Communications Consultant

About the Department

Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $86,000 - $97,000 annually.  Our primary physical office is in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework however, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.

Why work for the Office of the Governor?

Are you a strong communicator who enjoys telling stories, connecting people with useful information, and helping make complex issues easier to understand? As part of the Governor’s Office communications team, you’ll help share the Governor’s priorities, policies, and initiatives with people across Washington. Your work will include creating clear, accurate, and accessible written and visual content that helps the public better understand the work of state government. 

The job opportunity

In this role, you’ll collaborate with communications professionals across state agencies, research and gather information, and help ensure messaging is clear, timely, and consistent. You’ll also support the Governor at public events, capturing photographs and video and helping turn those moments into engaging content for digital channels.

This is a fast-paced role for someone who enjoys variety, can manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and pays close attention to detail. If you’re a thoughtful communicator who values accuracy, collaboration, and public service—and want to use your skills to help connect Washingtonians with the work of their government—we encourage you to apply.

Position Duties

What you’ll work on

• Draft accessible and accurate press releases, statements, announcements, and other written communications for the Governor’s Office based on established policy objectives, initiatives, events, and other source materials.
• Coordinate with communications staff in Cabinet agencies and other state agencies to gather information, confirm facts, support consistent messaging, and promote clear, plain-language communications regarding the Governor’s priorities and initiatives.
• Staff the Governor at public events and appearances, capturing photographs and video for use by the Governor’s Office and digital communications channels.
• Monitor and track communications and event-related deadlines, assignments, approvals, and final materials to ensure deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Collaborate with the digital content team to adapt written, photographic, and video content for social media, websites, and other digital platforms to increase public awareness and engagement.
• Research and gather information from state agencies, public sources, and other appropriate resources to support the development of accurate communications materials and respond to routine requests for information.
• Review and proofread communications materials for accuracy, clarity, grammar, consistency, plain-language use, and alignment with established messaging and formatting standards.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Experience with the following:
  • Writing and editing clear, accurate, concise communications for different audiences and platforms, using plain-language principles.
  • Adapting written and visual content for different communication channels, audiences, and formats, including digital and social media.
  • Reviewing communications materials for accuracy, grammar, clarity, consistency, and alignment with established messaging, style, and formatting standards.
  • Using basic photography and video techniques to capture usable photographs in a variety of event or public settings.
• Proficient in researching information from multiple sources, synthesizing key details, and identifying information that needs clarification, verification, or additional review before it is communicated publicly.
• Ability to work collaboratively with communications professionals, policy staff, subject-matter experts, event organizers, and other partners to gather information, coordinate activities, and produce timely communications.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and competing deadlines, adjusting priorities as needed while maintaining accuracy and quality in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to receive and incorporate feedback, adapting work to meet established expectations, and communicating when additional direction or clarification is needed.
• Ability to use sound judgment when working with sensitive, unclear, or potentially high-impact information, including recognizing when an issue requires additional review or direction and appropriately protecting confidential, privileged, or personal information.
• Ability to learn and grow: Curious about themselves and others, take responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, and use their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
• Ability to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people we work with and serve.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience applying knowledge of legal issues, public policy, or policy implementation when researching, developing, or reviewing communications materials.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position.  If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

Other Qualifications

What we offer: 

We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our website for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging  
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs  

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it.  So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Questions: 

Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants.  For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at [email protected].

The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of WashingtonAddress View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov