Communications & Public Engagement Manager

Responsibilities

• Serves as principal communications advisor and counsel to City Administration and City Commission regarding communication risks, opportunities, public perception and stakeholder concerns.
• Develops and implements strategic City communications plans supporting organizational priorities, policy initiatives, and major projects.
• Affords executive leadership and elected officials with speeches, presentations, talking points, public remarks, correspondence, reports, and messaging strategies.
• Identifies emerging issues, trends, and public concerns that may impact City operations, projects, or reputation.
• Conducts research and analysis to support communication planning and executive decision-making.
• Serves as the City’s Public Information Officer (PIO).
• Establishes and maintains professional relationships with local, regional, state, and national media representatives.
• Collaborates with neighborhood councils, business organizations, nonprofit agencies, community groups, and governmental partners.
• Facilitates public meetings, stakeholder workshops, neighborhood forums, and community engagement activities.
• Evaluates public engagement efforts and recommends improvements based on participation metrics and community feedback.
• Develops and leads organizational communication strategies and initiatives supporting employee engagement, organizational effectiveness and changes, restructuring efforts, policy implementation, technology transitions and City culture.
• Trains, coaches, and guides City leadership and departmental staff in best practices of public communications.
• Develops City-wide communication standards, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Serves as the City's PIO during emergencies, disasters, and critical incidents.
• Develops, maintains, and exercises emergency communications plans and protocols.
• Coordinates public messaging and information dissemination during emergencies and crisis situations.
• Supports leadership in development and implementation of strategic City initiatives.
• Coordinates communication and engagement activities of major capital projects, economic development initiatives, policy changes, and organizational priorities.
• Develops performance measurements and key indicators to evaluate communication effectiveness and public engagement outcomes.
• Assists in the development and administration of division budgets, contracts, and consultant services related to communication and engagement activities.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, governmental agencies, business organizations, educational institutions, and regional partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Business, Planning, Public Administration or related field or 5 years government experience.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in Public Relations, Business, Planning, Public Administration or related field.
• Minimum of five years of local government experience.
• Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree in any of the identified fields under Required Education, FEMA PIO training, emergency management or crisis communication experience, and experience facilitating public engagement and stakeholder involvement processes.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of strategic communications, public information, public relations, media relations, community engagement, and stakeholder outreach principles and practices.
• Substantial knowledge of crisis communication, emergency management, and incident communication systems.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to effectively communicate to diverse audiences, including elected officials, community stakeholders, media representatives, and the general public.
• Experience facilitating meetings, public forums, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Ability to prepare complex reports, presentations, speeches, and communication materials.
• Ability to manage multiple high-profile projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse audiences.