Strategic Communications Division Chief

Job Description and Duties

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

Are you passionate about serving Californians and leading innovative marketing and communications efforts? Here’s your opportunity to put your expertise to work.

The Employment Development Department's (EDD) Public Affairs Branch, Strategic Communications Division, is recruiting for a Marketing and Communications Section Chief (Supervisor II) position in downtown Sacramento.

What You’ll Do
Reporting to the Strategic Communications Division Chief, this position will:

• Lead, manage, and organize the activities of the Marketing and Brand Management and Digital Marketing teams.
• Collaborate with the Department’s executive leadership, program management teams, Director’s Office, and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to develop and execute public education programs aligned with EDD’s strategic goals.
• Cultivate and safeguard the EDD brand by making sure all communications for public audiences are accurate, engaging, cost-effective, and meet Department standards.
• Oversee digital communication strategies and campaigns to engage customers, enhance service delivery, and expand the department’s digital presence.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and professional development for supervisors and staff to meet goals, timelines, and quality standards are met.

To view the full duties and responsibilities, please see the "Duty Statement" linked under Additional Documentation to the right of this screen.

Position located at 1416 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

This position exists in downtown Sacramento at EDD's new headquarters located in the remodeled Labor & Workforce Development Agency building - adjacent to light rail and the State Capitol.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

This position is headquartered at the New Labor Agency Building (NLAB), a newly remodeled high-rise building. Located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento and in close proximity of the State Capitol and the Golden1 Center, this beautiful and modern building provides the following amenities: Break areas, wellness/lactation rooms, coffee points, a fitness center with private showers, a Career Center for EDD Employees, a micro market, building-wide WiFi, an outdoor terrace, bike storage, nearby public transit options, and much more.

Apply today for the opportunity to work in this state-of-the-art building!

The selected candidate must be available to work a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Schedules may be flexible. This is a hybrid position, and the employee must be able to report to the central office in downtown Sacramento.

Special Requirements

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at .

Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions’ section below and ensure the following:

• Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Classification Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment STD Form 678.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (list, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.

• Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (Page 10) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.

• Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.

Examination/Assessment

To apply for this position, you must obtain list eligibility by taking and passing the examination. If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination unless your list eligibility has expired.

Click the examination link below for more information and to take the exam:

For more information about the State hiring process, click here . To watch tutorials on how to apply for a State job, click here .

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader that includes:

• Proven experience in supervision and personnel management, with the ability to guide, mentor, and inspire teams.
• Strong analytical, verbal, and written communication skills. This includes the ability to apply plain language strategies to write, edit, and proofread content effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and build strong partnerships across the Department and with external stakeholders.
• A continuous improvement mindset and the ability to think creatively and strategically.
• The capacity to understand complex issues, appreciate details, and communicate effectively with staff and leadership.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website, , and the CalPERS website, .

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. In addition to the State application (STD 678), a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. The SOQ is a narrative discussion of how your education, training, experience, and skills qualify you for this position. Your SOQ should be typed in no less than 11-point font and be no more than two pages in length. Address the following areas listed below:

1. Supervisory or lead experience.
2. Managing multiple teams or projects simultaneously.
3. Written and verbal communication skills.
4. Interpersonal skills.
5. Analytical skills.
6. Editing and proofreading other people's work.
7. Knowledge and experience in marketing, branding, or public relations.
8. Familiarity with digital marketing.
9. Ability to establish and maintain positive working partnerships with internal and external organizations.
10. Business process improvement.

Résumés or cover letters DO NOT take the place of the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ or SOQs that do not include a response to both statements above will not receive further consideration and will be excluded from the hiring process.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other -
  A Cover Letter is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -
  A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. Please see “Statement of Qualifications Requirements” section for more information about the SOQ.