We are a member driven organization and are committed to success of the industry. Our team members have a passion for helping small business owners thrive and become great business owners.

Our core values are:

Available Positions

POSITION: State Communications Manager

REPORTS TO: Senior Communications Manager

LOCATION: 510 Plum St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501

BENEFITS: Salaried position, company-sponsored medical, 100% employer-paid dental, vision and group term life, 401(K) with employer match, holidays and two weeks vacation time. Mobile office setup so the role can work from the office and up on the hill, delicious food, fun industry and your own office.

Position Objective:
The state communications manager works daily in our Olympia office as part of an eight-member communications team and as the liaison to the state government affairs team. If you love strategic communications, find politics at the state capitol exciting and enjoy collaborating with a team – this is your role.

• The association is looking for a candidate to improve the quality and effectiveness of translating legislative policy and regulations into easy-to-understand communications for its 6,000 restaurant and hotel members.
• The candidate will also improve the quality and effectiveness of the association’s media relations, especially during the legislative session.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism or equivalent year-for-year experience working in the communications field, in addition to three years of writing/editing or equivalent experience.
• Two or more years in political communications with a strong focus on teamwork, strategy, mission alignment, and measurable results.
• Media spokesperson experience.
• Proven ability to communicate complex policy and legal information to diverse audiences.
• Legislative experience and those accredited in public relations a plus.
• This is not a marketing position. Those with only marketing or sales experience will be considered, but not preferred.
• Prior experience working in hospitality (hotels, restaurants, etc.) a plus but not required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Research, plan, execute and evaluate news and information campaigns for association members to get the latest regulatory news and to support compliance on statewide minimum wage, overtime, Paid Family & Medical Leave, etc.
• Use public relations to influence our members’ priority issues at the state level and improve the reputation of the hospitality industry in Washington state.
• Support the state government affairs team during the legislative session including research, testimony, action alerts, and collateral.
• Align goals and strategies that support objectives of the communications and state government affairs programs.
• Cultivate, manage and leverage media relationships with the Capitol Press Corps, statewide media and other influential outlets.
• Communicate statewide legislation to members through magazine articles, Legislative News weekly eblasts during legislative session, collateral, TV and radio scripts, promotions, web pages and posts, social media posts, events etc.
• Serve as spokesperson for the Washington Hospitality Association in the media.
• Lead all communications, messaging and branding for the annual Hill Climb member event in January.
• Provide excellent internal communications among the communications and state government affairs teams, and throughout all levels of the association.
• Through excellent listening, collaborate, consider feedback and build consensus on communications with staff, members, other associations, state agencies and partner organizations.
• Train association members to speak to the media and testify at the capitol.

SKILLS:
• Organizes and prioritizes to meet association mission and vision
• Strategic communicator – not an order taker but a strategic advisor
• Written and oral communications, talking points, messaging
• Multiple-stakeholder content approval
• Builds trust and consensus
• Media spokesperson for print, TV, radio
• Facebook, Twitter
• WordPress
• Constant Contact or Mail Chimp email clients
• Media coverage analysis and reporting
• Research, analysis, evaluation
• Project management
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Collaborates – no lone wolves
• Customer/member relations

HOW TO APPLY
To apply or to inquire about this position, please contact Jillian Henze at jillianh@wahospitality.org. Please submit press release and magazine-style writing samples with your materials.