Communications Specialist

Pg&e; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation

Sick Leave

Holidays

Insurance

Wellness Programs

Tuition Reimbursement

Retirement Plan

Job summary

City of Vista is seeking a Communications Specialist to develop and implement digital marketing strategies, manage social media content, and support special events. The role involves storytelling across platforms, content creation with video and photography, and collaboration with the Communications Office.

The position reports to the Communications Officer and requires coordinating with City departments to promote programs and services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or closely related field.
• Experience in digital marketing and social media production/management.
• Ability to write, edit, and present reports, speeches, memos, and press materials.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement digital marketing strategies using organic and paid media to raise awareness and participation in City programs and events.
• Create and manage content campaigns for departments and events.
• Produce engaging content including video and photography for social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).
• Monitor social channels, respond to inquiries, and escalate issues as needed.
• Provide monthly reports on channel growth, reach, and engagement.
• Capture digital assets as photographer/videographer for City publications and websites.

Skills

Social media content production

Microsoft Office

Website design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/PR/Marketing

College coursework in Public Administration/Journalism

Tools

Photoshop

Lightroom

Canva

Adobe Premiere Pro

Later.com

Lumafusion

Job description

Communications Specialist

Full job description Position*2.5% increase coming with new Fiscal Year effective 07/01/2024*This position will be filled pending City Council approval and start no earlier than 07/01/2024

Definition

Under general supervision, the Communications Specialist develops and implements communications and marketing efforts assigned to programs and special events. This position coordinates the City’s social media presence with the communication team by developing and creating content campaigns and encouraging resident participation in a variety of City programs, services, processes, and events.

Class Characteristics

The Communications Specialist reports to the Communications Officer. Incumbents are expected to resolve most problems confronted through the application of judgment and precedent, referring only those which involve the establishment of new procedures, or which involve solutions that are inconsistent with departmental procedures and policies to the manager.

Examples of Essential Functions

• Develop and implement digital marketing strategies using organic and paid media that create awareness and encourage participation in various City functions, including Recreation and Community Services programs and special events (adult and youth sports, parks and facilities rental opportunities, Independence Day Celebration, and Movies in the Parks).
• Propose and implement partnerships with organizations and agencies with a goal of increasing participation in City programs and events within niche markets and communities.
• Prepare reports that measure the effectiveness of each campaign.
• Serve as a digital storyteller for the City, creating organic and paid social media content that promotes programs, resources, services, and events for departments and divisions across the City organization.
• Produce creative and engaging content using video and photography (primary emphasis on utilizing social media video on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and other relevant platforms).
• Monitor social media channels, respond to questions and concerns, and bring issues that need to be addressed to the attention of the Communications Officer.
• Collaborate with departments and divisions to craft social media responses as needed.
• Provide monthly reports on each channel’s growth, reach, and engagement.
• Serve as one of the Communication office’s photographers and videographers to create digital assets for City social media, publications, websites, and other platforms.
• Collaborate with the Communications Officer and other members of the City Manager’s Department in the planning and execution of special events (Halloween, Movies in the Park, Summer FunFest, and others).
• Collaborate with the Communications team in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing an annual campaign promoting Vista as a destination in the summer.
• Promote and market Vista’s vibrant summer venues, activities, and special events (the Moonlight Amphitheatre, the Wave Waterpark, Movies in the Park, Summer FunFest, the Independence Day Celebration, summer camps, parks experiences, trails, and other elements that make the summer experience in Vista unique).
• Work as a Communications team member in the City’s Emergency Operations Center during city-wide emergencies.

Minimum Qualifications: Knowledge

• Principles, practices, and techniques of marketing, public relations, and communications.
• Methods and techniques of writing, advertising, graphic arts, audio‑visual production, and photography.
• Federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing public communications, cable broadcasting, and marketing.
• Political issues, community development issues, laws and legislative developments of importance to the community and government agencies.
• Public information programs.

Minimum Qualifications: Skill

• Social media content production, including video, photography, editing, and creative copywriting.
• Microsoft Office tools.
• Website design and management.

Minimum Qualifications: Ability

• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with clients, staff, management, elected officials, business representatives, consultants, and vendors.
• Use a variety of tools to create and maintain digital content including Photoshop and/or Lightroom, Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro, later.com, or other video editing software such as Lumafusion.
• Be self‑motivated, have a creative mindset, and be detail‑oriented.
• Design, coordinate, and implement effective digital marketing and storytelling, public relations, and communications programs.
• Analyze and determine effective strategies for communications ideas, messages, and events.
• Research, evaluate, write, and edit reports, studies, speeches, memos, correspondence, news releases, and other forms of communications.
• Prepare and present information in a clear, concise, and informative manner at public meetings or forums.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in all oral and written communications.
• Narrate and present live information for various media platforms.
• Prepare regular and accurate activity and cost reports.
• Train, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the work of technical and administrative staff given particular projects.
• Oversee the work of vendors and consulting firms.
• Plan, coordinate, organize, and prioritize projects in order to meet program and division deadlines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees, co‑workers, and the general public.

Qualifications

Any combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. A typical combination would include completion of college coursework in a major such as Public Administration, Communications, Marketing, or Journalism; a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or a closely related field; and increasingly responsible experience in communications, digital marketing, and social media production and management.

License Required

A valid Class C California Driver’s License.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands or arms.
• Occasionally walks and stands and lifts and moves records and documents weighing 20 pounds or less.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

• Regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret data and situations; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new skills or information; perform highly detailed work on multiple concurrent tasks; work under changing and intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions; and interact with City officials, media, citizen groups, employees and others encountered in the course of work.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee works under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet. The employee may be required to work overtime to complete assignments.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The City of Vista is an Equal Opportunity and ADA compliant employer. All qualified candidates and veterans are welcome to apply!

Legal Statement

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

Benefits

• Vacation: 85 hrs. (1‑5 years), 125 hrs. (6‑10 years), 149 hrs. (11‑15 years), 165 hrs. (16‑20 years), 178 hrs. (20+ years).
• Sick Leave: Full‑time employees receive 96 hours per year.
• Holidays: Full‑time employees working the 9/80 flex schedule receive 99 hours of holiday leave per fiscal year, including one floating holiday.
• Insurance: Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance programs. A portion of the employee’s and dependent’s premiums are paid by the City.
• Wellness Programming: The City offers comprehensive wellness programming to its employees including onsite wellness facilities and onsite wellness sessions.
• Tuition Reimbursement: The City’s Tuition Reimbursement Plan can assist employees in paying the cost of books and tuition for pre‑approved classes related to their job.
• Retirement: Depending on eligibility, based on CalPERS criteria, new employees will be provided the 3% @ 60 Plan or newly established 2% @ 62 Plan. Employees currently contribute the entire employee contribution amount of 8%. The City does not participate in Social Security, but employees must be enrolled in the Medicare portion.
• Actual benefits will depend on date of hire and may differ from the information listed. Part‑time employee benefits may be prorated.