COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COORDINATOR

City of Columbia; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Columbia's Parks and Recreation department seeks a Communications Specialist to serve as the primary liaison with Public Relations, coordinating requests and promoting programs and events.

The role includes managing content for department websites and social media, capturing photos, assisting leadership with messaging, and engaging with community partners; requires a bachelor's degree and PR-related experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, marketing or closely related field.
• Two (2) years of relevant prior experience.
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between Parks and Recreation and the Public Relations Department.
• Coordinate marketing materials, promotional items, and events.
• Assist in crafting messaging to support departmental mission.
• Photograph activities and maintain a photo library.
• Manage department webpages and social media content.
• Engage with neighborhood leaders and community stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Public relations

Content management

Photography

Social media

Event coordination

Messaging

Community outreach

Education

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

Job description

Under the direction of the Director of Parks and Recreation, this position will serve as the primary point of the contact between the Parks and Recreation department and the Public Relations department. The position will assist in communicating, streamlining, organizing and coordinating Parks and Recreation department requests and efforts to promote Parks and Recreation activities, programs and events.

The work is considered light and involves walking or standing most of the time and involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force on a recurring basis, or skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs on repetitive operation of mechanical or electronic office or shop machines or tools within moderate tolerances or limits of accuracy. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: hearing, mental acuity, speaking, talking, and visual acuity.

Work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and is safe and secure that may periodically have unpredicted requirements or demands.

• Serves as the primary liaison between the department and the Public Relations Department, facilitating Public Relations requests for marketing materials, promotional items, promoting department activities, events and programs;
• Assist department leadership in crafting messaging that supports the mission of the department and City of Columbia;
• Assist staff in creating department public events that fosters community engagement;
• Serve as the department photographer, taking photographs of activities and events for use in promotional materials and maintaining a library of photos;
• Serve as the primary Content Manager for the department webpages and social media platforms; editing, developing and monitoring content for accuracy and relevancy;
• Assist in department community engagement, communicating with neighborhood leaders, community advocates, partners and other stakeholders to ensure that citizens are aware of the services and programs offered at the local parks;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, marketing or a closely related field;
• Two (2) years of relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver’s License.

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to gather, organize, analyze, examine or evaluate data or information and may prescribe action based on such data or information;
• Ability to provide information, guidance or assistance to people to directly facilitate task accomplishment; may give directions or assignments to helpers or assistants;
• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner;
• Ability to perform skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem-solving;
• Ability to read journals, manuals, and professional publications; speaking informally to groups of co-workers, staff in other organizational agencies, general public, people in other organizations; composing original reports, scripts, articles, press releases, brochures, and other publication materials using proper language, punctuation, grammar and style;
• Ability to perform professional level work requiring the application of principles and practices in a wide range of administrative, technical, or managerial methods in the solution of administrative or technical problems; requires general understanding of operating policies and procedures and the ability to apply these to complex administrative problems; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results or frequent exposure to unusual pressure; and
• Ability to guide others, requiring frequent decisions affecting co-workers and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but with many variations from the routine.