This position develops and implements proactive strategies that strengthen transparency, trust, and collaboration across the organization and the community. This position leads a division that integrates public information, marketing, community engagement and internal communication into a cohesive system supporting the City’s mission, core values and strategic goals.

This position also serves as the City’s lead for crisis and reputation communication, ensuring the organization anticipates potential risks, responds quickly and accurately to emerging issues, and maintains public confidence through consistent, credible, and timely messaging. May serve as the Public Information Officer (PIO) within the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during significant incidents to coordinate accurate and unified messaging in collaboration with emergency management personnel.

Develop and implement comprehensive strategies for communication, engagement , and reputation management aligned with the City’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan.
Anticipate and identify potential risks or issues that could impact the City’s credibility, prepare mitigation and response plans.
Advise the Mayor and leadership team on messaging, engagement, and issue management.
Develop systems to monitor public sentiment, media coverage, and engagement data to inform decisions.
Manage news release, press inquiries, interviews, and public statements.
Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and state media outlets.
Lead integrated marketing, publications, presentations, conferences, events and other public relations activities that highlight City initiatives, employees, and community impact.
Responsible for creating and maintaining digital platforms, social media, and newsletters to ensure consistent, timely, and engaging content.
Create a public relations productions plan with department leadership for approval and maintain a consistent posting schedule while adapting to trends of high engagement.
Maintain brand and style standards to ensure a unified voice and visual identity across all communications.
Design and implement strategies that strengthen two-way communication and increase public participation in City initiatives, projects, and decision making.
Coordinate community outreach campaigns, publics meetings, surveys, and digital engagement tools to gather meaningful input.
Partner with departments to make complex projects understandable and accessible to the public through clear, inclusive communication.
Tracks engagement outcomes and recommend data-driven improvements to enhance reach, representation and trust.
Lead internal communication strategies that promote alignment, transparency, and employee engagement.
Reinforce a culture of innovation, adaptability, and service excellence across all departments by promoting effective internal communication practices.
Serve as the City’s lead for crisis communication, developing and executing plans during high-impact or sensitive situations.
Coordinate timely, accurate messaging during crises or emerging issues to protect public trust.
Provide training and guidance to departments on proactive communication and media interaction.
Ensure compliance with law and policies governing public information, records and accessibility.
Attends City-sponsored events as directed, photographs activities, and coordinates public promotion of such events.
All other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Strong knowledge of content strategy, public engagement, and cross-platform communication.
Advanced understanding of strategic communication, community engagement, and crisis-response principles, with the ability to anticipate and manage reputational risks.
Knowledge or community engagement frameworks, participatory methods, and best practices in public involvement.
Exceptional writing, editing, public speaking, and presentation skills using a variety of media.
High emotional intelligence, sound professional judgment, and the ability to work with sensitive and confidential information.
Proficient with digital communication tools, analytics platforms, social media channels, and content management systems.
Strong organizational, analytical, and project-management skills.
Knowledge of communication, marketing, graphic design principles, and website management.
Knowledge of local government functions, public-sector operations, and political environment.
Ability to lead, supervise, and evaluate staff, as well as coordinate work across teams.
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments, community partners, boards/commission, and the public.
Ability to develop and manage budgets, think strategically, solve problems, perform multiple tasks under diverse conditions and deadlines.
Understanding or modern office methods, procedures and equipment.
Ability to perform multiple tasks under diverse conditions.
Ability to present a positive image of the department and the City.
Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field.
Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, public engagement, public affairs, or marketing.
Demonstrated experience in crisis communication, issues management, and organizational reputation management.
Minimum three (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience, including managing projects and cross-functional teams.
Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field.
Experience working in government, municipal, public sector, or other complex stakeholder environments.
Experience working with diverse forms of media inquiries.
Experience in development, project management, and execution of Public Relations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Tasks involve extended period of sedentary work.
Times where exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Task involves extended period of time at a keyboard.

Environmental Requirements

None. This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Sensory Requirements

The task requires close visual acuity to perform various activities.
The task requires oral communications ability.
The task requires sound perception.

City of New Berlin

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Public Communications Manager