Communications Manager

City of Fort Myers; Fort Myers (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Fort Myers is seeking a Communications Manager to plan, develop, and manage public affairs, media relations, and community outreach initiatives aligned with the city’s priorities. The role oversees campaigns, supports media response and crisis communications, and coordinates with departments to ensure consistent messaging across platforms.

The position may involve directing interns, vendors, or project teams and assisting with department operations and workflow coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, public affairs, or closely related field.
• Five years of relevant professional experience in public relations, media relations, or communications.
• Must possess a valid Florida driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, and implements public relations, public affairs, and community outreach campaigns supporting city programs, services, projects, events, and policy initiatives.
• Manages assigned communications projects from concept through completion, establishing timelines, coordinating contributors, and ensuring materials are accurate, timely, and consistent with city standards.
• Drafts, edits, and distributes press releases, media advisories, public notices, frequently asked questions, executive correspondence, website content, newsletters, social media content, and other communications materials using AP style where appropriate, accessibility standards, and plain-language principles.
• Coordinates media interviews, speaking engagements, and presentations for city leadership and prepares spokespersons with key messages, talking points, and other supporting materials.
• Develops messaging, communications plans, stakeholder materials, and public-facing information related to city council actions, capital projects, public safety, infrastructure, budget initiatives, legislative matters, and other municipal priorities.
• Responds to routine and complex media inquiries in coordination with the Public Information Officer; conducts research, verifies information with appropriate departments, and prepares timely, accurate responses.
• Develops media pitches and identifies proactive opportunities to highlight city programs, accomplishments, services, partnerships, and community initiatives.
• Coordinates the planning and execution of public meetings, press conferences, media availabilities/tours, public workshops, community engagement activities, and other events.
• Monitors local and regional news coverage, social media activity, public sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the city; briefs the Public Information Officer and recommends appropriate communications actions.
• Coordinates with city departments to identify needs, gather and verify information, and review departmental materials for accuracy, readability, branding, accessibility, and consistency with citywide communications standards.
• Supervises, trains, assigns, and reviews the work of designated employees or interns and oversees vendors or consultants as assigned.
• Assists the Public Information Officer with department planning, workload prioritization, budget-related research, and development of policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Serves as acting department representative or communications lead for assigned matters in the absence of the Public Information Officer, within delegated authority.
• Manages assigned digital communications platforms and content calendars and collaborates with multimedia staff to integrate written, visual, and video content.
• Builds and maintains professional relationships with media representatives, community organizations, governmental partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Assists with internal communications and employee engagement initiatives, including announcements, newsletters, intranet content, and organizational campaigns.
• Supports crisis communications and emergency public information operations, including the preparation and distribution of emergency messages, media updates, website content, social media posts, and public safety information. Participates in Emergency Operations Center or Joint Information Center activities as assigned.
• Researches, writes, and submits award nominations highlighting city achievements and initiatives.
• Maintains communications files, media records, project documentation, performance metrics, and reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Crisis communications

Project management

Time management

Teamwork

Writing & editing

Customer service

Policy communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, public affairs, or closely related field

Tools

Constant Contact

CivicPlus

Canva

Media monitoring software

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Public Information Officer, the Communications Manager plans, develops, and manages public affairs, media relations, and community outreach initiatives that support the City of Fort Myers' strategic priorities.

The position manages communications projects and campaigns, supports media response, crisis communications and emergency public information, and coordinates with city departments to ensure accurate, timely and consistent messaging across platforms. The manager may also provide direction to interns, vendors, or project teams and assist with department operations and workflow coordination.

Responsibilities and Reporting During an Emergency Situation:

Essential Employees may be required to work during a declared emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.

Non-Essential Employees will not be required to work during a declared emergency. The employee's Department Head will determine when the employee will be required to work.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Serves as project manager for assigned initiatives and supervises the Office of Communications & Public Affairs department assistant and/or intern, as assigned. May participate in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, performance evaluation, and supervision of additional personnel as the city's communications program expands.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Plans, develops, and implements public relations, public affairs, and community outreach campaigns supporting city programs, services, projects, events, and policy initiatives.

• Manages assigned communications projects from concept through completion, establishing timelines, coordinating contributors, and ensuring materials are accurate, timely, and consistent with city standards.

• Drafts, edits, and distributes press releases, media advisories, public notices, frequently asked questions, executive correspondence, website content, newsletters, social media content, and other communications materials using AP style where appropriate, accessibility standards, and plain-language principles.

