Department Communications Manager (PCN: 251820)

Salary: $3,986.40 Biweekly
Location : Anchorage, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 55843
Department: Transportation and Public Facilities
Division: ASD-Commissioner's Office
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 11/10/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Division: Commissioner's Office
Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only
Bargaining Unit: Supervisory
Range: 22

Job Description

What you will be doing:
As the Department Communications Manager, you will lead DOT&PF's statewide communications team and oversee internal and external communications, media relations, public information, websites, social media, publications, and employee engagement initiatives. You will provide strategic communications guidance to department leadership, coordinate responses to high-profile or time-sensitive issues, manage staff and resources, and develop consistent communication strategies that support the department's mission and keep employees, stakeholders, and the public informed.

The working environment you can expect:

This position is located in Anchorage, Alaska.

Working at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) offers a uniquely challenging and rewarding environment. With Alaska's diverse and expansive terrain, coupled with its extreme weather conditions, employees of the DOT&PF can work in various locations, including remote locations and urban centers, addressing a wide range of transportation needs. Their roles demand adaptability and resourcefulness as they maintain and improve roads, bridges, airports, ports, and public facilities in a state known for rugged terrain and extreme seasonal changes. This work not only presents professionals with a range of fascinating challenges but also allows them to contribute to developing and maintaining critical infrastructure against the backdrop of Alaska's breathtaking natural beauty, reflecting a strong commitment to safety and environmental responsibility.
The benefits of joining our team:

Joining the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) offers an array of benefits, with career growth opportunities at the forefront. As an integral part of Alaska's infrastructure development and maintenance, DOT&PF provides employees with a dynamic and diverse work environment where they can continually enhance their skills and climb the career ladder. The department values professional development, offering training programs and mentorship opportunities to help individuals expand their expertise and advance in their chosen fields. With the vast and unique challenges of Alaska's geography and climate, employees can work on groundbreaking projects that contribute to the state's growth, making the DOT&PF an ideal choice for those seeking a fulfilling and evolving career in transportation and public facilities.
The State of Alaska has a generous benefits package and an excellent retirement plan. Please see here for more information: .

The DOT&PF core values are integrity, excellence, and respect. We support an environment focused on teamwork and collaboration to achieve results. We succeed in achieving our transportation mission through building credibility with our customers, stakeholders, and the public.
To view the general description and example of duties for the position please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

Minimum Qualifications
Competency Description
The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class. They highlight the more general and customary knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), tasks, and behaviors used to describe the competency. They typically list expectations, as opposed to specific tasks, and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines. A competency's description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA, task, and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency, but rather to provide the manager/agency with a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.
Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in

• Administration and Management: Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.

• Communications and Media: Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, visual media and social media.

• Managing Human Resources: Plans, distributes, coordinates, and monitors work assignments of others; evaluates work performance and provides feedback to others on their performance; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner.

• Strategic Thinking: Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.

• Technology Awareness: Knowledge of developments and new applications of information technology (hardware, software, telecommunications), emerging technologies and their applications to business processes, and applications and implementation of information systems to meet organizational requirements.

• Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Equivalent to those typically gained by:

Any combination of preparatory post-secondary education and/or progressively responsible professional level experience in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, advertising, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.

Special Note:
"Competencies" means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

"Typically gained by" means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

"Training" and "education" in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

"Professional experience" means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.

"Progressively responsible" means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.
Additional Required Information
At time of interview, applicants are requested to submit (if not already attached to your application):

• Three (3) professional references, including name, job title, and current phone numbers.

ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLYPlease be sure to check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions.

The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four levels of proficiency to measure and describe an applicant's level of competence in applying certain behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are: Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You will need to rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.EDUCATIONTo verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATIONEducation completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.WORK EXPERIENCEIf using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported, and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Contact Information
For specific information about this position, please contact the hiring manager at the following:

Name: Jody Thomas, Special Project Liaison

Phone: (907)-465-3900
Email:
Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care o