Communications Manager

City of Fairborn; Fairborn (OH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fairborn seeks a proactive Communications Manager to develop and manage media relations, marketing, and public affairs. This role serves as the official PIO, handling press conferences, talking points, and crisis communications while coordinating with the City Manager and department heads.

Responsibilities include leading citywide communications strategies, producing publications, monitoring social channels, and ensuring brand consistency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, public relations, or public administration, plus relevant experience.
• Experience in public administration, mass media communications, or public relations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and convey messages to media, citizens, businesses, and visitors.
• Serve as the City’s designated Public Information Officer (PIO) and official spokesperson with all media outlets.
• Prepare and distribute press releases and coordinate media interviews.
• Lead communication strategies in collaboration with city leadership and departments.
• Coordinate and oversee marketing and branding functions for the City.
• Supervise the Assistant Communications Manager and communications interns.

Skills

Written and oral communication

Program development

Personnel management

Research and editing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, PR, or public administration

Job description

Under the general supervision of the City Manager and/or designee this position is responsible for hands‑on development and management of all mediums of communication with the community, including, but not limited to, traditional and digital communications, marketing, public affairs, media relations and multi‑media productions. And is also responsible for overall City branding and publications, disseminating appropriate information to residents, and advancing a positive image of the city. Performs other work as assigned.An employee in this position may be called upon to do any and/or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily:

• Works closely with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Department Directors, and other City officials to develop and convey messages to the media, citizens, businesses, and visitors.
• Acts as the City’s designated Public Information Officer (PIO) and serves as the city’s official spokesperson with all media outlets. This requires 24/7 availability, for emergencies and/or critical incidents.
• Conducts and/or facilitates media interviews and conferences by preparing talking points or presentations/scripts for elected officials and City staff for general information, news interviews and/or conferences.
• Determine appropriate person(s)/department to act as subject matter expert for interviews.
• Prepares and distributes press releases to media outlets.
• Performs duties and carries out special communication projects for the City Manager as directed such as the mayor’s annual “State of the City” address.
• Leads, develops, and executes communication strategies through collaboration with city’s leadership team; works collaboratively with departments to develop and implement communications strategies and messaging consistent with the city’s goals and objectives.
• Coordinates and oversees all marketing functions within the city.
• Exercises high degree of accuracy, correctness, and discretion when preparing communications materials including managing essential and highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Monitors news and social media for City-related communications and discussions; relay community feedback and engagement trends to the leadership team.
• Coordinates video promotions and broadcasts utilizing Channel 5, the City of Fairborn’s YouTube Channel, and other media/social media platforms.
• Prepares and edits City publications such as social media material, newsletters, calendars, and articles.
• Recommends and maintains the design and content of the City's website content consistent with the City's communications strategies with the primary goal of ensuring information is accurate, current, and relevant.
• Assist staff to develop and maintain department-level pages.
• Produces and/or oversees the design, layout, content, and printing of various brochures, flyers and other special reports and promotional items. Coordinates ad design with newspapers, magazines, etc. with agencies such as Fairborn Daily Herald, Dayton Business Journal, Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce Directory, etc. Create and maintain a library of branded Fairborn photos and imagery.
• Attends and participates in meetings as required, such as, but not limited to, City Council Meetings, City Council Work Sessions, and City Council Retreats, etc. City Manager will advise as to what meetings to attend.
• Serves as City liaison for various community groups.
• Supervises the responsibilities of the Assistant Communications Manager.
• Supervises and mentors’ communications intern(s), assigning tasks, providing feedback, and ensuring their professional development while overseeing communication projects, content creation, and performance metrics.
• Demonstrate regular and predictable attendance, as well as a self-starter.

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, public relations, public administration, or a related field, supplemented by at least three (3) years of experience in public administration, business management, journalism, mass media communications or public relations; or any combination of training and experience which provides the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge of:

• City and departmental goals and objectives.
• City and departmental policies and procedures.
• Public relations.
• Marketing strategies.
• Media production.
• Community resources and services.
• Project management.
• Volunteer principles and practices.
• Public administration.

Skill in:

• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• General research, writing, and editing.
• Program development
• Personnel management
• Current industry standards in technology and software related to the position.

Ability to:

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with City staff, individual citizens (including irate people), and citizen groups and members of the business community.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationship(s) with area media representatives.
• Read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Handle concurrent projects and organize and plan to implement these projects.
• Understand and implement Brand Guidelines and Design Standards in all forms of communications.
• Must be highly organized with the ability to multi-task and meet publishing deadlines.
• Willingness to continue learning through online programs, webinars, conferences, or even additional education.