Senior Communications Strategist

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional Title: Senior Communications Strategist 
Job Title: Program Specialist VII 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Communications 
Posting Number: 9778 
Closing Date: 11/01/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, Media 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-25 
Salary Range: $5, $7,065.64 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 5% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (RDM) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 

Brief Job Description:

Under the direction of the deputy communications director, the senior communications strategist will perform highly advanced senior-level consultive services and technical assistance work. The role involves internal and external communication strategy, messaging, and products.

This will include risk mitigation, brand review, and commissioner and executive team communications support, including quarterly senior management meetings. The senior communications strategist may work on agency-wide content development and distribution, agency policies, emergency response messaging and content, intranet updates, talking points, scripts, briefing documents, and presentations. This position will collaborate with DSHS public health region staff, program partners and communications team members, including web, social media, and graphic design. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

EJF 1: Plans, develops, coordinates and/or produces content for web and print production. Provides support to the DSHS communications team, including coordination and oversight of centralized inbox for public health region and program correspondence. Provides content consultative services to public health region and program staff regarding public information and communications strategies for agency initiatives, stakeholder communications and outreach, seminars, conferences and other communications-driven initiatives. Assists management with developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals. Ensures compliance with program policies and procedures. Coordinates the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of materials in response to requests for program information and reports. Develops content and messaging strategy for the DSHS commissioner and chief deputy commissioner. Plans and develops agenda and talking points and provides technical support for senior manager quarterly meetings.  (45%).

EJF 2: Creates, advises or oversees the development of communication products such as articles, special features, PowerPoint presentations, announcements, videos, newsletters, correspondence and reports. Develops content, in coordination with DSHS programs and contractors, for use in variety of media to compliment agency public and stakeholder communications regarding public awareness of health issues, health promotion, health education and DSHS services. Works on specialized projects. Oversees the delivery of services, provides high-level technical assistance for program and creates efficiencies where opportunities occur. Develop, plan, and implement strategies related to internal communications and other deliverables associated with executive communications. Develop relationships and in-depth understanding across DSHS programs and with key stakeholders to effectively create and execute key messaging aligned with organizational strategic objectives and operational performance.  (45%).

EJF 3: Collaborates with and supports Media Relations, Government Affairs and Chief of Staff teams as needed. May train, lead, assign, and/or prioritize the work of others. Assists management with developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals. (5%).

EFJ 4: Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location (5%).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area, communications strategies and limited-English proficiency and their use within the public sector, including accessibility standards required to comply with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act.

Knowledge of AP Style and best practices for creating public-facing materials in plain language and for a variety of audiences.

Skill in branding and content creation, proofreading and plain language, as well as verbal and written communications. Skill in translating complex data and information into user-friendly formats that are easily understood by a wide variety of audiences. 

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to market programs; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other government officials and the public. Ability to track numerous projects and different development stages from conceptualization to final product. Ability to use Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, and SharePoint to develop materials and track projects.

Ability to identify risk during review of public-facing materials to protect the agency's brand and reputation.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or communications
• At least eight years of experience writing and editing articles, flyers, newsletters, scripts, website content, and presentations
• Experience with creating materials as demonstrated through written portfolio of published articles
• Experience with internal communications, including executive messaging, preferably in a public health or health care setting

Additional Information:
The hiring manager will request a portfolio of written work and completion of two in-basket assignments as part of criteria for interview selection. Quality of the portfolio and in-basket assignments will determine whether candidates are selected for interviews.

Screening Assessments:
N/A

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor's Military Crosswalk at

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at or via email at

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form