Communications Manager

City-of-Florida-City; Florida City (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Florida City seeks a Communications Manager to lead its public information, branding, and digital communications efforts. You will plan and execute initiatives to inform residents, businesses, media, and partners about city programs and emergencies.

The role oversees the City website and social channels, produces multimedia content, coordinates media inquiries, ensures accessibility and consistent messaging, and collaborates with departments on city events and outreach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field.
• Five years of professional communications experience.
• Experience managing websites and social media.
• Experience in multimedia content production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage citywide communications strategy.
• Coordinate media relations and public information campaigns.
• Produce digital content and manage city website.
• Oversee branding standards and digital assets.
• Provide live coverage for events as needed.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Digital communications

Content creation

Photography

Videography

Graphic design

Social media strategy

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Job description

Position Description

This position performsperforms highly responsible professional and management work in planning, developing, coordinating, and executing the City’s communications, public information, media relations, digital communications, branding, multimedia, and community outreach activities. The Communications Manager serves as the City’s lead communications professional and is responsible for communicating City initiatives, programs, services, events, operations, and emergency information to residents, businesses, media, and community stakeholders.

The position manages the City’s website and social media presence; produces written, photographic, video, graphic, and digital content; coordinates media relations and public information activities; maintains City branding standards and digital assets; and works across departments to ensure accurate, timely, accessible, and consistent public communications.

Supervision Received

Works under the general guidance and direction of the City Manager.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Essential Job Functions

• Develop, implement, and manage the City’s comprehensive communications, public information, and community engagement strategy.
• Serve as the City’s primary communications liaison and coordinate communications between City departments, residents, businesses, community organizations, governmental partners, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with newspapers, television, radio, digital media, and other news organizations.
• Respond to media inquiries, coordinate interviews, prepare media responses, and assist City leadership with public messaging.
• Prepare and edit press releases, public notices, newsletters, talking points, speeches, presentations, reports, correspondence, website content, and other communications materials.
• Manage the City’s website, including content development, updates, accuracy, accessibility, organization, and coordination with vendors and Information Technology staff.
• Manage the City’s social media platforms and develop strategies to increase resident engagement and awareness of City programs and services.
• Develop and manage social media campaigns, including photographs, videos, reels, short-form content, livestreams, graphics, and other digital content.
• Produce professional-quality photography and videography for City events, meetings, ceremonies, programs, public safety initiatives, community outreach activities, and municipal projects.
• Plan, shoot, edit, and produce promotional videos, public service announcements, interviews, event recaps, informational videos, and other multimedia content.
• Design or coordinate the production of flyers, brochures, newsletters, reports, presentations, signage, publications, and other print and digital materials.
• Develop visual storytelling content highlighting City services, accomplishments, capital projects, economic development initiatives, community programs, and special events.
• Establish, implement, and maintain City branding and visual identity standards to ensure consistency across departments and communications platforms.
• Coordinate communications and promotional activities for City-sponsored events in collaboration with the Chief of Staff, Event Coordinator, departments, and community partners.
• Provide live communications and multimedia coverage of City events and activities as needed.
• Maintain, organize, archive, and preserve the City’s communications-related digital assets, including photographs, videos, graphics, publications, reports, newsletters, and historical materials.
• Develop and maintain an organized digital asset management and file storage system for communications materials.
• Ensure digital communications and website content comply with applicable ADA accessibility requirements and best practices.
• Coordinate emergency and crisis communications and provide timely public information during emergencies, severe weather events, public safety incidents, and other situations requiring immediate communication.
• Establish and maintain appropriate on-site communication and media coordination during emergency situations when required.
• Collaborate with departments on public safety and public information messaging.
• Prepare and make presentations to the City Commission, civic organizations, governmental entities, businesses, community organizations, and other groups as assigned.
• Monitor media coverage, social media activity, emerging communications technologies, community feedback, and industry trends.
• Research and recommend communications software, photography and videography equipment, digital platforms, and related technologies.
• Manage communications-related vendors, consultants, contracts, projects, and expenditures as assigned.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to City departments regarding communications, multimedia production, website content, branding, accessibility, and public information.
• Represent the City and Chief of Staff at meetings and community functions as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Digital Media, Multimedia Communications, Visual Arts, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, public relations, media relations, journalism, digital communications, multimedia production, marketing, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of professional administrative experience.
• Demonstrated professional experience managing websites, social media platforms, public information campaigns, and multimedia content.
• Professional experience in photography, videography, graphic design, or digital content production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Foreign Language proficiency (Spanish and/or Creole)
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required for City events, emergencies, and special projects.
• Experience with emergency or crisis communications.
• Ability to transport and operate multimedia equipment at various City locations.

Required Certifications and Licences

• Must possess and maintain a valid State of Florida Driver License and the ability to drive a city owned vehicle per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training will be required (and sponsored) according to job duties and responsibilities.
• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.

The City of Florida Cityis an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americas with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et. Seq.), the City of Oakland Park will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. The physical demands described here are respective of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to ling work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. Work is performed in usual office conditions with rare exposure to disagreeable environmental factors. Some tasks require visual abilities. Some tasks require oral communications ability.