Communications Director (Public Safety Information Officer IV)

Communications Director (Public Safety Information Officer IV)

Salary

$97,582.37 - $162,638.32 Annually

Location

HEALTH DEPARTMENT KELLY SQUARE, 10777 MAIN ST, FAIRFAX (FJ56), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-00905

Department

Health Department

Opening Date

06/13/2026

Closing Date

6/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S32

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) is a progressive public health leader serving 1.2 million residents from diverse ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds. With more than 100 years of leadership in the field, we are committed to promoting population health, protecting public health and the environment, limiting the spread of disease, and ensuring residents' equitable access to health services and information.

This position leads responsibility and oversight of all external communications shared on behalf of the FCHD, in addition to assisting with coordination and execution of many internal communications materials. External examples include 24/7 response and support during public health emergencies, incidents, or outbreaks, communications strategy and support to all program areas within the department. Fields and responds to all media inquiries in a timely fashion and coordinates interviews with the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs and/or other county agency personnel as appropriate. Directs the department's media relations, identifying media opportunities, and providing guidance to agency leaders/subject matter experts on handling interviews. Directs and supports website updates and organization, social media campaigns and daily management of all external-facing tools, creating topical communication plans, news releases and/or web updates, talking points, e-newsletters, agency reports, community letters, and creation of educational materials. Supervises communications staff and oversees the production and distribution of official FCHD publications, website content, and digital media. Serves as a member of the departments executive management team and functions as the department's communications liaison to the Board of Supervisors, Office of Public Affairs, Fairfax County Public Schools, and other county and community organizations. The role has a clear understanding of social determinants of health and how these factors help inform and shape messaging. The position requires a clear understanding of risk communications, health literacy, health advocacy, and how to devise digital strategies for public health initiatives, through video, social media, and all county-approved digital outlets.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Serves on 24-hour call, with responsibility for notifying County officials of significant incidents;
• Makes decisions under pressure and deadlines regarding information that may be released to the media;
• Coordinates and provides information regarding emergency incidents and other sensitive matters to the news media;
• Plans, directs, and executes publicity campaigns designed to inform citizens about various county programs, events or legislation;
• Supervises the work of subordinates engaged, in public information activities;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the media;
• Responds to requests for information regarding agency/County programs;
• Provides assistance to agency/County staff as to the most effective means of communicating information to the general public, government employees, and other target groups;
• May interact directly with the Board of Supervisors and County Executives Office on behalf of the department;
• Provides strategic communication leadership for the department/division.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of public safety area of expertise: fire and safety, police, public health, emergency management;
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of public affairs work;
• Ability to write clear, concise and effective informational material and skill in editing written material;
• Detailed knowledge of the requirements of the media regarding content, format, and timing of official releases;
• Broad knowledge of the principles of public administration and public relations as applied to public safety issues and local government operations;
• Ability to plan and execute photographic coverage of complex events;
• Ability to adapt broadly defined policy guidance to specific situations with a minimal amount of supervision;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to participate in meaningful interchange of views on matters of critical importance to the County;
• Ability to plan and review the work of others;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public, the press, and County employees;
• Ability to speak extemporaneously on a broad variety of County-related issues and occurrences;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County government officials and representatives of the media;
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the National Incident Management System.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Bachelors degree in communication, journalism, public relations or related field or field of public safety specialization (fire, police, health, safety), plus at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in management and supervision, which includes 5 years as a media or communications professional or first responder communicator to include four years of social media experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid drivers license.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (Required within 60 days).
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification (Required within 60 days).

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Flexible work schedule will be required to work evening and/or weekend community meetings or events to and/or be on call.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Seven or more years' experience in the field of public health.
• Seven or more years' experience preparing news releases and publications, developing information programs and public speaking.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated systemic and strategic thinking and leadership skills.
• Experience working with the media, for the media, or as a spokesperson for an organization.
• Digital communication experience, such as website design, administering social media platforms, video production, etc.
• Experience managing and supervising media and communications professionals.
• Incident Command Systems (ICS) or other relevant certifications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Job is generally sedentary in nature, and requires walking, standing, sitting (for long periods of time), and kneeling, reaching, bending, climbing stairs; may be required to lift or carry up to 25 lbs. as required for the position. Uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Visual acuity is required to read data from paper and on a computer monitor or other electronic device; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer and use of touchscreen. Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. Generally, works in an office environment and may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting. Ability to drive a motor vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel Interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-KA

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Communication
• Journalism
• Public administration
• Public relations
• Public safety
• Public health
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".

05

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have in communication, journalism, public relations or related field, or field of public safety specialization (fire, police, health, safety)?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten or less than eleven years
• Eleven or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience do you have in management and supervision? (Progressively responsible experience refers to tasks, job duties, or roles that demonstrate growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.)

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten or to less than eleven years
• Eleven or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible management and supervision experience do you have as a media or communications professional or first responder communicator?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

09

Of the years listed in the previous question, how many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience do you have directly in social media?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

10

How many years of full-time professional experience do you have working with the media, for the media, or as a spokesperson for an organization?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

11

How many years of full-time professional digital communication experience do you have (such as: website design, administering social media platforms, video production, etc.)?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

12

How many years of full-time experience do you have with management and supervision of media and communications professionals?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

13

How many years of full-time experience do you have in public health?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

14

How many years of full-time experience do you have preparing news releases and publications, developing information programs and public speaking?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

15

Do you possess any of the following certifications or have you completed any of the following trainings? Check all that apply.

• Incident Command Systems 100
• Incident Command Systems 200
• Incident Command Systems 300
• Incident Command Systems 400
• Incident Command Systems 700
• Incident Command Systems 800
• All Hazards Planning Section Chief
• Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program
• Department of Homeland Securitys National Planning Course
• Centers for Disease Controls Mass Antibiotic
• Dispensing Program
• None of the above

16

This position is considered "essential/emergency" which requires the incumbent to report to work regardless of the countys operating status (open or closed). Are you able to report to work in time of weather emergencies?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm