IT Communications Manager

Position Overview

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.

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 challenge, empower and embolden ourselves and our colleges to deliver equitable higher education through antiracist policies that ensure economic vitality across Washington. Our values are focused on racial equity and social justice, accountability, community and culture building, service, humor, collaboration and innovation.

Principal Activities

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.

Compensation

Annual Salary: $119,136 to $119,136

Location: This position is based in Olympia, Washington, with the possibility of up to 100% telework. We are primarily seeking candidates who reside in Washington State or are willing to relocate.

Timeline

Open Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026

Close Date: Priority consideration will be given to those who apply by November 20, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

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.

Supervision Reporting

This position reports to the Deputy Director of Information Technology/CIO (Deputy Executive Director for Information Technology/CIO) and works closely with the Assistant CIO - ctcLink and other IT leadership.

Application Process

Interested candidates may apply by submitting 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 résumé of all educational and professional experience that demonstrates how you meet the qualifications.
• List of at least three professional references (including current supervisor) with contact information. References are typically contacted after interviews.

Contact

Tiffany McDuffy

Human Resource Consultant 2

tmcduffy@sbctc.edu

360-704-4305

Submitted applications are the property of SBCTC and will not be returned.

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 in the position.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

EEO Statement

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) supports Executive Order 13-01 Veterans Transition Support and is an equal opportunity employer. SBCTC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Applicants who need accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at 360-704-4301. A TDD relay service is available by dialing 800-833-6388 or voice 800-833-6384 .