Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.Hiring Range: $71,304.00 - $90,907.00Work Day/Hours: Monday - Friday / 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Hybrid/Flexible; occasional weekends/eveningsThe Environmental and Street Services Department collaborates with community partners to provide exceptional customer service and outstanding management of waste collection, recycling and disposal services that are safe, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sound. Our work enhances the appearance of the City while ensuring its sustainability. If you're looking for meaningful work and the chance to serve, bring your skills and talent to Durham!The newly created Environmental & Street Services department is seeking a skilled and highly motivated Public Information & Communications Analyst, Sr. The position will work with department divisions and City Communications to tell the department’s story through strategic communications across digital platforms, social media, television, and the news media. The Public Information & Communications Analyst, Sr., will also serve as the department’s lead for Environmental & Street Services employee/internal communications, helping to keep department staff informed, engaged, and connected.
About this Role
Environmental & Street Services is tasked with providing - engineering and stormwater infrastructure services, street and sidewalk maintenance, solid waste operations (curbside residential solid waste and recycling collections, bulky item collections, waste and disposal center operations, and closed landfill management), GIS services, water quality management and stormwater billing operations.
The Public Information & Communications Analyst, Sr. will be tasked with developing and implementing a communications strategy that seeks to tell the department’s story through strategic communications, both written and digital, social media and via the news media. In coordination with department division staff and the City’s Communications team, you will inform and engage members of the public, both internal and external, and develop relationships with our key stakeholders – City staff and leadership, community and corporate partners, news reporters and others.
This position is devoted to work involving citizen engagement, public education, public information, and marketing. Serves as a designated subject matter expert, performing providing high-level technical assistance for the Environmental & Street Services department and executive stakeholders in a variety of public relations areas including media consultation, marketing communications, developing communication strategies, internal communications and website content development. Decision-making includes providing input into management objectives and selecting the method to address a problem or issue, subject to the constraints established by management objectives and direction. Responsible for providing advisory consultation regarding departmental special events; writing speeches; developing and implementing departmental communication plans; using a variety of media; facilitating and fostering positive media relations; responding to media inquiries; monitoring City coverage; and advising staff.
Responsible for identifying and working with sponsors, participants, and stakeholders; serving as project manager; writing specifications for consultants and ensuring work performed complies with deliverables and specifications; facilitating intergovernmental relations; defining project scope and managing stakeholder processes.
- Perform advanced, professional work in developing and implementing strategic public information initiatives that support Environmental & Street Services mission and priorities.
- Manage complex public information projects from concept through completion, including planning, execution and evaluation. Monitor performance metrics to confirm alignment with objectives and apply insights to refine strategies.
- In coordination with Environmental & Street Services Education & Outreach staff, provide leadership to various targeted education campaigns (e.g. Recycle Right Durham, stormwater, street closures, supporting creative direction, messaging, social media, website and related content. Drive engagement through multi-channel strategies and performance analytics.
- Develop clear, accurate and audience-focused written communications to effectively convey Environmental & Street Services’ work to internal and external stakeholders. Coordinate city-wide or department public relations, communications, and/or marketing programs, activities, special events; prioritize projects; provide advisory consultation to senior management and other staff; develop and implements communication plans, policies, and procedures; coordinates logistics; researches trends; manages assigned budgets; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Design high-impact communications (e.g. presentations, publications, graphics) that transform complex information into clear, engaging and easily understood messages.
- Design and manage print materials (e.g. utility bill inserts, reports, doorhangers, brochures, fact sheets), ensuring creative quality, brand consistency, timely revisions and efficient coordination with vendors. Design, edit and develop print, digital, social media, website, and other informational, communication, and promotional materials; designs graphics and layouts; writes speeches and letters; creates and posts website and social media content; prepares press releases and newsletters; takes photographs and directs and produces videos; and develops publications.
- Implement initiatives to ensure effective communications for all, including language access and alignment with digital accessibility standard.
- Collaborates with the media, business leaders, community officials, City departments, and/or external agencies; attends meetings and serves on committees; facilitates and fosters positive media relations including responding to inquiries, monitoring City coverage, and serving as a primary media contact for a department or city-wide communications; establishes strategic partnerships; and develops and conducts training.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Strong organizational and project management skills with keen attention to detail.
- Skill in prioritizing multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.
- Ability to perform effectively in fast-paced, collaborative team environments.
- Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across teams and stakeholders.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and take initiative.
- Excellent writing and editing skills with proficiency in AP style.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical information to diverse audiences.
- Knowledge of content creation strategies for various media platforms.
- Knowledge and experience in graphic design across multiple platforms.
- Strong understanding of typography, negative space, visual balance, and color harmony.
- Advanced proficiency in MS Office and Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
- Willingness and ability to work public events during evenings and weekends as needed.
- Successful candidate must have a valid driver's license.
- Bachelor’s Degree in business or public administration, communications, or directly related field.
- Five years of professional communications experience, including media, social media and communications advisory experience.
- Background in environmental services to include solid waste collections and disposal, recycling, stormwater, street maintenance, engineering, and/or natural resources, environmental science and/or government, non-profit experience.
- Experience creating content for digital platforms and social media.
- Experience as a media contact or responding to media inquiries.
- Experience managing communications projects from concept through completion.
- Experience developing internal communications for employees.
- Experience ensuring compliance with digital accessibility or language access requirements.
