This position reports to a City Council agency and plays a key role in shaping and delivering the City’s public communications and outreach efforts. The role leads the planning, coordination, and execution of communication, public information, event planning, and marketing initiatives that support the agency’s mission and priorities.
The position will work in parallel to an existing PIO and may provide direct supervision to professional-level exempt staff. The position is responsible for guiding day-to-day operations, setting program goals and performance standards, and monitoring progress toward strategic objectives. Responsibilities include overseeing internal and external communications strategies, providing advisory and consulting services, managing budgets and expenditures, and developing communication protocols.
This role also serves as a point of contact for media relations, including acting as a spokesperson, responding to press inquiries, drafting press releases, supporting or leading press conferences, and overseeing electronic and social media platforms for assigned functions.
Primary responsibilities include managing department website, social media platforms and social media strategy.
Serves as media spokesperson by responding to media and requests for information. As assigned, attends press conferences. Keeps leadership advised of potential issues/challenges and assists leaders with various forms of communications.
May supervise professional, paraprofessional and support level staff including providing oversight on work product, conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
Oversees, directs, and coordinates external communication efforts such as responding to customer inquiries, creating campaigns, and planning/coordinating community events.
Provides oversight and coordination; directs and conducts internal communication efforts such as creating and disseminating employee newsletters, department announcements, and notices via email, posters, flyers, etc.
Performs administrative activities such as meeting with public or private constituents regarding cooperative city interests, managing communications and public outreach budgets, and other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's Degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or directly related field.
- Five years of public communications experience with supervisory experience preferred.
- An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.
LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge (some combination of the following):
- Extensive experience with social media platforms and designing social media marketing campaigns
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of municipal government structure and operations
- Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local legislative processes
- Graphic design experience and knowledge
- Comprehensive knowledge of television, video, and film script writing, direction, editing, and production
- Understanding of and familiarity with media relations
- Event coordination and execution
- Significant political acumen
- Command of public relations and communications
- Understanding of latest creativity and innovation concepts in public information practices and marketing
- Knowledge of social media platforms
Skills (some combination of the following):
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Media relations
- Television production
- Event coordination and production
- Writing, producing, and editing
- Project management
- People management
- Effective oral and written communication
- Interpersonal communication
- Presentations
- Public speaking
- Strategic planning
Abilities (some combination of the following):
- Make decisions
- Think quickly
- Organize
- Articulate appropriate responses
- Problem-solve
- Exercise sound judgment
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
