Chief, Strategic Planning, Performance, and Communications at Montgomery County, MD Government

Chief, Strategic Planning, Performance, and Communications

Montgomery County, MD Government

Department of General Services

Rockville, MD, US

Salary Range - $102,572 - $181,149

The Department of General Services (DGS) is comprised of many and diverse functions sharing a common and critical mission: providing service to Montgomery County departments and offices that enables them to serve the public. Our success is measured by how we help others succeed. The Director’s office provides overall leadership for the department, including policy development, planning, performance measures, accountability, service integration and customer service. The Director’s office also administers day-to-day operations of the department, including operating and capital budget preparation and administration, training, contract management logistics, facilities support and human resources. We are one department, with one mission: Delivering Great Service.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Department of General Services is seeking a Manager II to develop and lead the implementation of the Department of General Service’s Strategic Plan. This position functions as a senior advisor for the DGS Director’s Office and facilitates the department’s strategic plan for departmental priorities. The position evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental operations, directs organizational change, and departmental performance.

This position oversees all aspects of the department’s strategic communications for internal and external audiences. The position will develop and lead the implementation of short-term and long-term strategic communications plans and further refine DGS’s brand, messaging, marketing, and public information. The incumbent proactively promotes DGS’ accomplishments in a variety of ways, proactively advises senior managers and officials on high profile and sensitive issues, and manages communications responses with the media, social media, and the public. The incumbent coordinates all DGS grant initiatives and coordinates such efforts with other County departments and agencies.

Duties

It is expected the ideal candidate possess experience commensurate with the following duties, which will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing senior-level advisory for the DGS Director’s Office and leading the department’s Strategic Plan for departmental priorities.  Leading DGS divisions and offices with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of respective operations, leading long-term planning and policy development.
• Managing all departmental internal and external communications including news media relations; managing DGS social media channels; developing SOPs, MOUs, Administrative policies, Communication Policies, Continuity of Operations Plan and emergency response, providing direction on DGS Annual report, MPIA and Annual Green report; providing photography resources and video production; and website management oversight.
• Working with the Office of Grants Management as the key managerial interface for DGS grants applications, reporting, and subsequent grants administration by DGS.
• Leading all legislative activities for DGS and coordinating with Intergovernmental Relations to evaluate legislation at Federal, State, and local levels of government.
• Providing advisory to the Deputy Directors and Director, and handling special projects as assigned per the Deputy Directors or the Director of DGS. Preparing studies on disparities and helping operationalize Racial Equity and Diversity inclusiveness in DGS (i.e., planning of a project from implementation to execution).
• Developing, updating, and maintaining the DGS Succession Plan (DSP). The DSP is inclusive, multilayered, and robust, aligning talent management with the department’s mission, values, and annual strategic goals. DGS Succession Plan will also incorporate a robust and intensive apprenticeship program for the trades positions within DGS.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success in the communications sector or related fields and experience developing and implementing successful communications strategies; have excellent written, verbal, social media and website content communication skills; and demonstrated public relations, community, strategic and media communications success in a complex and dynamic environment.  The candidate also should have experience presenting policies and rationales for action, including high-profile, politically sensitive issues, to stakeholders, community leaders, business groups, the general public, elected officials and others.

As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office, which occasionally occur on weeknights or weekends.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS  

Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in executive level management in strategic planning and policy, three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity. Note: The term “executive” is further defined as a high echelon or high-level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy-making duties and responsibilities that exerts considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties and responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

PREFERRED CRITERIA:

All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications will be rated “Qualified” and placed on the Eligible List for consideration. Selection for interviews will be based on the following preferred criteria:

• Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures, communication strategies, marketing/outreach, social media, and website content.
• Experience in strategic planning, decision making, analyzing, and problem solving.
• Experience planning, directing and supervising projects and the work of others, including establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with officials, managers, employees, and the public.
• Experience applying the principles and practices of contract administration, budget, and financial management.
• Experience making presentations to elected officials and senior management, including but not limited to, defending budgets and controversial project assignments.

If selected for an interview, you may be required to provide a portfolio of writing samples, including strategic communications plans, press releases, social media posts, annual reports, policy statements, responses to inquiries on controversial topics, marketing campaign plans and/or materials and other appropriate work samples.

Montgomery County Government offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

To view the complete job announcement and to apply, please visit our website at

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR/Recruitment/MCGCareers.html 

and click on the “Search Jobs and Apply” button.

Read the full job description under the “Managerial Executive” Job Category.

The requisition number is IRC62840.

Interested candidates must create an online account in order to apply.

This Recruitment Will Remain Open Till Position is Filled

All resume submissions must address the preferred criteria for the position,

which are listed in the full advertisement, preferably in a separate section of the resume.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Resume Preparation Tips

listed under the “Resources” tab on the Office of Human Resource’s MCG Careers webpage.

EOE. M/F/H.