Director of Public Communication

Keller Executive Search; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Florida Retirement System benefits

Deferred Compensation

Flexible Spending Accounts

Insurance Coverage

Health Savings Accounts

Vacation and Sick Leave

Holidays

Life Insurance

Additional Benefits

Job summary

Broward County Board of County Commissioners is seeking a visionary Director of Public Communication to lead the Office of Public Communications. This executive role reports to the County Administrator and serves as the chief spokesperson and communications strategist for the County.

The ideal candidate will drive transparency, engagement, and public trust across platforms while directing enterprise-wide programs and managing crises.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, or closely related field.
• Requires 10 years in high-level journalism, communications, marketing, and public relations activities, including strategic and supervisory aspects.
• Experience with social media and website management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs operations of the Office of Public Communications, including Public Information, Call Center, and Print Shop; promotes transparency in government and enhances the County's digital government presence.
• Directs enterprise-wide communications programs related to change management in support of other agency initiatives; raises public awareness of government programs and services.
• Develops and directs implementation of the County's strategic communications plans; writes high-level and sensitive communications for the County management team and elected officials for all platforms.
• Provides quality assurance of the marketing and communications activities of other County agencies; oversees employee communications and media relations for the County.
• Manages the Advantage Marketing Program, leveraging public and private partnerships to expand educational outreach and develop revenue streams.
• Identifies fiscal and capital improvement needs and directs activities to fund and implement them.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Skills

Strategic communications

Public information

Media relations

Crisis communications

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Digital communications

Education

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

Job description

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners is seeking a visionary and strategic communications leader to serve as the next Director of Public Communication. Reporting directly to the County Administrator, this executive-level position directs all operations of the Office of Public Communications and serves as the County's chief spokesperson and communications strategist.

An exceptional candidate will be drawn to this role because it offers the opportunity to shape and elevate public communication for one of South Florida's most vibrant counties. Broward County is proudly community-focused and employee-centered, providing a supportive environment where leaders can innovate, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact. This role offers both strategic influence and the chance to serve a community that values transparency, engagement, and public trust.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs operations of the Office of Public Communications, including Public Information, Call Center, and Print Shop; formulates strategies and directs implementation of activities to promote transparency in government and enhance the County's digital government presence.
• Directs large-scale, enterprise-wide communications programs related to change management in support of other agency initiatives; strategizes and directs implementation of initiatives to raise public awareness of government programs and services.
• Develops and directs implementation of the County's strategic communications plans; strategizes and writes high-level and sensitive communications for the County management team and elected officials for all platforms, television, print, social media, etc.
• Provides quality assurance of the marketing and communications activities of other County agencies; oversees the employee communications program; handles media relations for the County.
• Manages the Advantage Marketing Program, leveraging public and private partnerships to expand educational outreach, reduce program costs, and develop new revenue streams.
• Identifies fiscal and capital improvement needs and directs activities to fund and implement them.
• Performs related work as assigned.

In summary, the functions listed represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job as necessary.

• Possess a strong strategic mindset with the ability to see ahead to future possibilities and translate them into breakthrough communications strategies;

• Have demonstrated experience directing enterprise-wide communications programs across complex, multi-stakeholder organizations;
• Have exceptional skills in crafting high-level, sensitive communications for executive l eadership and elected officials;
• Possess deep expertise in media relations, public information, and crisis communications;
• Have a proven ability to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders while promoting an environment of high ethical standards and cross-cultural sensitivity;
• Demonstrate resourcefulness in deploying resources effectively and finding creative approaches to accomplish goals within constrained environments;
• Possess strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate staff across multiple functional areas including public information, call center operations, and print services;
• Have experience with digital communications, social media strategy, and website management to support effective public engagement;
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills with a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences;
• Have the ability to develop, implement, and manage strategic, fiscal, and capital improvement plans.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, or closely related field.
• Requires 10 years in high-level journalism, communications, marketing, and public relations activities, including in strategic and supervisory aspects of these activities or closely related experience.

Experience with social media and website management preferred.

The annual salary range for this position is $144,904.22 to $231,266.72. The starting salary will be based upon the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. The State of Florida does not have a state income tax.

The County’s benefits include:

• Florida Retirement System (FRS) – Employees have the choice of two retirement plans: the traditional pension plan with eight years of vesting or the investment plan with one year of vesting. This position is eligible for Senior FRS status.
• Deferred Compensation – The County offers a voluntary 457 plan offered through three providers: Mission Square, Brighthouse Financial, and Nationwide Retirement Solutions. County matches up to a Board approved amount per year.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Eligible health expenses and dependent care accounts.
• Insurance Coverage – The County offers a variety of benefit plans that employees can purchase including Health, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Long Term Disability, and Pre-paid Legal. The County subsidizes enrollment in Healthcare coverage and provides a waiver credit if applicable.
• Health Savings Accounts – When you elect either of the High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and you and your enrolled spouse/domestic partner (if applicable) complete the County's Engagement Incentive, Broward County will contribute to your Health Savings Account.
• Vacation and Sick Leave – Leave is accrued biweekly for vacation and sick time; annualized at two weeks of vacation and 12 days of sick time; additionally, 40 hours of job basis leave is granted annually for employees exempt from overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Holidays – Eleven (11) holidays and two (2) personal days.
• Life Insurance – The County offers $50,000 of group term life insurance. Employees can purchase additional life insurance for themselves and their dependents and spouse/domestic partner.
• Additional Benefits – Access to Credit Union, Employee Development, and Personal Income Protection Plans are available.

For additional information on benefits, please visit: www.broward.org/benefits

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