Communications & Marketing Manager

Job Number: 2023-00169

King County Library System (KCLS) is seeking a dedicated and adaptable individual who wishes to serve as the Communications & Marketing Manager out of our Communication & Marketing Department.

The ideal candidate will be able to model and champion excellent customer service, support Intellectual Freedom, and work with diverse populations in a service role. Managers in the Communication & Marketing Department are brand storytellers, orchestrating integrated marketing campaigns that resonate with target audiences. They play a vital role in shaping brand perception, enhancing customer relationships, and amplifying brand messaging.

About the Opportunity:

The Communications & Marketing Manager assumes leadership and offers expert guidance to the design, implementation, and management of the organization’s communications and marketing strategy and programs. This role actively contributes to all aspects of communications to internal and external audiences utilizing a range of communication tools and methods. The incumbent assists and advises the communications and marketing team, library management, committees, and project teams by formulating, executing, and evaluating communication plans for projects and initiatives to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with organizational goals and values. They provide support to the Director of Communications and Marketing in matters pertaining to external affairs and public relations.

About King County Library System (KCLS):

KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.3 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 library locations and in community engagement using direct outreach and virtual assistance. Our service area includes the cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. KCLS values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. KCLS encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. As part of this commitment, KCLS provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position.

To request accommodation please call 425-369-3224.

Examples of Duties

Any of the following duties may be performed. These examples are not necessarily performed by all incumbents, however, and do not include all specific tasks an incumbent may be expected to perform.

1. Apply diversity, equity, and inclusion principles that exemplify organizational values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of work, including reaching diverse audiences and communities and supporting the library as a welcoming and inclusive place.

2. Support the Director of Communications and Marketing to develop, implement, oversee, and evaluate an organizational communications strategy, external affairs, and partnership engagement tactics.

3. Curate and manage the production and distribution of internal communications tools for staff to include topics such as: systemwide initiatives, events, media coverage, budget process, personnel news, training opportunities, technology-related issues, library policies, service changes, and occasional emergency situations.

4. Act as a media strategist; establish connections with editors, reporters, producers, and other communications influencers to enhance media coverage and library storytelling.

5. Assist in crisis response communications endeavors. Enhance the organization’s crisis communications plan.

6. Assume the role of Public Records Officer for KCLS and act as an alternative Public Information Officer for the Director of Communications and Marketing.

7. Contribute to communication and marketing content creation. This involvement might encompass composing initial draft content, revising the contributions of others, delivering final proofing, or participating in any phase of the communication development process.

8. Facilitate regular meetings and check-ins with library leadership, administrative departments, community library management teams, and other stakeholders with communications needs. Build and maintain collaborative relationships to ensure alignment and integration of messages and initiatives.

9. Coordinate and curate content featured on the intranet home page; create and maintain content guidelines for staff; establish and monitor best practices and processes; moderate and regularly review intranet content to keep the material current; maintain an archive of past internal intranet communications for reference.

10. Manage, coach and support assigned employees, including hiring, training, and performance evaluations. Take action to enhance individual performance and productivity and ensure their tasks align with the library’s objectives.

11. Manage and establish annual goals, action plans, timelines, and expectations for the successful fulfillment of each role on the communications and marketing team.

12. Develop and maintain an internal communications schedule and calendar for major organizational initiatives.

13. Create and maintain procedures, best practices, templates, workflows, and checklists relating to communications and marketing.

14. Deliver training, workshops, and presentations on communications to a variety of internal audiences.

Secondary Duties:

1. Attend the Library Board of Trustees monthly meeting and other meetings such as community library management meetings, as appropriate.

2. Keep informed on changing trends or emerging initiatives within area of assigned responsibility.

3. Serve on employee committees as assigned.

4. Offer support and provide back up to related positions and the Director of Communications & Marketing.

5. Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Desired Minimum Qualification

Education and Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree in communication, English, journalism, marketing or related field.

· 3-5 years of experience leading or managing a team in a communications environment, including some internal/employee communications and employee engagement.

· Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Desired Skills:

· Demonstrated understanding of the core concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion and skill in effectively communicating and applying these concepts.

· Demonstrated strong writing, communication, and confident presentation skills including the ability to write, edit, and proofread key messages for general and targeted audiences, in a clear and concise manner, through multiple communications channels.

· Demonstrated experience in planning, measuring, and evaluating the effectiveness of communication reach and engagement.

· Demonstrated ability to efficiently organize, prioritize and manage multiple projects and people in an evolving, deadline-driven environment while balancing the needs of various projects and stakeholders.

· Strong organizational and time management skills with a focus on quality and attention to detail.

Special Requirements:

A valid Washington driver’s license.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is changing tasks depending upon the shift and will in most cases occasionally stand and walk and up to constantly sit. Will occasionally reach up or down and frequently reach out. Neck rotation may be up to occasional. Constantly using hands in conjunction with finger use and up to frequent keyboarding, this handling or keyboarding may be repetitive up to frequently. Up to occasionally operating foot controls. The employee will seldom lift up to 20 lbs. Employee will seldom push/pull carts and wheeled equipment with light force.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a typical office environment. Some travel is required to work in or meet with staff in community libraries and visit news contacts. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for special events. Primary work location is on-site, though incumbent may be permitted minimal hybrid telework schedule upon request.

King County Library System