Chief Communications Officer

City of Indianapolis; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Indianapolis is seeking a Chief Communications Officer to serve as the senior communications advisor to the City-County Council. The role leads development and execution of communications strategies for legislative, fiscal, constituent-service, and organizational priorities.

The position oversees branding, messaging, media relations, and public engagement; acts as spokesperson when designated; and ensures timely, accurate, accessible, and nonpartisan information dissemination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs, marketing, public administration, political science, telecommunications, or a closely related discipline.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, or a related field, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in written and oral communication, knowledge of communications and marketing methodologies, and ability to design and execute enterprise-level communication strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders to support Council-driven policies and strengthen understanding of Council initiatives.
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans aligned with Council priorities, the legislative calendar, major proposals, budget actions, public hearings, and organizational needs.
• Serve as the Council’s official media spokesperson when designated, coordinating interviews and preparing Councilors for media engagement.
• Coordinate press conferences and ensure consistent, accurate messaging across City departments and agencies.
• Draft, write, review, and edit all public communications including briefing materials, news releases, statements, newsletters, speeches, and digital content.
• Establish editorial, branding, accessibility, language-access, and quality-control standards across all Council communications.
• Supervise the Public Information Officer and communications staff; oversee day-to-day management of social media and content strategy.
• Manage Councilors’ public appearances and community engagement activities as needed.
• Lead emergency communications, including rapid-response protocols and high-profile issues management.
• Establish workflows for media inquiries, content approvals, emergency alerts, and communications requests.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Public affairs

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

Agency Summary

The City-County Council is the legislative branch of our local government. In addition to adopting budgets, levying taxes, and authorizing financial appropriations to fund city and county operations, the council is responsible for enacting, repealing, and amending local laws. The Council appoints members to boards and commissions that serve the community, and all meetings are open to the public.

Overview

The City-County Council is the legislative branch of our local government. In addition to adopting budgets, levying taxes, and authorizing financial appropriations to fund city and county operations, the council is responsible for enacting, repealing, and amending local laws. The Council appoints members to boards and commissions that serve the community, and all meetings are open to the public.

Job Summary

The Chief Communications Officer serves as the senior communications advisor to the Indianapolis City-County Council and provides comprehensive internal and external communications support to Council leadership and individual Councilors. The position leads the development and execution of communications strategies that advance the Council’s legislative, fiscal, constituent-service, and organizational priorities. The Chief Communications Officer oversees Council and Councilor branding and messaging; provides strategic communications guidance to Council leadership; manages media relations and public engagement; and ensures timely, accurate, accessible, and nonpartisan dissemination of information. The position acts as the Council’s spokesperson when designated and establishes standards, protocols, and processes that maintain consistency with Council priorities and safeguard the Council’s reputation. This role supervises the Public Information Officer. The Chief Communications Officer works closely with Council leadership, Council staff, City-County agencies, media representatives, and community stakeholders to effectively communicate Council actions and support public understanding of Council initiatives. The position exercises discretion within parameters set by the Council President in coordination with Council leadership and staff. Messaging decisions are thoroughly discussed with Council Leadership, Council staff, and subject matter experts as appropriate. Significant professional judgment is required when engaging with media, community organizations, and civic leaders. Errors in judgment could negatively impact Council operations, cause reputational harm, or expose the City to legal or financial liability. Work is reviewed on an as-needed basis in addition to an annual evaluation. The position requires initiative, independent decision-making, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders to support Council-driven policies and strengthen understanding of Council initiatives.
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans aligned with Council priorities, the legislative calendar, major proposals, budget actions, public hearings, and organizational needs.
• Serve as the Council’s official media spokesperson when designated, coordinating interviews, responding to inquiries, and preparing Councilors for media engagement.
• Work closely with communications personnel across City departments and agencies to coordinate press conferences and ensure consistent, accurate, and aligned messaging in all public information efforts.
• Facilitate Council-related news conferences and events, and lead the drafting, writing, reviewing, and editing of all public communications, including briefing materials, news releases, statements, newsletters, speeches, presentations, articles, and digital content.
• Establish and enforce editorial, branding, accessibility, language-access, and quality‑control standards across all Council communications.
• Supervise and evaluate the Public Information Officer and communications personnel; oversee day‑to‑day management of Council social media channels, content creation, strategy, and monitoring of constituent feedback.
• Manage and support Councilors’ public appearances and community engagement activities as needed.
• Lead Council emergency communications, including rapid‑response protocols and high‑profile issues management.
• Establish workflows for media inquiries, content approvals, emergency alerts, and Councilor communications requests to ensure timely and accurate information flow.
• Monitor media coverage, public sentiment, and emerging issues, and use analytics to assess digital engagement, media reach, and overall communications effectiveness.
• Maintain clear separation between official governmental communications and political or campaign‑related activities.
• Manage Council website content in coordination with Council staff, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
• In collaboration with appropriate staff, direct the creation of communications policies, procedures, sponsorship guidelines, and crisis‑management protocols.
• Build and foster effective working relationships with media organizations, citizens, community groups, schools, public agencies, regional partners, and other entities essential to the Council’s mission.
• Respond to emergency situations, attend events, and participate in meetings outside traditional business hours as required.
• Act with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment at all times.
• Perform additional duties as assigned; responsibilities may expand based on organizational needs.

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs, marketing, public administration, political science, telecommunications, or a closely related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and professional experience may be considered. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, or a related field is required, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience. Candidates must demonstrate advanced proficiency in written and oral communication, comprehensive knowledge of communications and marketing methodologies, and the ability to design and execute complex, enterprise‑level communication strategies. Additional qualifications include strong analytical judgment, familiarity with governmental operations, and the capacity to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Job Requirements And Qualifications
In addition to the minimum job requirements, A minimum of five (5) years of experience in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, or a related field is required, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Working Conditions

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Conditions

• Sitting at a desk the majority of the day
• 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 keyboard or workstation
• Tasks require the ability to perceive and hear sounds and see visual cues or signals
• Tasks require the ability to communicate orally

All rates are bi-weekly.

2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:67382b58-4d1a-4519-89d7-8453f91e19a1

Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month):

• Basic: Employer Paid
• Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)

Additional

• 25-29 $0.058
• 30-34 $0.083
• 35-39 $0.099
• 40-44 $0.132
• 45-49 $0.223
• 50-54 $0.363
• 55-59 $0.600
• 60-64 $0.795
• 65-69 $1.329
• 70 + $2.054

Important Perf Update

• For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR
• All employees hired/rehired after 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty‑five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty‑five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

Employees hired/rehired by the City and County between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2021 will be automatically enrolled in the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan. The plan is an annuity savings account (ASA) only plan and does not have a pension component. Any service that an employee has in the My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan will not count toward the service time requirements for pension eligibility in the Hybrid Plan.

With the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan, the ASA is split up into two parts:

Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Part Two - This Consists Of An Additional Variable Rate Contribution Paid By The City Toward Your ASA. This Variable Rate Contribution Is Currently 1% Of Your Gross Wages. Vesting In The Value Of The Variable Rate Employer Contribution Will Vary By Length Of Participation. You Are

• 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
• 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
• 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
• 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
• 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation
• All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty‑five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty‑five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

• City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.

The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten‑percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employee's compensation per pay period.

Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.

Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:

Indiana Public Retirement System

Public Employees' Retirement Fund

One North Capitol, Suite 001

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

(888) 236‑3544