The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry, and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas’ website here https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.

To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:

- Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year

- Flexible work schedules

- Retirement pension with a 150% agency match – you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJI6M7g73-w

- 401(k), 457(b) and Roth

- Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees

- Tuition Reimbursement

- Wellness and Exercise Leave

- Career development programs/opportunities for advancement

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at https://ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.

General Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas is seeking a motivated Communications Director to perform highly advanced managerial work providing direction and guidance for communication duties, responsibilities and activities of the RRC. Work also involves directing and evaluating research, writing, editing, graphic design and audio/visual production of informational programs and materials for release to the news media, public, and other federal and state agencies.

Essential Job Duties

- Directs activities related to internal and external communications.

- Provides guidance and assistance to staff in the areas of internal and external communications.

- Reviews relevant guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulations to monitor compliance.

- Oversees all media engagement proactively.

- Manages agency crisis communications, when needed.

- Oversees strategic and day-do-day social media planning and engagement.

- Directs the preparation and distribution of organizational publications, news, informational releases and agency media productions such as video, fliers and newsletters.

- Oversees the illustrative, photographic, or audiovisual content of products.

- Oversees RRC brand management.

- Develops and fosters relationships with local, state, national and international media to advance the understanding of the agency’s duties, responsibilities and activities.

- Consults with and advises agency leadership and staff about public communications strategies.

- Represents the agency at business meetings, hearings, legislative sessions, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees, as assigned.

- Prepares and conducts speeches, press conferences, or meetings.

- Develops and approves website content and content strategies.

- Serves as RRC’s Electronic Information Resources Coordinator in accordance with Texas Administrative Code Section 213.

- Manages usability assessments and testing of web and other informational materials.

- Plans, develops, and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and directs evaluation activities.

- Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others.

- Performs other related work as assigned.

For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public relations, communications, or journalism is generally preferred.

- Minimum of 7 years of experience in media relations (e.g., public relations, communications, or print/broadcast journalism).

- Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role, such as a team lead or manager.

- Demonstrated experience in media relations.

- Demonstrated experience in social media engagement.

- Demonstrated experience in strategic communication planning and messaging.

- Demonstrated experience in the writing and publication of speeches, op-eds, news releases, memos, white papers, fact sheets, brochures, and related materials.

- Demonstrated experience in managing a team with primary responsibility for work product.

- A valid Texas Driver’s License and good driving record.

- Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

- All applicants are required to attach media/communications-related writing samples and a resume.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working with or within Texas state government agencies and federal government entities, including a strong understanding of state and federal regulatory frameworks, intergovernmental processes, and public sector operations.

- Experience working for a government agency as a spokesperson or in a senior media relations role.

- Knowledge of the Texas legislative process.

- Experience in project management.

- Proficiency in speaking and writing Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Ability to plan, assign, and/or manage the work of others.

- Knowledge of state laws that regulate the energy industry.

- Knowledge of agency functions, policies, and procedures.

- Knowledge of various marketing, news, communication, and social media platforms.

- Knowledge of editing and preparing informational material for distribution to a wide audience.

- Knowledge of social media best practices and ability to adapt to rapidly changing social media engagement tactics.

- Knowledge of Texas media publishing and broadcast industries.

- Knowledge of the principles and practices associated with media relations, public relations, and strategic communications.

- Knowledge of internal organizational communications best practices.

- Skill in effective communication, written, verbal, and digital.

- Skill in the design of communications plans and materials, editorial concepts, and digital practices.

- Skill in the preparation of scripts.

- Skill in forming and maintaining positive and productive working relationships at all organizational levels, both internal and external to the RRC.

- Skill in editorial concepts and practices.

- Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance.

- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other Windows-based software.

- Knowledge in graphic design concepts and practices, and the applicable software, such as applications featured in Adobe Creative Cloud.

- Experience in coordinating webinars and webcasts.

- Skill in working with a team.

- Skill in maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

- Ability to develop effective working relationships with the media.

- Ability to establish and maintain trust and credibility with management, colleagues and direct reports.

- Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in any situation.

- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.

- Ability to work independently for long periods of time while meeting workload demands.

- Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks and assignments.

- Ability to meet deadlines.

- Ability to lift, carry, and move an average of 50 lbs. to perform daily duties.

- Ability to travel up to 20% throughout the state.

- Ability to occasionally work extended work hours and weekends.

Please Note: The RRC offers teleworking based on the agency’s approved Telework Plan. However, this position is not eligible for teleworking in accordance with the plan.

Work Hours: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternate schedules for employees, as long as it does not adversely affect operations and service levels, and standard hours of operation are maintained. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Remarks:

- There is one available position.

- Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.

- Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

- Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.

Due to the high volume of applications we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age

or disability in employment or in the provision of services.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.