Government and Public Relations Manager

Summary; Vail (CO); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Relocation assistance

PTO

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness program

Retirement plans

Job summary

Eagle River Water & Sanitation District (ERWSD) is seeking an experienced Government and Public Relations Manager to lead public communications, community outreach, and emergency communication plans for the Vail area. You will serve as ERWSD’s Public Information Officer, guiding branding, media relations, and content strategy across digital and print channels.

You will lead a team, advise the CEO/General Manager, and collaborate with leadership on board and government relations matters, ensuring

Qualifications

• 7+ years in strategic communications, public relations or related field.
• 5+ years leadership experience with diverse teams and cross-unit projects.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills for executive and public audiences.
• Experience advising executives on strategy, messaging, and public-facing decisions.
• Translate complex technical information into clear communications.
• Experience developing strategic messaging and integrated campaigns.
• Experience managing social media, digital communications, and content strategy.
• Experience in media relations, crisis communications and public information.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead ERWSD’s communications strategy aligned with strategic priorities.
• Lead writer/editor for executive and high-visibility communications.
• Oversee digital and social media strategy, content, and campaigns.
• Serve as Public Information Officer and primary media spokesperson.
• Lead emergency and crisis communications and incident support.
• Lead public outreach, community engagement, and stakeholder events.
• Support grant program development and reporting.
• Coordinate Board communications and materials.

Skills

Leadership experience

Executive advisor

Strategic communications

Crisis communications

Media relations

Public information officer

Content strategy

Social media management

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Tools

Photography

Videography

Graphic design

Website CMS platforms

Digital content production tools

Job description

Eagle River Water & Sanitation District (ERWSD) provides sustainable and high-quality water treatment services to the Vail Valley. We are looking for an experienced Government and Public Relations Manager to lead a team that develops and delivers ERWSD’s public communications, community outreach, and emergency communication plans. This role will be part of ERWSD’s management team and responsible for supporting and shaping the organization’s strategic vision. This is a great opportunity for someone that wants to shape the conversation of water in the west.As the Government and Public Relations Manager, you will serve as ERWSD’s Public Information Officer. You will lead public outreach and community engagement initiatives, oversee branding, media relations, and content strategy across digital and print channels, and play a critical role in emergency response communications. You’ll also provide guidance to leadership on board and government relations matters. If you are an experienced leader in communications, public relations, or public outreach, we look forward to meeting you!What You’ll DoServe as the primary strategic communications advisor to the CEO/General Manager and Executive Leadership Team, providing counsel on organizational messaging, positioning, communication strategy, emerging issues, and public response.Develop and lead ERWSD’s communications strategy, ensuring communication supports the District’s strategic priorities and maintains a consistent organizational voice, tone, message, and brand.Serve as a lead writer and editor for executive and high-visibility communications, including CEO/GM messaging, Board communications, talking points, presentations, public statements, press releases, newsletters, reports, web content, social media, and other strategic materials.Anticipate communication needs and proactively advise executive leadership on how significant organizational decisions, projects, financial matters, operational changes, and emerging issues should be communicated internally and externally.Translate complex technical, operational, financial, regulatory, and policy information into clear, accessible, audience-focused communications without losing accuracy or context.Support the development, administration, and execution of the District’s grant program, including identifying funding opportunities, coordinating applications, tracking requirements and deadlines, supporting grant reporting and compliance, and collaborating with departments to align grant funding with organizational priorities.Develop strategic messaging and communication plans for major District initiatives, including water conservation, rates and financial matters, capital projects, service impacts, regulations, organizational initiatives, and other issues affecting customers and the community.Lead ERWSD’s digital and social media strategy, including content strategy, storytelling, campaigns, audience engagement, channel management, and performance measurement.Serve as ERWSD’s Public Information Officer and primary media spokesperson, managing media inquiries, interviews, press relationships, public information, and crisis communications.Lead emergency and crisis communications, including participation in emergency response activities and all-hours communication support when significant incidents occur.Lead public outreach and community engagement, including public presentations, stakeholder engagement, community meetings, open houses, facility tours, and special events.Oversee ERWSD’s brand and establish quality standards for written, visual, digital, and public-facing communications.Support the CEO/General Manager and Board of Directors through coordinated Board communications, presentation development, key messages, public-facing materials, and clear communication of organizational priorities and decisions.Oversee and continuously improve Board meeting and communication processes, including coordination of Board materials, presentation standards, communication deadlines, and consistency across departments.Build and maintain strategic relationships with municipalities, elected officials, governmental partners, community organizations, media representatives, and other key stakeholders.Partner with Directors, managers, subject-matter experts, and project teams to identify communication needs early and develop coordinated communication strategies.Lead, coach, and develop the Government and Public Relations department and team while establishing clear priorities, quality standards, accountability, and professional development.Monitor media coverage, community sentiment, engagement data, and emerging issues to identify communication risks and opportunities and advise leadership accordingly.What We’re Looking ForBachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism, public information, media, or a related field.Five or more years of leadership experience, (particularly in diverse teams and leading complex projects that span across mutiple business units and departments within an organization) including at least three years of direct supervisory responsibility.Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to establish and adapt voice, tone, style, and complexity for executive, public, digital, media, and community audiences.Demonstrated experience advising executives or senior organizational leaders on communications strategy, messaging, sensitive issues, and public-facing decisions.Strong strategic judgment and the ability to anticipate communication implications, identify reputational risks and opportunities, and recommend an appropriate communication approach.Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical, financial, operational, regulatory, or policy information into understandable and compelling communication.Strong experience developing strategic messaging, storytelling, and integrated communication campaigns.Proven experience managing social media, digital communications, websites, email communications, and content strategy.Proven experience in media relations, crisis communications, and public information.Strong presentation, facilitation, and public speaking skills.Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives and deadlines while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and communication quality.Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships across organizational levels and work effectively with executive leaders, technical subject-matter experts, elected officials, community partners, and the public.Sound judgment, discretion, political awareness, and composure when communicating about sensitive, controversial, or rapidly evolving issues.Preferred QualificationsExperience serving as a strategic communications advisor to the CEO/General Manager, executive team, elected officials, or governing board.Experience working in water, wastewater, utilities, local government, special districts, or another public-sector environment.Experience supporting governing boards, Board meetings, elected officials, or governmental communication processes.Experience with photography, videography, graphic design, website/CMS platforms, and digital content production.Experience using communication analytics and engagement data to evaluate and improve communication effectiveness.Professional certification or advanced training in public relations, strategic communications, marketing, crisis communication, or public information.Pay RangeThe pay range for a manager at ERWSD is $132,246.40 – $198,369.60 annually. The starting range depends on qualifications but generally falls within the minimum and midpoint of the pay range.BenefitsAt ERWSD, we value life-work balance and are leaders in the industry with our holistic benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverageEmployee housing and monthly housing stipend programWellness programRetirement savings plans (414h and 457) – We are a social security exempt organization13.5 Paid HolidaysPaid Time Off (PTO)Paid Parental Leave$800 Annual Recreation BenefitTuition ReimbursementLoan programs for: Ski Passes, Electric Vehicles, and ComputersRelocation Assistance (if applicable)Click this link to learn more and view our full 2026 Benefits Guide.All District employees must submit to a pre-employment drug screen and extensive background check including an educational verification and reference check. For a full position description including work environment and physical demands, email [e-mail]. All applicants must apply online at www.erwsd.org by October 25th, 2026.We are an Equal Opportunity EmployerWe do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.