Director of Digital Communications

Job Description

Provides visionary leadership for citywide public information, digital media, community and media relations, marketing, web development, graphic design, and internal and external communications. Serves as a strategic advisor to city management on current and long-range communication policies, plans, and practices that impact public relationships. Oversees the Digital Communications Department as the central source for city information, media dissemination, and official communication with city audiences through multimedia platforms.

Supports public awareness of city policies, actions, programs, and events while maintaining effective relationships with key organizations, stakeholders, businesses, visitors, and the media. The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative, and politically savvy communications leader with public sector or municipal experience and strong skills in media relations, social media strategy, marketing, storytelling, speechwriting, and internal and external communications.

Essential Functions

• Leads the citywide communications strategy, including planning, policy development, budgeting, staffing, and initiatives that strengthen the City’s brand and enhance public engagement.
• Serves as the primary communications and public relations advisor to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and departments on media strategy, public outreach, marketing campaigns, speeches, talking points, official messaging, and employee communications.
• Serves as the primary communications and public relations advisor to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and departments, guiding crisis communications, media strategy, public outreach, marketing campaigns, executive messaging, and internal communications.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum seven years of experience in a related field.

Skills

• Strategic, creative, and politically savvy communications leader with public sector or municipal experience.
• Strong skills in media relations, social media strategy, marketing, storytelling, speechwriting, and internal and external communications.
• Experience as a Public Information Officer is preferred but not required.

Benefits

• Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity.
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January.
• Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate.
• Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate.
• Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available.
• Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage.
• Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage.
• Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employee's cost.
• Longevity pay beginning at year six.
• Tuition Assistance: $5,250 per calendar year.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Onsite wellness center/clinic.
• Access to the Goodyear Recreation Center.
• Robust employee well-being program.
• Free identity theft monitoring and protection with Aura.
• Deferred Compensation Plan: 2% city match (employee contributes 1%).
• Retirement Health Savings: $22.50 city contribution (employee contributes $12.50 per pay period).
• Retirement: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined Benefit plan with mandatory city and employee contributions currently at 12.00%.
• Plan includes Long Term Disability Benefit.