Communications and Public Engagement Director

Under the direction of the City Manager, the Director of Communications and Public Engagement is an executive level staff member whose primary responsibility is to provide long-term and short-term strategic vision and guidance to the Communications and Public Engagement Department. This position will be responsible for developing and overseeing the deployment of an updated citywide comprehensive strategic communications plan. The Director will coordinate with the City’s executive team on key messages. The Director will provide strategic vision and guidance to marketing and communications staff members who are embedded in other departments, ensuring that all communication and engagement efforts work toward the same goals, deliver consistent messages, and portray the same brand image. The Director will be expected to work directly with department leaders, engaging with them on a regular basis to proactively identify communications opportunities and strategies that support their work.

The Director provides leadership, oversight, and direction for the Communications and Public Engagement Department for the City. They promote and exhibit the City's core values in their daily behavior – Trust, Communication, Teamwork, Professionalism, and Work/Life Balance. They strive to uphold the City's customer service mission by being consistent, sincere, and proactive in all interactions. The Director ensures alignment with the department’s mission and reinforces that commitment by sharing performance indicators and striving for continuous improvements to deliver superior service. The Director is responsible for developing employees through constructive feedback, performance evaluations, and professional development. They demonstrate fiscal stewardship, with an understanding of budgeting and oversight of public funds.

Communications

• Develop and execute the long-term and short-term strategic vision and guidance for the Communications and Public Engagement Department to promote the City and its services.
• Develops, leads, and evaluates a comprehensive, strategic communications plan, including public relations, internal and external communications, crisis communication and planning and management, and marketing campaigns that align with the City’s overall strategic plan, goals, and vision.
• A commitment to communicating with all parts of the community, elected officials, and the City organization in a timely manner that is consistent and accurate.
• Collaborates on developing policies, content, and strategy for the City’s communications, including websites, social media, marketing materials, logos, cable channel, the City Reporternewsletter, email newsletters, advertisements, publications, and promotional items.
• Oversees and provides strategic direction for City in responding to crisis situations and other requests for information from the news media.
• Leads the City-wide Communications Team; provides training and guidance to City staff in media relations, public communication, news writing, and design. Serves as internal communications consultant for City Management.
• Assists in communicating complex and technical matters to the community.
• Develops and monitors department budgets and performance measures.
• Plans and coordinates special events such as news conferences, open house meetings, and promotional events.
• Represent the City as a speaker at civic organization meetings and with other community groups.
• Effectively delegate responsibility and authority but maintain accountability and involvement.
• Develop employees through constructive feedback, performance evaluations, and professional development

Public Engagement

• Lead community engagement projects and programs designed to promote awareness and garner feedback on City policies, projects, and services.
• Lead interdepartmental teams to ensure the integration of community engagement efforts with other City departments.
• Serve as a primary contact for community partners and stakeholders (neighborhoods, businesses, community groups, institutions, and influences) to promote issues related to City policies, projects, and services.
• Meet with community representatives on a regular basis to proactively inform them about City issues impacting their key audiences and to identify ways to share or leverage communications tools, resources and opportunities.
• Represent the City in public and civic meetings, public hearings and in the course of official agency correspondence
• Share results and issues that arise from engagement and recommend changes to improve policies, projects, and services.
• Coordinate community meetings and events, deliver presentations to community partners, and provide guidance on creating key messages and content for town hall meetings and other public events.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communication, journalism, public relations, or a related field. Five years of increasingly responsible experience in communication, journalism, or public relations. OR any combination of experience, education and/or training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Two years of the required experience must have been in a supervisory or management capacity.

Regular-Full time: Competitive compensation package

Apply through: https://www.georgetown.org/jobs/ Please attach a cover letter and resume to your job application.