Communications Director

About the role

Cobb County seeks an experienced, strategic Communications Director who serves as a key advisor to County leadership and elected officials. This role goes beyond traditional PR operations. The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator who proactively shapes public narratives, translates complex policy decisions for the community, and counsels leaders under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Develops and directs strategic communications for County policy initiatives and legislative priorities.
• Partners with the Board of Commissioners, and County departments to translate complex matters such as budget, SPLOST, zoning/land use, public safety agreements, state legislative issues into accessible public narratives.
• Advises leadership on policy message sequencing, timing, and audience strategy for contentious or high-visibility issues.
• Assists with design and execution of proactive communication plans ahead of public hearings, public meetings and community engagements.
• Maintains a comprehensive media contact strategy aligned with County demographics and communication priorities.
• Cultivates strategic, proactive relationships with local, regional, national, digital, and community-specific media outlets that reflect Cobb’s diverse population.
• Convenes communication professionals quarterly across county departments and agencies for cross-collaboration, coordination, and training.
• Establishes key performance indicators for PR, digital engagement, community engagement, media sentiment, crisis response times, and constituent satisfaction.
• Manages and evaluates communications staff, including hiring, training, assigning work, coaching, and performance evaluations.
• Oversees development of all marketing initiatives, PR activities, branding, and external communications.
• Develops and implements department policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Manages departmental budget and ensures financial compliance.
• Serves as spokesperson for Cobb County, including crisis events, after-hours and weekend media response, and Joint Operation Center (JOC) leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, or related field required; supplemented by five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, or public affairs, to include experience in crisis communications, policy or government communications, and supervisory experience managing communications staff;
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in local government, public sector, or political communications preferred.

Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds).
• Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, taste, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals.
• Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.