Kansas Governor's Office - Traveling Press Secretary

Kansas Governor's Office

Traveling Press Secretary

• Date posted: 12/4/2021
• Application deadline: Open until filled
• Type of position: Full-time
• Compensation: Commensurate with experience
• Details:

   The Traveling Press Secretary will be the primary communications team member staffing the Governor for external, open press events and interviews. In this role, they will draft event social media, manage press gaggle, and act as an intermediate between senior communications staff and media. 

  Prior to events, the Traveling Press Secretary will work with the Deputy Communications Director to create event and interview memos, make media pitch calls, as well as intaking press requests as they arrive. 

  The Traveling Press Secretary will serve as a point of contact for media—state, local and digital for the governor’s office, as instructed by the Director and Deputy Director of Communications. The Traveling Press Secretary helps to foster and maintain relationships with peers from other states and media contacts who are interested in the activities of our state government. 

  The Traveling Press Secretary will assist with communications office responsibilities as needed by the Director and Deputy Director of Communications, not limited to: drafting written materials such as talking points, remarks, press releases, media advisories; creating social media content; press clips. 

  The Traveling Press Secretary is based in the governor’s executive offices in the statehouse, Topeka, Kansas, and reports to the Director of Communications. 

• Core Responsibilities
  • Staff the Governor and manage media for all external events and interviews 
  • Assist Deputy with event builds, make pitch calls to encourage press attendance 
  • Assist with proactive media engagement and intake for press requests 
  • Assist the Director and the Deputy in developing communications plans and craft key messages, Q&A, press releases, fact sheets and other media materials for Administration priorities and for rapid response 
  • Assist the Director in executing a media strategy for engaging with smaller market, regional media. 
  • Help develop content and strategy for communications vehicles, including: social media, websites, newsletters, videos. 
  • Identify opportunities to support organizational initiatives and develop communications materials and programs to promote and publicize these activities. 
  • Build relationships with state, local and digital media and track opportunities for engagement on the Administration’s priority issues and values. 
  • Help deploy the Administration’s rapid response plan in the event of an accident, natural disaster, threat or other identified emergency news event. 
  • Participate in projects and special initiatives, drawing on resources from across communication platforms, to deliver on the needs of assigned agencies and state government as a whole. 
• How to Apply: Please send your resume to Adriana Somerville at adrianasomerville@yahoo.com
• Contact: If you are interested in this position please reach out to ESC faculty member, Eric Wilson at eric.wilson@wichita.edu