Communications Business Partner/Senior Communications Business Partner- Public Health

About the role

The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we’re here for our neighbors on their best days—and their worst. We share our residents’ goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we’re proud to call home.

Responsibilities

• Creates, implements and measures communication plans and strategies that help meet strategic business goals, initiatives and projects and presents plans to Communications Manager for review and approval.
• Develops and executes feedback mechanisms from citizens and key stakeholder groups, including public outreach events, community meetings, special events and social media tools.
• Organizes events, such as ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, presentations and educational opportunities.
• Creates content for multiple communication channels, including newsletters, websites, social media, speeches, reports and presentations.
• Maintains department’s website pages, including writing copy and updating site using CMS tools.
• Maintains open and regular dialogue with assigned departments and Communication Services staff.
• Serves as primary information contact for department and coordinates responses with appropriate staff as needed.
• Researches official documents and condenses information into appropriate draft messaging on County and department issues.
• Informs the Communications Supervisor of public attitudes and concerns, as well as developing issues, problems and opportunities within the organization.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in communication, mass communication, journalism, marketing or related field. 5+ years of relevant experience. Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Master’s degree preferred. Background in government experience preferred.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; a background in corporate or government writing and a proven ability to write in different registers. Strong knowledge of Associated Press Styleguide is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to influence by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Experience developing and executing strategic marketing and communication plans, organizing a program or event and producing collateral and other materials for training programs or public presentations.
• Relationship building and interpersonal skills: Ability to quickly build effective and mutually respectful relationships with people from various backgrounds and personality styles. Uses diplomacy, tact and respect when communicating with individuals, especially during conflict or high-tension situations. Collaborates with peers to find common ground to solve problems and easily gain trust and support. Must also demonstrate ability respect private and sensitive information about employees and situations.
• Service oriented: Dedicated to meeting the expectations of internal and external customers. Respond in timely and thorough manner, prioritize needs and ensure customer satisfaction.
• A significant element of work involves handling sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy as well as maintaining confidentiality of information.
• A collaborative work style that is able to function effectively under pressure in a deadline-driven environment with a positive can-do attitude.
• Integrity: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems or issues, holds self to highest ethical standards, maintains confidence and creates trusted relationships.
• Speaking skills: Strong speaking skills, including the ability to present to large and small groups. Interviewing skills are necessary to glean information, stories and ideas from employees and other stakeholders.
• Creative skills: Ability to devise communication strategies, including best practices and up-and-coming techniques. Familiarity with information technology, digital and video communication functions and Adobe Creative Suite is essential.

Knowledge

• General theories, principles and practices of marketing, crisis communication, advertising, public relations, brand management and community engagement and outreach.
• Planning, developing, and coordinating comprehensive local government public relations, communications, and media relations programs.
• Correct English grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation, as well as advanced knowledge of Associated Press style.
• Emerging trends and best practices of public relations, marketing, communication, social media and community outreach.
• Techiques of communication preparation and design for both print and digital.
• Principles and practices of composing and editing informational material.

Behavioral Competencies

• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Integrity

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements

Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.

Work Environment

Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.

Physical Demands

• Sits for 60% of the time and stands/walks for 40% of the time.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.