Job Description
Iowa Department of Education’s mission is creating excellence in education through leadership and service. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to make this a reality.
The Information Specialist 2 will be an integral member of the Communications and Information Services Bureau, providing technical support to the Department of Education legislative liaison and supporting website content and 508 document compliance across the Department. This position leads work on new employee orientation modules, maintains brand standards, works on communications projects and provides support to the Communications Director.
Your Responsibilities
- Supports the Department of Education's legislative liaison. Enters education-related bills on the Department's bill tracking web page, tracks legislative reports and submits final reports to the General Assembly, registers appropriate Department staff as lobbyists and submits the General Assembly Client Report, maintains an internal legislative bill tracker, coordinates submission of Personal Financial Disclosure Statements with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, collects information from Department staff to include in the Legislative Services Agency Factbook, schedules meetings with staff as needed, reviews and proofreads legislative updates and reports.
- Writes and edits website content. Serves as a web content web poster for all divisions within the Department. Provides Department-wide support on 508 compliance of all documents.
- Develops and maintains communication plans, strategies, goals and objectives to promote agency programs, products and services ensuring activities are consistent with agency objectives and standards.
- Produces the Department’s primary external newsletter that is distributed to nearly 48,000 people who sign up to receive updates from the Department. Coordinates content, writes content, edits and manages distribution of the newsletter. Edits publications and reports written by other agency staff to ensure grammar and punctuation are correct and in line with the agency writing style guide and ensures content is appropriate for the intended audience.
- Provides executive assistance and support to the Communications Director. Serves as a member of the bureau of communications and information services planning team. Plans events, including organizing and coordinating meetings, news conferences, tours, conferences and educational events. Maintains records for events, campaigns and promotions led by the bureau. Manages contracts, purchase orders, expense approvals and related procedures. Assists in the composition of correspondence, including confidential communications.
- Provides Zoom support for virtual meetings for the Bureau of Communications and Information Services as well as manages the process for the monthly Lunch and Learn sessions held both in person and virtually for all Department staff. This includes proofreading documents and presentations, working with presenters, setting up the in-person and virtual presentations, handling video arrangement and running the virtual presentation.
If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact idoe.hr@iowa.gov.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday with opportunity for hybrid remote work schedule after initial training period; occasional in-state and out-of-state travel
A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:
- Knowledge of educational programs administered by the Iowa Department of Education.
- How to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Strong time management skills with ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
- Collaborative, positive work environment
- Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
- Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
- Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
- Competitive salary and benefits package:
https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/employment/Benefits_Beyond_the_Paycheck.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications and experience equal to two years of full-time work planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking.
- All of the following (a and b):
- Two years of full-time work experience in planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking; and
- A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications equals one year of fulltime experience.
- Number two above, where twenty-four semester hours of postgraduate coursework in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required full-time work experience.
- Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work as an Information Specialist 1.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.
Additional Qualification Requirements
Some agencies may require applicants to present a portfolio of writing, layout, or other public relations efforts to demonstrate past experience and training.