• Coordinates media interviews, speaking engagements, and presentations for city leadership and prepares spokespersons with key messages, talking points, and other supporting materials.

• Develops messaging, communications plans, stakeholder materials, and public-facing information related to city council actions, capital projects, public safety, infrastructure, budget initiatives, legislative matters, and other municipal priorities.

• Responds to routine and complex media inquiries in coordination with the Public Information Officer; conducts research, verifies information with appropriate departments, and prepares timely, accurate responses.

• Develops media pitches and identifies proactive opportunities to highlight city programs, accomplishments, services, partnerships, and community initiatives.

• Coordinates the planning and execution of public meetings, press conferences, media availabilities/tours, public workshops, community engagement activities, and other events.

• Monitors local and regional news coverage, social media activity, public sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the city; briefs the Public Information Officer and recommends appropriate communications actions.

• Coordinates with city departments to identify needs, gather and verify information, and review departmental materials for accuracy, readability, branding, accessibility, and consistency with citywide communications standards.

• Supervises, trains, assigns, and reviews the work of designated employees or interns and oversees vendors or consultants as assigned.

• Assists the Public Information Officer with department planning, workload prioritization, budget-related research, and development of policies, procedures, and best practices.

• Serves as acting department representative or communications lead for assigned matters in the absence of the Public Information Officer, within delegated authority.

• Manages assigned digital communications platforms and content calendars and collaborates with multimedia staff to integrate written, visual, and video content.

• Builds and maintains professional relationships with media representatives, community organizations, governmental partners, and other external stakeholders.

• Assists with internal communications and employee engagement initiatives, including announcements, newsletters, intranet content, and organizational campaigns.

• Supports crisis communications and emergency public information operations, including the preparation and distribution of emergency messages, media updates, website content, social media posts, and public safety information. Participates in Emergency Operations Center or Joint Information Center activities as assigned.

• Researches, writes, and submits award nominations highlighting city achievements and initiatives.

• Maintains communications files, media records, project documentation, performance metrics, and reports.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of public relations, public affairs, media relations, strategic communications, and community engagement principles.

• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and persuasively.

• Demonstrated creative writing ability and working knowledge of paid media strategies and metrics, graphic design, digital content development, and communications best practices.

• Proficiency with standard office software and communications platforms such as Constant Contact, CivicPlus (website), Canva, media monitoring software, and social media channels.

• Strong project management, time management, teamwork, and customer service skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing or high-pressure situations.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, resourcefulness, and tact when interpreting policies, resolving problems, and handling confidential, sensitive, or time-critical information.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city leadership, employees, media representatives, community partners, and the public.

• Ability to lead projects, coordinate teams, and provide direction to assigned staff, interns, or vendors.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in communications, public relations, journalism, public affairs, or a closely related field.

• Five years of relevant professional experience with increasing levels of responsibility in public relations, media relations, public affairs, communications, or a related field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Experience in local government, public-sector communications, and crisis communications.

• Involvement with media relations, community engagement, and emergency public information.

CERTIFICATION, LICENSE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess a valid Florida driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

(Mark X for each physical activity required to be performed.)

Physical Activities

Balancing - maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.X

Pushing - use upper extremities to press against objects with force, or thrust forward, downward, outward.

Climbing - ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility.X

Reaching - extending hands or arms in any direction.X

Crawling - moving about on hands, knees, or hands, feet.

Repetitive Motion - substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.X

Crouching - bending body forward by bending leg, spine.X

Speaking - expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.X

Feeling - perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips.X

Standing - for sustained periods of time.X

Fingering - picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.X

Stooping - bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.X

Grasping - applying pressure to object with fingers, palm.X

Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word.X

Handling - picking, holding, or working with whole hand.X

Talking 2 - shouting to be heard above ambient noise.

Hearing 1 - perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.X

Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.X

Hearing 2 - receive detailed information, make discrimination in sound.

Visual Acuity 2 - color, depth perception, field of vision.X

Kneeling - bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.X

Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.X

Lifting - raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.X

Visual Acuity 4 - operate motor vehicles/heavy equipment.

Mental Acuity - ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.X

Visual Acuity 5 -close acuity for inspection of small defects, machines, use measurement devices, or fabricate parts.

Pulling - use upper extremities to exert force, haul or tug.

Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.X

TYPE OF WORK

Work performed is primarily:

[X] Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible force frequently or constantly.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Works in an office environment and sits for long periods of time when not out in the field.

• May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.