Title: Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs

State Role Title: Gen Admin Manager IV

Hiring Range: $177,000 - $201,000

Pay Band: 8

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: VDH-Central Office

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs. Reporting directly to the State Health Commissioner, this executive-level position provides leadership and oversight for the agency’s external affairs portfolio, including communications, media relations, community engagement, stakeholder partnerships, and constituent services.

The Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs serves as a key member of the agency’s executive leadership team and is responsible for shaping and advancing VDH’s public presence across the Commonwealth. This role leads the development and execution of comprehensive communication and engagement strategies that promote transparency, strengthen public trust, and ensure Virginians have equitable access to critical health information, services, and resources.

This position provides strategic direction for all agency communication activities, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with organizational priorities. The Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs cultivates and maintains strong relationships with media organizations, community leaders, elected officials, healthcare partners, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders. The role also establishes systems and processes to gather, analyze, and elevate community perspectives to inform agency planning, policy development, and decision-making.

The successful candidate will foster innovation within the communications function while elevating the agency’s ability to communicate effectively during both routine operations and complex public health events.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading communications, public affairs, external relations, or stakeholder engagement functions within a large and complex organization. Experience in government, public health, healthcare, higher education, or other highly visible public-serving environments is preferred.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of communications principles and practices as they pertain to a large, complex organization, including crisis and risk communications. Extensive knowledge of communications media, including digital, social media, web-based platforms, and multimedia content.
• Extensive knowledge of stakeholder engagement, community relations, and public affairs. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and public officials.
• Knowledge of public health systems, health equity principles, and the social and structural factors that impact health outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex and diverse information and present clear, effective, and persuasive communications to varied audiences.
• Strong ability to lead enterprise-wide strategy, manage multiple high-priority initiatives, and align cross-functional teams.
• Considerable knowledge of state and/or federal government operations and ability to navigate complex organizational and political environments.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and management skills, including experience supervising professional staff and managing high-performing teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong professional judgment; and the ability to respond effectively in high-pressure and rapidly evolving situations.

Additional Considerations

N/A

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Tyrell Noel

Phone: 804-305-9796

Email: tyrell.noel@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.