Supervisor, Public Affairs

About the role

The Supervisor, Public Affairs leads LCPS public information and media relations efforts and serves as a strategic advisor on communications with external audiences. Reporting to the Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer, the Supervisor provides leadership for media relations, public information, public-facing incident communications, emergency public messaging, fact-checking and misinformation response, community information and recruitment marketing. The Supervisor develops proactive communications strategies that promote public understanding of division priorities, strengthen trust through timely and accurate information, and support proactive, productive relationships with news media and community stakeholders. The position collaborates closely with Internal Communications, Creative & Digital Services, Family & Community Engagement, Cabinet, principals and other division leaders to ensure coordinated public communications.

Responsibilities

• Leads LCPS public affairs strategy, including media relations, public information, proactive communications and community-facing messaging.
• Serves as a primary strategic advisor to the Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer and senior leadership on media strategy, public information and emerging external issues.
• Oversees media relations operations, including media inquiries, interviews, press releases, news pitching, media logistics and media monitoring.
• Leads public-facing communications during significant incidents and emergencies, coordinating public statements, media response, public updates and fact-based information with Internal Communications and operational leaders.
• Develops proactive communications that increase public understanding of LCPS programs, priorities, decisions and student and staff achievements.
• Leads fact-checking and misinformation response efforts and supports timely clarification of inaccurate or incomplete information affecting the school division.
• Builds and maintains professional, responsive relationships with local, regional and national news media and other external information partners.
• Oversees recruitment marketing and employment-brand communications in coordination with Human Resources and Talent Development and Creative & Digital Services.
• Supervises, mentors, develops and evaluates assigned Public Affairs staff and establishes performance expectations that support responsiveness, accuracy, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Uses media monitoring, audience insights, engagement metrics and performance analytics to evaluate communications effectiveness and identify opportunities for proactive communication.
• Develops and executes integrated public affairs strategies that intentionally align earned, owned and paid media to expand the reach of division programs and information, strengthen public understanding and ensure key messages reach targeted audiences through the most effective channels.
• Assists with recruitment marketing and employment-brand communications that position LCPS as an employer of choice, support the recruitment and retention of high-quality employees and highlight the experiences, opportunities and culture that make LCPS a rewarding place to work.
• Develops strategic storytelling and