Communication Specialist (Ord. Title: Strategic Advisor 2, General Govt)

Communication Specialist (Ord. Title: Strategic Advisor 2, General Govt)

Salary

$56.57 - $84.88 Hourly

Location

SPD Headquarters, 610 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Job Type

Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time

Job Number

2026-01191

Department

Seattle Police Department

Opening Date

09/01/2026

Closing Date

9/29/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

Language Premium

No

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is seeking a talented and creative Communications Specialist to join our team. This role will be crucial in shaping our departments internal and external narratives, ensuring our employees and the public are informed, engaged, and inspired. This individual will have the chance to work on a wide range of projects, from crafting department-wide announcements, creating compelling content for our channels, to developing new avenues for us to communicate. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and a natural collaborator who can manage multiple projects spanning multiple city departments in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to directly impact the culture and communication within a leading law enforcement agency.

About the Department:

The Seattle Police Department is comprised of approximately 1,600 dedicated law enforcement

professionals all committed to creating and fostering a work environment that is collaborative, innovative,

and leading the way in law enforcement principles and practices. Ours is a culture that encourages top

performers to adhere to a standard of excellence in the identification of and resolution to complex

challenges. At SPD we acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and

pledge ourselves to creating and maintaining an environment that respects diverse traditions, heritages,

and experiences.

Job Responsibilities

• Developing and executing communication plans for key SPD initiatives.
• Writing and editing engaging content for various channels, including internal messaging, public newsletters, blogs, and social media channels.
• Collaborating with different city departments and units within SPD to understand their communication needs and create tailored messaging.
• Managing and maintaining our social media channels and public image management.
• Advise leadership during times of turmoil and crisis while under intense scrutiny.
• Working directly with local, national, and international media on daily and long-term stories.
• Manage relationships with external media partners helping to shape narratives while balancing trust, transparency, privacy and accountability to the public.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelors degree in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field; minimum of five (5)

years of public relations experience including creating, writing, editing and publishing in both print and

electronic media formats; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator.
• Experience with internal communications platforms (e.g., SharePoint, etc.) is a plus.
• Previous experience in a corporate, government, or law enforcement environment.

Position Requirements:

• Must pass a Seattle Police Department background investigation.

Additional Information

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as

well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the Citys website at:

https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits.

The full salary range for this position is $56.57 - $84.88 per hour.

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) regular position with full benefits, is FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime),

and falls under the discretionary pay band (for additional information, please visit Personnel Rule 3.2 -

Accountability Pay for Executives Pay Program).

How to Apply:

• Apply online at http://www.seattle.gov/jobs. Please refer to: Job# 2026-01191.
• Attach a resume and a cover letter that provide additional information on why your skills and

experience make you qualified for this job.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions, please contact Sr. HR Specialist, Roth Lim, at roth.lim@seattle.gov.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the Citys website at:

Benefits - Human Resources | seattle.gov

01

If you are the successful applicant for this position, will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship? NOTE: The City of Seattle does not provide H1B visa sponsorship.

• Yes
• No

02

To be considered for this position you must attach both a cover letter and resume to your application. Have you attached both a cover letter and resume to your application? (NOTE: Even if you have imported your resume directly into the application field, you must still attach it. Missing one or both documents will flag your application as incomplete.

• Yes
• No

03

Answers to the following questions will help us determine whether candidates meet the minimum requirements of the position, indicating "see resume" or "see application" are not sufficient responses to the supplemental questions. (Note: blank applications and/or entering "see resume" in lieu of completing the City of Seattle application will flag your application incomplete). A complete and accurate application is required for this position. Did you update your City of Seattle application to reflect any recent changes to your experience and/or education?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Seattle

Address Seattle Municipal Tower

700 5th Avenue, Suite 5500

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Website http://www.seattle.gov/jobs