Director of Communications and Community Engagement

Full job description

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Applicants must complete all sections of the employment application. Applications with missing, incomplete, or unclear information will be considered incomplete and may not be reviewed further.

The Director of Communications and Community Engagement serve as the City’s senior communications professional and Public Information Officer, responsible for leading citywide communications, media relations, community engagement, and public outreach. Under the general direction of the City Manager’s Office, the Director develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies that ensure timely, accurate, and consistent information sharing with residents, businesses, visitors, employees, and external partners.

This position provides strategic leadership to strengthen transparency, build public trust, support informed decision-making, and promote civic participation. The Director plays a critical role in shaping the City’s public narrative, coordinating emergency communications, and fostering meaningful connections between the City organization and the community.

Essential Job Functions

Leadership and Management

• Provide executive leadership and direction for the Communications & Community Engagement Department.
• Develop departmental goals, policies, work plans, budgets, and performance metrics aligned with City priorities.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate professional and support staff.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the City Manager, executive leadership team, and department directors on communication and engagement matters.

Public Information and Media Relations

• Serve as the City’s designated Public Information Officer.
• Develop and oversee media relations strategies, including press releases, media briefings, interviews, and spokesperson coordination.
• Ensure consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all City departments and platforms.
• Represent the City in interactions with the media, community groups, partner agencies, and regional organizations.

Emergency and Crisis Communications

• Lead planning and execution of emergency and crisis communications related to public safety, weather events, infrastructure incidents, and other critical situations.
• Coordinate communications efforts with public safety agencies, regional partners, and internal departments during emergencies.
• Maintain readiness through development, testing, and continuous improvement of crisis communication plans.

Community Engagement and Public Participation

• Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive community engagement strategies to promote transparency, participation, and trust.
• Develop inclusive outreach methods to engage diverse populations, neighborhoods, businesses, and stakeholders.
• Oversee community forums, town halls, public meetings, and other engagement initiatives.
• Advise departments on public engagement approaches for major projects, policies, and initiatives.

City-Sponsored Events

• Plan, implement, and evaluate all City-sponsored community events, including festivals, celebrations, ceremonies, and public programs.
• Coordinate event logistics, communications, staffing, vendor partnerships, sponsorships, and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Develop event strategies that support community connection, civic pride, and City branding objectives.
• Evaluate event outcomes and community feedback to inform continuous improvement.

Digital Communications and Creative Services

• Oversee the City’s digital platforms, including websites, social media, email communications, mobile applications, and digital advertising.
• Direct creative services including branding, graphic design, publications, photography, videography, and multimedia storytelling.
• Ensure accessibility, consistency, and effectiveness of all digital and visual communications.
• Utilize analytics and performance data to inform strategy and optimize communication efforts.

Internal and Intergovernmental Communications

• Develop and implement internal communication strategies to support employee engagement, alignment, and organizational culture.
• Build collaborative relationships with regional partners, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community institutions.
• Support interdepartmental coordination and information sharing across the organization.

Other Duties

• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Establish and maintain effective, professional working relationships with elected officials, staff, stakeholders, and the public.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs, brand positioning, media relations, and public information, or community engagement, preferably in local government or a complex public or nonprofit organization. At least four (4) years of experience in a supervisory or management role with responsibility for staff leadership, operational oversight, and strategic planning.

Other Requirements

• Knowledge of municipal government operations, organizational structures, and public service delivery.
• Advanced knowledge of communications principles, media relations, crisis communications, branding, and public engagement practices.
• Ability to develop and implement long-range communication and engagement strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Skill in public speaking, presentation development, and media interaction.
• Strong written communication skills including the ability to draft clear, accurate, and compelling content.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and political awareness in a public sector environment.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Proficiency in digital communications platforms, content management systems, social media tools, analytics platforms, and standard office software.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.