Communications Strategist
Apply NowCompany: King County Library System
Location: Issaquah, WA 98027
Description:
Salary: $42.32 - $51.45 Hourly
Location : Issaquah, WA
Job Type: Full-Time Exempt
Job Number: 2024-00128
Department: Communications and Marketing
Opening Date: 04/17/2025
Closing Date: 4/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Union Represented: Yes
General Position Summary
The Communications Strategist develops and executes communications strategies and plans to support and promote KCLS programs, services, and events with internal and external audiences. This role identifies storytelling and communications opportunities and coordinates across the organization to deliver compelling content through KCLS digital channels, internal communications, and earned media. The incumbent is responsible for full-cycle communications planning from copy creation to promotion.
A portfolio of past work may be requested as part of the hiring process for this position.
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 1.5 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 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes 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 values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.
KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.
Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email .
KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Examples of Duties
Essential Duties
The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.
Monitors industry activity for emerging opportunities in communications. Provides backup support to related positions. Makes presentation on subject matter work. Attends and actively participates on committees and working groups as assigned. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.
Organizational Competencies
Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably. Respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.
Primarily focused on customer needs. Able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.
Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct. Consistently demonstrates organization's values, moral principles, and accountability in behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.
Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas. Purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.
Job-Specific Competencies
Establishes courses of action for self. Can influence others to ensure that work is efficient. Appropriately sensitive to real restraints on time and resources. Willing to take a risk.
Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Does not confuse effort with results. Gets the job done.
Inspires and strives for excellence in all aspects of work including setting high standards of performance for self and others. Ensures that results are complete and accurate. Exhibits attention to detail.
Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization's vision, mission, and values. Holds big picture view while setting priorities, often using breakthrough strategies to find the way forward.
Desired Minimum Qualification
Education and Experience
The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.
Knowledge and Skills
Professional Licenses and Certifications
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:
Work is performed in a typical office environment. Work schedule may include occasional evening and/or weekend meetings or commitments. Some travel within the service area is required. Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.
General Benefits Summary
Paid Time off
It is the policy of KCLS to grant to all part-time and full-time employees:
Our health insurance plans with Kaiser/Premera/Delta Dental are offered at low premium rates to all employees working 20 or more hours per week. Employees may also purchase benefits for dependents and domestic partners.
Retirement - Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are automatically enrolled in the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) program. Both KCLS and the employee contribute toward PERS retirement benefits.
Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Accounts and Health Saving Account
Employees working 20 hours per week or more can set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to pay for family medical and dependent care needs. KCLS provides an annual employer contribution to Health Saving Account when the employee is enrolled in a high deductible health plan.
Life and Accidental Death & Disability, Long Term Disability Insurance
All the employees working 20 hours per week or more qualify for the group term life and AD& D insurance benefits equal to one times their annual salary. Employees working 40 hours per week receive long-term disability insurance.
Optional/Voluntary Benefits
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are eligible to participate in the following voluntary benefits:
Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (available to all KCLS Employees)
01
Please fill out both the application and this questionnaire completely. Any false or incompleteanswers (such as "see resume" or "see application") may result in your not having an opportunity to interview. Do you agree to answer each of these questions truthfully, and do you understandthat your answers will be compared to the information on your application?
02
Can you (with or without reasonable accommodation) perform the physical requirements of this position as described in the job posting?
03
Are you a current KCLS staff member still in your probationary period?
04
Are you a current KCLS staff member in the 1857 union?
05
If you answered "yes" to the question above, please select which 1857 union you are in:
06
Do you have a valid Washington State Driver's License?
07
If you responded "No" to the question above, would you be able to obtain a Washington StateDriver's License within 30 days of hire, if selected?
08
Please indicate your highest level of completed education:
09
This is a hybrid position that will require some travel to KCLS locations across King County. Are you able to work a hybrid schedule and travel to different library locations?
10
How many years of communications experience do you have?
11
Describe a successful media pitch you made and the outcome.
12
Describe a communication plan that you built from scratch in collaboration with stakeholders outside the communications team. What were the elements of the plan and how did you measure its success?
13
Describe your experience telling the stories of a community or person that has a different background from your own. How did you ensure that they felt comfortable with how they were portrayed?
14
Please provide a link to 3-5 writing examples that you produced that demonstrate your range of writing experience in both long and short form. Ideal submissions should showcase journalistic writing, content marketing, and executive writing. Examples could include a press release, an executive speech, web content, social media posts, and/or an email.
15
The King County Library System works to offer library materials that represent a wide range of community interests. This is one of the foundations of our policy of intellectual freedom, the idea that each and every patron has the right to choose the materials that interest them. Given this policy of Intellectual Freedom would you both allow and support the fact that patrons have the right to choose what they wish to see, to hear, or to read at the library?
16
The screening process at KCLS includes application review, interviews, and references. If selected to proceed after interviews, I acknowledge that KCLS may reach out to my listed references without notifying me beforehand.
