSource Oregon partner employees.
• Promote initiatives through traditional and social media.
• Coordinate responses to media requests for public records, facility access, and interviews with staff.
• Coordinate with program partners to prepare customer-facing communication.
• Write and/or edit key agency communications for agency leaders.
• Monitor and report results of communication activities.

For a complete review of the position and responsibilities, please click here.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Behavioral or Social Sciences, or related degree, and five years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs; OR
• Eight years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; five of the eight years must have been at the professional level.

Desired Attributes

• A strong communications background that demonstrates the ability to plan and implement strategic communication strategies for both internal and external audiences
• Knowledge of how to effectively interact with a variety of audiences including, the public, partners and interested parties, news media representatives, and government staff
• Demonstrated success at developing internal and external relationships
• Experience in editing for readability, grammar, AP style and plain language
• Ability to develop culturally and equitably responsive and inclusive communications for a wide variety of diverse audiences
• Ability to analyze programs and identify the characteristics of target audiences to determine the most effective communication techniques for reaching these audiences
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people having different or conflicting interests or opposing points of view
• Preference may be given to candidates who are bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Commitment to valuing diversity and promoting inclusion

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:

• A workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment and encourages learning and mentoring.
• Rewarding work in a dynamic and creative environment with colleagues who are passionate about public service.
• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!
• Get There - Oregon’s easy-to-use carpool matching tool and trip planner.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Required: Attach a resume and cover letter. Your cover letter must not exceed two (2) pages. Please make sure your cover letter clearly addresses the desired attributes and minimum qualifications you have under the “What We Are Looking For” section above. Please upload your documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of the application. In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use the desired attributes and required minimum qualifications to determine who to interview.
• External Applicants: Click on the “Apply” link above to fill out the online application and submit by the posted closing date. Please use your preferred name on application materials.
• Current State of Oregon employees (this includes temporary employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. Please ensure the work history in your applicant profile is up-to-date and reflects your current position.
• Limited Duration Assignment: Current limited duration status employees will be considered for the limited duration assignment. Please apply through your employee Workday account.
• State Employee - Job Rotation Option: Current permanent status employees of the State of Oregon may choose to be considered as a job rotation candidate. To apply as a job rotation candidate, you must be currently employed by the State of Oregon (regular status employees), apply through your employee Workday account, and have written approval from your manager/supervisor to apply. Please attach the written approval to your application.
• Important: Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application.
• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. Immediately after you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.
• This job rotation/limited duration assignment is scheduled to end on June 30, 2027. Limited duration appointments are regular status and benefits eligible.
• This position is management service and is not represented by a union.
• This recruitment may be used to fill current and future Permanent, Limited Duration, Job Rotation and Temporary vacancies as they occur.
• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS‑qualifying, the salary range will reflect the additional 6.95%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• Salary Determination: The information in your Workday profile will be used to complete an equal pay assessment to determine salary placement upon hire.
• Veterans: Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded veterans' preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.
• United States Employment Eligibility: The Oregon Employment Department does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet Agency employment eligibility standards. The Oregon Employment Department is an E-Verify employer. If you are the successful candidate you must present your I‑9 acceptable documents (See page 2) for employment verification.

IN-STATE HYBRID WORK INFORMATION:

Candidates may be approved for hybrid work. Hybrid work suitability is evaluated based upon business needs at the time of hire. Hybrid work approval can be revoked at any time. Candidates are expected to:

• Reside within (or be willing to relocate to) Oregon, or one of its bordering states within a reasonable commuting distance (e.g. Vancouver, Washington) within 30 days from date of hire.
• Be able to report to the office location listed in the job posting, as necessary.
• Demonstrate access to a broadband internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements; Click Here to view the minimum acceptable requirements. OED IT Services will provide the necessary hardware to employees who are approved for remote work.
• Have a private workspace.
• Maintain good standing (i.e., no performance or attendance issues).

CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK:

The Employment Department is committed to being a leader in providing its employees with fair and equal employment opportunities and recognizes that as a best practice in equity and inclusion, criminal background check policies shall be job related and consistent with business necessity. For positions with authorized access to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) information, a separate criminal records check is conducted by the Oregon State Police. If you would like further information on how each criminal records check is conducted, please read our Criminal Record Check Policy or contact us at the number below with any questions. To verify identification, the successful candidate will be subject to a criminal background check which may require a fingerprint-based background check as a condition of employment.

CONTACT INFORMATION & HELPFUL LINKS:

If you have questions about the position or need an alternate format to apply, please contact us at 503‑947‑1289; humanresources@employ.oregon.gov. Please be sure to include the job requisition ID number.

Guidance our hiring managers use: Equity and Inclusion Recruitment Questions and Gender Identity and Expression Procedure!

Reasonable Accommodations | Veterans Resources | How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ

Interview Scoring Criteria used during recruitment | What You Need to Know to Get the Job

Come for a job. | Stay for a career. | Make a difference ... for a lifetime!

The Oregon Employment Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity. At the Oregon Employment Department, we foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to maintain a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or status as a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking. This applies to every aspect of our employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and training.