Communications Associate - Community Program Specialist I/II

County of San Mateo; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

San Mateo County Libraries is seeking a Communications Associate (Community Program Specialist I/II) to execute integrated communications across media, marketing plans, and digital content for library system initiatives. You will craft press materials, blogs, newsletters, and signage while supporting branding across channels.

The role emphasizes collaboration with community partners, staff, and volunteers, with bilingual skills preferred to serve diverse communities within the county.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of professional public relations or communications experience.
• Experience in creating press releases, blogs, and newsletters.
• Strong writing and editing skills with branding awareness.

Responsibilities

• Research, design, and draft press releases and media pitches.
• Create content for campaigns, blogs, and newsletters.
• Develop and deliver community-focused communications strategies.
• Maintain brand consistency across print and digital assets.
• Manage social media content and online channels.
• Provide copywriting and editing support for platforms.
• Collaborate with community partners and staff.
• Train library staff on communication best practices.
• Track program records and generate reports.
• Ensure compliance with style guides and accessibility.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Social media management

Copywriting

Marketing communications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Digital asset management system

Website management

Graphic design basics

Job description

San Mateo County Libraries is seeking enthusiastic and innovative individuals to join our team as a Communications Associate (Community Program Specialist I/II). Do you want to be a part of an award-winning team and work with amazing people? Join us in igniting growth through transformative experiences!

Proud to consistently be named one of the top-rated libraries in the nation, we are champions of learning, sharing, and exploration of open minds, new ideas, and bright futures. It is our mission and our passion to strengthen our community by creating an inclusive sense of place and an environment for learning. We seek enthusiastic team players, creative risk takers, and flexible individuals who proactively search for new opportunities to make public library services relevant to all members of the community. Successful candidates will be excited about new challenges, eager to learn, and energized by working with people from a variety of backgrounds.

Come join a collaborative, forward-thinking organization that values curiosity, equity, and joy. The Communications Associate is a strategic thinker who executes integrated communications, media, and marketing plans for the library system, leveraging multiple communication channels, promotional materials, web content, press releases, and fact sheets, with the goal of advancing outreach and library engagement to community stakeholders and library users.

We respect, value, and celebrate our community’s diversity, and bilingual skills are always desired and highly valued as we serve a variety of communities in the county. To best serve our diverse and multilingual communities of San Mateo County, bilingual language skills are strongly preferred.

San Mateo County Libraries is a Joint Powers Authority composed of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. We serve approximately 280,000 residents and cover a service area of 351 square miles. Our 13 community libraries are open 7 days per week and are vibrant hubs for learning, creativity, connection, and exploration.

Our mission is simple and powerful: Together, we build meaningful connections and inspire lifelong curiosity.

From book clubs to bike clinics, video game design to resume workshops, Mid-Autumn Festivals to salsa tastings-our libraries offer a rich mix of programs and events that reflect and celebrate the diversity of the people we serve. Whether you're seeking inspiration, information, or a sense of belonging, San Mateo County Libraries is where community comes to thrive.

To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit www.smcl.org.

ideal candidate

• Research, design, and draft press releases, media pitches and responses, content for library system initiatives, infographics, blogs, library signage, newsletters, and internal messaging.
• Design, adapt, and deliver communications that represent our branding and benefit the needs of the community.
• Establish cooperative working relationships with community services providers, program participants, volunteers, and co-workers.
• Create, develop, distribute, and maintain library print and digital assets (e.g., brochures, reports, website, social media, and website) via multiple channels.
• Support digital and print marketing channels (e.g., digital asset management system, website, blogs, newsletters, social media, flyer creation) to ensure brand consistency.
• Provide copywriting and editing support to the libraries’ print and digital platforms.
• Implement communication/marketing strategies that include design work, patron messaging, and social media content creation.
• Adhere to San Mateo County Libraries style guide, ensuring that libraries produce high-quality designed collateral and error-free copy.
• Use technology as a tool, staying on top of new technology trends that support program areas.
• Provide training and support for library staff working in program areas.
• Collect and maintain program records and statistics and create reports, as needed.
• Work in a collaborative teamwork setting and inspire fun in the workplace.
• Take initiative and work well both independently and with others.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

SALARIES

Communications Associate / Community Program Specialist I: $80,121.60 - $100,172.80 Annually

Communications Associate / Community Program Specialist II: $89,772.80 - $112,216.00 Annually

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in mass media communication, marketing, public relations, journalism, business, or public administration, or a closely related field; AND two years of professional experience with responsibility for public relations, media relations, communications, marketing, or a closely related field, and directly involved in the preparation and dissemination of information to the general public and press.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, techniques, and methods of effective public and media communications.
• Principles and practices of effective public and media relations and marketing.
• Strong understanding of social media strategies, techniques, and tools.
• Principles and techniques of preparing advertising, writing copy, layout, and multimedia production.
• Customs and practices of various public information media.
• Principles of effective written communication; strong writing skills.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and coordinate comprehensive communications programs and campaigns to meet department needs, values and priorities.
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate the Libraries’ social media efforts.
• Write and edit effective press releases, articles, speeches, scripts and other correspondence.
• Strategically develop programs and tools to increase and maintain public awareness of department programs, services and achievements.
• Communicate ideas and concepts through creative writing and through presentations to large and small groups.
• Conceptualize print, digital, and broadcast advertising.
• Plan and organize outreach and promotional activities.
• Complete multiple assignments efficiently and meet established deadlines in a fast-paced team environment.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other program managers and staff, other agencies and the community.
• Operate a personal computer with common software applications (i.e., word processing, spreadsheet, database, etc.).
• Learn specialty software of the work unit.