Communications Specialist

Lindentx; Kaufman (TX); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Kaufman is hiring a Communications Specialist to plan, develop, and evaluate city-wide communications and public engagement initiatives. You will guide messaging, branding, digital content, and media relations across City departments and the Kaufman Economic Development Corporation.

The role requires strong writing, project management, and the ability to work independently on multiple campaigns while ensuring accessibility and policy compliance. Local government experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equiv. combination of education and experience preferred.
• 2+ years in communications, marketing, public relations, or digital media.
• Experience creating communications plans, media materials, digital content, and branding.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, implement and evaluate city-wide communications campaigns.
• Advise City departments and KEDC on messaging and branding strategies.
• Independently manage website content, social media, and digital campaigns.
• Coordinate media relations and press releases for timely issues.
• Track performance data and adjust strategies for impact.

Skills

Strategic comms

Writing & editing

Project management

Digital engagement

Crisis comms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications

Tools

CMS platforms

Adobe CS

Social media tools

Google Analytics

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Communications Specialist is a mid-level professional position responsible for independent planning, developing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive communication, marketing, media relations, and public engagement initiatives that support the City of Kaufman and the Kaufman Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). The position serves as a primary resource and advisor to City departments and KEDC staff on communications strategy, messaging, branding, digital engagement, marketing, advertising, and public outreach. The Communications Specialist exercises discretion and independent judgment in evaluating communication needs, establishing priorities, recommending communication approaches, selecting appropriate audiences and delivery methods, and managing projects from concept through completion. The position administers the City’s digital and print communications platforms, develops strategic content and campaigns, coordinates routine media relations, supports economic development initiatives and special events, and uses performance data to recommend improvements. Sensitive, high-profile, policy-related, or legally significant matters are coordinated with appropriate executive staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates City-wide marketing, branding, and both internal/external communication strategies and campaigns; determines appropriate communication methods, audiences, timing, and messaging based on organizational goals and community needs.
• Serves as a communications resource and advisor to City departments and KEDC staff; evaluates communication opportunities and challenges, recommends strategies and solutions, and coordinates implementation across multiple departments and initiatives, including emergency and time-sensitive public information.
• Independently develops, creates, edits, schedules, and manages website and social media content, branding, campaigns, and programming; identifies stories and content opportunities; research audience preferences and emerging platforms; and determines appropriate content formats and distribution methods.
• Administers the City’s and KEDC’s websites and serves as a primary content editor; establishes and coordinates content priorities with departments and evaluates content for accuracy, relevance, consistency, accessibility, and compliance with applicable City standards and requirements.
• Research, develops, implements, and evaluates public engagement and outreach strategies; recommend approaches to strengthen relationships with target audiences, improve public understanding, and encourage citizen participation.
• Develops and oversees the production of advertisements, brochures, flyers, presentations, digital graphics, reports, and other promotional materials for City departments and KEDC, ensuring consistency with established branding and communication objectives.
• Tracks, analyzes, and interprets digital communication performance metrics, audience engagement data, campaign results, and other relevant information; prepares recommendations and adjusts communication strategies to improve effectiveness and reach.
• Plans and coordinates photography and videography needs for City and KEDC communications; determines appropriate visual content and maintains or organizes communication assets as needed.
• Coordinates and prepares KEDC business prospect requests for information (RFI) responses and available commercial sites.
• Supports KEDC business development and retention initiatives, including targeted prospect outreach, marketing initiatives, trade shows, downtown business needs, and related economic development activities.
• Serves as a point of contact for routine media relations; evaluates media inquiries and communication needs, drafts and distributes press releases and responses, and coordinates sensitive, high-profile, policy-related, or legally significant matters with executive staff.
• Participates in professional organizations, trainings, conferences, webinars, and industry groups; evaluates emerging communications, marketing, public engagement, and technology practices and recommend appropriate applications for the City.
• Performs incidental administrative tasks associated with assigned professional responsibilities, including maintaining records, budgeting, preparing reports, coordinating meetings, and managing project documentation.
• Follows City policies, procedures, records requirements, safety guidelines, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the general purpose and level of responsibility of the position.

DECISION-MAKING AND INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT

• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in evaluating communication needs and determining appropriate strategies, messages, audiences, platforms, priorities, and methods of execution within established City policies and objectives.
• Manages multiple projects and competing priorities with limited day-to-day supervision and determines the appropriate course of action for routine and moderately complex communication matters.
• Provides recommendations to department leadership and KEDC staff regarding public communication, marketing, branding, engagement, and media-related issues.
• Identifies matters requiring executive, legal, or policy review and appropriately escalates sensitive, high-profile, policy-related, or legally significant issues.

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Public Administration, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. Experience may be substituted for degree.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, digital media, public engagement, or a related field preferred.
• Experience developing communication or marketing plans, media relations materials, digital content, photography/videography, website content, and social media campaigns, and branding.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products, virtual meeting applications, website content management systems, social media platforms, and Adobe Creative Suite or comparable design tools.
• Graphic design experience preferred.
• Municipal government, public-sector, or economic development marketing/communications experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of professional principles and practices of strategic communications, public relations, marketing, branding, digital communications, media relations, and public engagement.
• Ability to independently analyze communication needs, identify alternatives, exercise sound judgment, and recommend and implement effective communication strategies.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, grammar, spelling, and presentation skills with the ability to adapt tone and content for different audiences and platforms.
• Ability to manage complex projects, establish priorities, coordinate multiple stakeholders, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing or time-sensitive circumstances.
• Ability to interpret data and communication metrics, identify trends, and use findings to make recommendations and improve communication effectiveness.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with elected/appointed officials, executive staff, employees, KEDC representatives, media, community partners, businesses, vendors, and the public while maintaining professionalism and appropriate confidentiality.
• Working knowledge of website accessibility, digital content standards, public records considerations, and governmental communication practices appropriate to assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a deadline-driven public-service environment.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Proficiency in the English language, including reading, writing, speaking, and understanding; basic rules of writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Any level of English/Spanish bilingual proficiency and ability to translate a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment, with periodic work at City facilities, community events, meetings, and outdoor locations.
• Position may require occasional evening, weekend, emergency, or time-sensitive work associated with City meetings, events, media needs, or public information responsibilities.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds at times.

The City of Kaufman, Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.