SUMMARY:
The Strategic Engagement Manager offers an exciting opportunity for an individual passionate about driving public engagement, innovation, and effective communication within the City of Amarillo. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in leading the city's engagement initiatives, fostering collaboration across departments, and ensuring brand consistency. The role will also oversee and support the Social Media Manager, ensuring that all social media initiatives align with the broader engagement and innovation strategies. By centralizing content management and communication strategies, the Strategic Engagement Manager will optimize the city's outreach efforts, improve content accessibility, and enhance community interaction. This position requires a creative thinker with strong leadership capabilities who can handle diverse projects and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with the Director of Engagement & Innovation to develop long-term strategies focused on public engagement, innovation, and communication.
- Oversee and support the Social Media Manager, ensuring that social media strategies and content align with city-wide goals and engagement efforts.
- Manage and contribute to a spectrum of projects and operations, including formulating communication plans for specific campaigns in partnership with city departments, boards, and committees.
- Participate in media outreach, support social media initiatives, oversee both internal and external communication initiatives, and engage in various other communication efforts.
- Increase the city’s online engagement through relevant and accessible content that fosters community participation and interaction.
- Foster and maintain robust relationships with internal and external stakeholders, aligning communication and innovation efforts with broader organizational goals.
- Create and deliver training programs on social media strategy, digital content creation, and public communication to align city departments with the overall communication goals.
- Centralize content management efforts across departments to streamline processes, reduce duplication, and maintain brand consistency.
- Assists with City Council meetings to provide real-time public relations support for recognitions and developments.
- Monitor and enforce adherence to the City's brand guidelines across departments and external entities as necessary.
- Offer support to City departments in various communication activities.
- Assist in managing crisis communication strategies to ensure the city responds swiftly and effectively to emergencies or public relations challenges.
- Contribute to the development and execution of advertising, both in print and digital formats.
- Coordinate the production of special events and oversee media event calendars for concurrent community-based events citywide.
- Conduct primary and secondary research to gauge communication benchmarks.
- Support internal communication initiatives and engage in other departmental functions as designated by the department Director.
KNOWLEDGE:
- Proficiency in various communication practices, theories, strategies, and techniques.
- Leadership, collaboration, and team-building strategies.
- Development and execution of successful comprehensive communication campaigns.
- Experience in media relations within complex organizations.
- Fundamental understanding of graphic design, layout, and publishing principles.
- Expertise in digital communication strategies, public engagement, and social media content management.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards and data-driven content improvements.
SKILLS:
- Strong leadership and team collaboration skills, with the ability to lead cross-departmental projects.
- Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Alignment of behavior with organizational needs and goals, setting an example for others.
- Effective collaboration with diverse constituent groups, from staff and board members to community stakeholders.
- Proficiency in crisis communication and the ability to adapt to new digital trends.
ABILITIES
This position requires a person with:
- Excellent copywriting, editing and verbal communication abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic engagement plans and execute public outreach efforts.
- A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
- Proven experience as a high energy, mature leader with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
- The ability to demonstrate an understanding of the link between job responsibilities and overall organizational goals and needs and perform the job with broader goals in mind.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
A Bachelors' degree in Communications, Public Affairs, or related field is required. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible, multi-disciplinary experience (media relations, community outreach, internal communications, etc.) within the communications field is required. Must have a valid Texas drivers license.
ADA PROFILE
Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is required to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The employee is also required to balance, crouch, feel, finger, handle, pull, push, reach, speak, stand, stoop, talk, see, and walk. Also requires the ability to make rational decisions and preform repetitive motions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Office of Engagement & Innovation offers flexible work schedule options determined at the time of hire. You will occasionally be required to work after hours to complete projects and meet deadlines.