17
Acknowledgement of requirements: A KCLS application must be completed (including education & employment history), as stated on the Employment Page. I acknowledge that if my application is incomplete, KCLS will not consider me for this position.
18
Where did you hear about this job opportunity? Please select all that apply.
Required Question
Location : Issaquah, WA
Job Type: Full-Time Exempt
Job Number: 2024-00128
Department: Communications and Marketing
Opening Date: 04/17/2025
Closing Date: 4/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Union Represented: Yes
General Position Summary
The Communications Strategist develops and executes communications strategies and plans to support and promote KCLS programs, services, and events with internal and external audiences. This role identifies storytelling and communications opportunities and coordinates across the organization to deliver compelling content through KCLS digital channels, internal communications, and earned media. The incumbent is responsible for full-cycle communications planning from copy creation to promotion.
A portfolio of past work may be requested as part of the hiring process for this position.
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 1.5 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 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes 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 values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.
KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.
Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email .
KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Examples of Duties
Essential Duties
The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.
- Develops and implements strategic communications plans. Identifies storytelling opportunities and provides planning, execution, and analysis of content.
- Generates earned media through media and press relations and partnerships to promote KCLS events and campaigns, including regular promotion of library events to media.
- Manages library communications campaigns for events, promotions, and emerging communication opportunities.
- Supports the production and distribution of internal communications, including staff newsletters.
- Consults across the organization for consistency in messaging and imagery and utilization of adopted communications and brand standards.
- Creates copy for marketing collateral and other promotional communications for library events in print and digital formats.
- Collaborates in the development of enterprise-wide products and supplemental materials, including annual budget and report.
- Supports executive and corporate communications in partnership with senior leadership. Researches, writes, and edits materials for internal and external distribution including talking points, speeches, scripts, announcements, and press releases.
- Partners with marketing team to identify content opportunities, provide content for distribution, and ensure timely and accurate promotion.
- Evaluates engagement and effectiveness of communications activities using analytics to improve performance.
Core Competencies
Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.
Organizational Competencies
- Valuing Diversity
Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably. Respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.
- Customer Focus
Primarily focused on customer needs. Able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.
- Ethics, Values and Judgement
Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct. Consistently demonstrates organization's values, moral principles, and accountability in behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.
- Professional and Technical Knowledge
Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas. Purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.
Job-Specific Competencies
- Organizing and Planning
Establishes courses of action for self. Can influence others to ensure that work is efficient. Appropriately sensitive to real restraints on time and resources. Willing to take a risk.
- Drive for Results
Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Does not confuse effort with results. Gets the job done.
- Work Quality
Inspires and strives for excellence in all aspects of work including setting high standards of performance for self and others. Ensures that results are complete and accurate. Exhibits attention to detail.
- Vision and Strategic Thinking
Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization's vision, mission, and values. Holds big picture view while setting priorities, often using breakthrough strategies to find the way forward.
Desired Minimum Qualification
Education and Experience
The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or related field.
- Five years' experience in communications, marketing, and/or media relations.
- Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.
Knowledge and Skills
- Working knowledge of strategic communications best practices.
- Working knowledge of content production and ideation.
- Skills in media pitches, press releases, and media advisories.
- Skills in writing short and long form content.
- Knowledge in graphic design direction.
- Knowledge in marketing fundamentals.
- Knowledge in social media marketing and content development.
- High proficiency with a variety of computer programs including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Notable attention to detail and accuracy.
- Skills to prioritize work and handle various tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Skills to project management and meet personal and team deadlines.
- Skills to handle sensitive situations and confidential information with discretion.
- Collaboration with audio/visual experts in content production.
- Well-developed verbal, active listening, written communication, and language/grammar skills with various and diverse audiences.
- Confident communicator and presenter with interest in teaching others.
- Demonstrated collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Professional Licenses and Certifications
- A valid Washington State driver's license is required.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:
- Constantly sit throughout work shift and will occasionally stand and seldom walk.
- Seldom reach up or down and frequently reach out at chest level with hands and arms.
- Frequently use hands in conjunction with constant finger use. Keyboarding may be repetitive up to frequently.
- Rotate neck up to frequently.
- Change tasks depending upon the shift.
- Require extensive close work including use of a computer monitor.
- Seldom operate foot controls.
- Seldom lift up to 35 lbs. and seldom carry up to 10 lbs.
- Seldom push or pull carts and wheeled equipment with light force.
Work is performed in a typical office environment. Work schedule may include occasional evening and/or weekend meetings or commitments. Some travel within the service area is required. Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.
General Benefits Summary
Paid Time off
It is the policy of KCLS to grant to all part-time and full-time employees:
- Annual Leave (Vacation).
- Sick Leave
- Holidays - KCLS celebrates twelve (12) holidays each year and one (1) floating holiday. Part-time employees are eligible for holiday pay if they are scheduled to work on the day the holiday falls on.
