IT Communications Manager

Description

View the complete description on our Jobs page: https://www.sbctc.edu/about/jobs/ Apply at https://www.sbctc.edu/about/jobs/

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) provides support, coordination and oversight for Washington State’s system of 34 public community and technical colleges through three divisions – Educational Services, Business Operations, Information Technology – and the Executive Director’s Office. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) invites applications for the position of IT Communications Manager. The IT Communications Manager plays a critical coordination and communications role within the Information Technology Division, supporting the Deputy Director of IT/CIO and Assistant CIO - ctcLink in the effective coordination, communication, and execution of IT operations, priorities, and systemwide initiatives, including ctcLink and ctcLink Support. This position serves as a central point of coordination across Information Technology teams and functions, providing operational structure, support, governance coordination, initiative tracking, and strategic communications. It helps ensure that IT priorities, decisions, initiatives, operational activities, and organizational changes are documented and communicated clearly, consistently, and in a timely manner with team members and other stakeholders. The position connects strategic direction with day-to-day execution by coordinating priorities, maintaining visibility into initiatives and operational activities, facilitating cross-team collaboration, and ensuring follow-through on organizational commitments. It works closely with IT leadership, managers, technical and functional teams, SBCTC divisions, college stakeholders, governance bodies, vendors, and state partners. The IT Communications Manager also leads the development and execution of the IT and ctcLink Support communications strategy and supports executive-level communications for the Deputy Director of IT/CIO and Assistant CIO - ctcLink. The position translates complex operational and technical information into clear, accessible communications for diverse internal and external audiences, applying organizational change management (OCM) principles to build awareness and understanding of IT initiatives.

SBCTC Mission and Vision Statement Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities. We support and empower the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges to increase higher education opportunities and student participation through advocacy, resources, information, leadership and accountability. Our values are focused on customer service, integrity, humor/exuberance, expertise, and effective communication.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The annual compensation for this position is listed above. Washington State has a generous benefit package including health, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, retirement, and two optional deferred compensation programs. For more information, see Exempt Employee Benefits.

Recruitment and screening of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled. However, to ensure full consideration, return completed materials by 5 p.m. on the closing date. Note: Agency hiring authorities reserve the right - and may exercise the option - to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process. Please submit materials as soon as possible. Duties IT Operations and Executive Support

• Support the Deputy Director of IT/CIO and Assistant CIO - ctcLink in coordinating division-wide priorities, initiatives, and operational activities.
• Coordinate leadership meetings, priorities, action items, and follow-up to support effective execution.
• Serve as central point of coordination for IT leadership priorities, ensuring projects, decisions, deliverables, and follow-up activities are clearly documented and tracked.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities involving multiple teams and facilitate communications and follow-through across the organization and with colleges.
• Develop executive briefings, reports, presentations, and other materials to support leadership decision-making.
• Provide the Deputy Director with executive-level communication tools and products related to oversight and governing bodies, such as the State Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), the SBCTC Board, WACTC (presidents), and other ctcLink governance bodies.

IT and ctcLink Communications Strategy and Management

• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the IT and ctcLink Support communications strategy and plan to proactively communicate with internal and external audiences and provide communications structure for an evolving governance model and major IT/ctcLink initiatives.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of public IT and ctcLink website content and resources, ensuring compliance with SBCTC agency standards, accessibility requirements, and established communication practices.
• Ensure IT communications are accurate, timely, consistent, and appropriate for internal and external audiences.
• Develop and coordinate newsletters, blogs, announcements, presentations, web content, briefings, and other communication materials.
• Assess communication needs and recommend communication strategies appropriate to the audience, initiative, and level of organizational impact.
• Apply communication and organizational change management (OCM) principles and process-alignment activities to help colleges and SBCTC IT teams build and reinforce awareness, desire, and knowledge for IT initiatives and ctcLink products.
• Coordinate with the SBCTC executive communications team on agency-wide and system-wide communications, ctcLink brand management, media relations, and messaging when appropriate.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate communication events, and maintain documentation of executive-level stakeholder meetings, ensuring dissemination through proper channels.

IT Governance and Organizational Coordination

• Coordinate IT governance activities and ensure meetings, agendas, documentation, action items, and follow-up are completed timely and consistently.
• Support consistent and transparent governance practices across IT initiatives, committees, and workgroups.
• Develop and maintain processes, tools, and reporting mechanisms that strengthen IT operational coordination, transparency, and accountability.
• Monitor IT operational practices and identify opportunities to improve coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Support planning and implementation of division-wide IT priorities and initiatives.
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination to align IT activities with organizational priorities and commitments.

Team Collaboration and Relationship Management

• Foster collaboration across IT teams and with SBCTC divisions, colleges, vendors, and other partners.
• Coordinate cross-team meetings, workshops, planning sessions, and other activities.
• Promote a collaborative, customer-focused, and service-oriented IT environment.
• Represent IT leadership in meetings when delegated and ensure appropriate follow-up and communication.
• Solicit feedback and make regular recommendations to strengthen communications and coordination where needed.

Qualifications

Required

• BA/BS degree (in journalism, marketing, public relations, communications, or a related field) OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of relevant work experience supporting operations and communications for a department or organization, including creating and implementing communication strategies and developing content for diverse audiences.
• Experience with website content management, newsletters, digital communications, or other organizational communication tools.
• Excellent writing, copy-editing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into language easily understood by diverse audiences.
• Proven success interacting with and supporting communications for executive leadership.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and the ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, vendors, and the public.
• Proven ability to manage multiple competing tasks and deadlines.

Preferred

• Five or more years of experience working in higher education, specifically for a large community and technical college system.
• Experience developing communications strategies and programs for IT projects, enterprise systems, organizational change, or business processes, specifically in a higher education environment.
• Familiarity with organizational change management (OCM) frameworks.
• Solid desktop automation skills, including effective use of email, Microsoft Excel, Word, and virtual meeting tools.
• Proactive, creative, and flexible thinker, able to think both analytically and strategically.
• Ability to inspire creativity, positivity, and fun while remaining focused in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Supplemental Information

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates may apply at https://www.sbctc.edu/about/jobs/ and submit the following items:

• Online Application
• Cover Letter that addresses your interest in the position and ability to perform the responsibilities described in this announcement.
• Detailed resume of all educational and professional experience that demonstrates how you meet the qualifications.
• List of three professional references one of which should be your current immediate supervisor. References are typically contacted after interviews.

Prior to new hire, the finalist for this position will be subject to a criminal background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform the position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.Benefits More than Just a Paycheck! Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave) Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave Leave Sharing Parental Leave Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026