Director of Communications - 61070042

Job Responsibilities

Are you an experienced professional looking for new opportunities to further your career? South Carolina First Steps is seeking a hardworking and dependable candidate just like you to apply! This position will offer great benefits with the state, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more depending on applicable state service.

A cover letter and resume are required by the agency to be considered for this position.

The Responsibilities of the Director of Communications:

Under the direction of the Agency Director, this position uses data to drive collaborative marketing and communication strategies that ensure positive relationships with all stakeholders (parents with young children, local partnerships, First Steps 4K sites, early childhood partners, other state agencies, legislators, media, and the State Board of Trustees) and yield measurable progress towards the agency's five-year goals. The Director drives innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement within the agency's communications infrastructure, leading a high-performing team responsible for brand management, program marketing, public information, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. As a key leader within South Carolina's comprehensive early childhood system, the Director plays a key role in the agency's mission of directing $80M in funding to support children birth through five and supports the essential work of the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

Skills and Abilities: Must be a self-starter, able to work independently, and possess excellent judgment. Must be able to innovate, develop new systems, processes, and projects. Must be entrepreneurial, flexible, hard-working, and reliable. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and collaborate with staff and partners.

Proficiency in developing and implementing integrated communications strategies that align with organizational priorities and legislative goals. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to secure earned media and manage media relations. Expertise in managing multi-channel platforms such as websites, social media, and digital newsletters to drive engagement. Ability to use data and performance benchmarks to inform communication decisions and demonstrate program impact. Ability to lead complex statewide initiatives, exercise sound judgment in high-visibility situations, and influence diverse stakeholders toward shared goals. Additional abilities include adapting messaging based on data and changing needs, building sustainable communication systems, leading high-performing teams, and representing the agency effectively in public, media, and legislative settings.

• Leads the development and execution of a comprehensive, statewide, multi-channel marketing and communications strategy aligned with agency priorities and goals. Translates organizational objectives into coordinated communication plans that increase public awareness of school readiness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and promote participation in early childhood programs across South Carolina. Serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on messaging, positioning, and communication strategies that advance the agency's mission, reputation, and overall impact. Identifies opportunities to elevate organizational visibility and strengthen engagement at the local, regional, and state levels.
• Directs content strategy and communications operations across digital platforms, including websites and social media. Establishes editorial standards, workflows, and quality control processes grounded in plain language and communications best practices. Oversee the development and dissemination of consistent, high-quality messaging and content. Leads and develops a high-performing communications team by setting expectations, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, and supporting staff growth and professional development.
• Build and maintain a strong relationship with internal teams, local partnerships, 4K sites, media, and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated and proactive communications. Oversees media relations, including press strategy, crisis communications. and storytelling to enhance agency visibility and credibility. Develops and executes earned media strategies to increase positive statewide coverage. Supports executive leadership with preparation of speeches, presentations, reports, legislative briefings, and other public-facing communications. Ensures communication strategies effectively support stakeholder engagement and inform policy discussions related to early childhood education.
• Represents the agency in meetings, events, and collaborative efforts as needed to support communications, public engagement, and stakeholder relations. Performs other strategic communications, marketing, and other duties as assigned by the Agency Director to support agency priorities and emerging initiatives.
• Supervises staff to include preparing performance planning and evaluation documents and related personnel paperwork. Coaches, counsels and trains employees. Establishes and monitors work processes. Implement management policies and initiatives and promote teamwork.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, business administration, public relations, marketing, public administration or a related field with at least five years of demonstrated progressive leadership experience in strategic communications, public relations, and/ or marketing. Demonstrated proven track record of developing and executing strategic marketing and communication plans with measurable impact. Supervisory experience, including performance management and staff development.

Additional Requirements:

• Position requires non-essential declaration.
• Position may be required to report to work during emergency situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree and experience in public sector, education, healthcare, nonprofit, or similarly regulated environments.

Additional Comments

SC First Steps is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

SC First Steps offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children. Click here for additional information.

• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year

• 15 days sick leave per year

• 13 paid holidays

• Paid Parental Leave

• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)

• Retirement benefit choices*

• State Retirement Plan (SCRS)

• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.