Our health insurance plans with Kaiser/Premera/Delta Dental are offered at low premium rates to all employees working 20 or more hours per week. Employees may also purchase benefits for dependents and domestic partners.
Retirement - Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are automatically enrolled in the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) program. Both KCLS and the employee contribute toward PERS retirement benefits.
Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Accounts and Health Saving Account
Employees working 20 hours per week or more can set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to pay for family medical and dependent care needs. KCLS provides an annual employer contribution to Health Saving Account when the employee is enrolled in a high deductible health plan.
Life and Accidental Death & Disability, Long Term Disability Insurance
All the employees working 20 hours per week or more qualify for the group term life and AD& D insurance benefits equal to one times their annual salary. Employees working 40 hours per week receive long-term disability insurance.
Optional/Voluntary Benefits
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are eligible to participate in the following voluntary benefits:
- Supplemental Term Life and AD&D Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Nationwide Pet Insurance
- Allstate Identity Theft Protection
- Student Loan Refinance
Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (available to all KCLS Employees)
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan - You can supplement any other retirement benefits you may have by setting aside pre-tax dollars in this retirement savings account.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - This employer-sponsored program is a confidential service that can provide referrals to counseling, financial, legal, child care/elder care services.
- Ride-Wise - KCLS encourages you to "leave the car at home" and seek other ways to commute to work. All employees are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of your tax-free ORCA transit pass and van pool. The Guaranteed Ride Home program is also available for staff.
- Tuition Assistance - KCLS encourages employees to pursue college, associate and graduate degrees and certificate programs where such education and knowledge bring value to KCLS. Tuition assistance, as funding permits, is available to all employees.
- Language Class Funding - The program covers classes that teach language identified in the KCLS world languages collection, American Sign Language, and English as an Additional Language (ESL). You don't need a work-related reason to study a language.
01
Please fill out both the application and this questionnaire completely. Any false or incompleteanswers (such as "see resume" or "see application") may result in your not having an opportunity to interview. Do you agree to answer each of these questions truthfully, and do you understandthat your answers will be compared to the information on your application?
- Yes
- No
02
Can you (with or without reasonable accommodation) perform the physical requirements of this position as described in the job posting?
- Yes
- No
03
Are you a current KCLS staff member still in your probationary period?
- Yes
- No
04
Are you a current KCLS staff member in the 1857 union?
- Yes
- No
05
If you answered "yes" to the question above, please select which 1857 union you are in:
- 1857-P
- 1857-M
- 1857-S
- 1857-F
06
Do you have a valid Washington State Driver's License?
- Yes
- No
07
If you responded "No" to the question above, would you be able to obtain a Washington StateDriver's License within 30 days of hire, if selected?
- Yes
- No
08
Please indicate your highest level of completed education:
- High School Diploma or G.E.D.
- Some college and/or certifications
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
09
This is a hybrid position that will require some travel to KCLS locations across King County. Are you able to work a hybrid schedule and travel to different library locations?
- Yes
- No
10
How many years of communications experience do you have?
- No experience
- Less than 2 years of experience
- 2-5 years of experience
- 5-8 years of experience
- 8+ years of experience
11
Describe a successful media pitch you made and the outcome.
12
Describe a communication plan that you built from scratch in collaboration with stakeholders outside the communications team. What were the elements of the plan and how did you measure its success?
13
Describe your experience telling the stories of a community or person that has a different background from your own. How did you ensure that they felt comfortable with how they were portrayed?
14
Please provide a link to 3-5 writing examples that you produced that demonstrate your range of writing experience in both long and short form. Ideal submissions should showcase journalistic writing, content marketing, and executive writing. Examples could include a press release, an executive speech, web content, social media posts, and/or an email.
15
The King County Library System works to offer library materials that represent a wide range of community interests. This is one of the foundations of our policy of intellectual freedom, the idea that each and every patron has the right to choose the materials that interest them. Given this policy of Intellectual Freedom would you both allow and support the fact that patrons have the right to choose what they wish to see, to hear, or to read at the library?
- Yes
- No
16
The screening process at KCLS includes application review, interviews, and references. If selected to proceed after interviews, I acknowledge that KCLS may reach out to my listed references without notifying me beforehand.
- Yes
17
Acknowledgement of requirements: A KCLS application must be completed (including education & employment history), as stated on the Employment Page. I acknowledge that if my application is incomplete, KCLS will not consider me for this position.
- Yes
18
Where did you hear about this job opportunity? Please select all that apply.
- KCLS Social Media (Facebook or Twitter)
- American Library Association (ALA)
- Washington Library Association (WLA)
- Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA)
- Seattle Public Libraries (SPL)
- Sno-Isle Libraries
- Pierce County Libraries
- Indeed.com
- Career Fair (In-Person)
- Government Jobs (public sector job site)
- Referral from KCLS Staff Member
- Job Interest Email Notification
- Other
Required Question