Lead Communications Officer

City of El Paso; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of El Paso seeks a communications professional to coordinate media relations, develop social media programs and serve as a spokesperson. The role involves outreach to a bilingual community, research, and strategic PR planning in collaboration with City departments.

The position manages media relations for assigned departments, builds relationships with local outlets, and oversees digital content and public messaging across platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, advertising, marketing, public relations or related field.
• Six years of professional work experience in journalism, public relations, or marketing including two years of lead or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate media relations and serve as a media contact and spokesperson.
• Develop social media programs and manage digital outreach for a bilingual community.
• Oversee research, benchmark analyses and determine PR/marketing needs with assigned departments.

Skills

Leadership experience

Media relations

Bilingual communication

Public outreach coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations or related field

Job description

MOS Code: None

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher in Journalism, Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations or a closely related field and six (6) years of professional work experience in journalism, public relations, or marketing including two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience.

Licenses and Certificates

Texas Class "C" Driver's License.

Under general direction, coordinate media relations, develop social media programs and serve as a media contact, spokesperson and community liaison.

Manage and coordinate public outreach programs for a bilingual community. Involves: Oversee research, perform statistical or benchmarking analyses to determine public relations and marketing needs. Review established objectives and develop strategies in conjunction with assigned departments. Analyze performance against objectives to determine program effectiveness and opportunities for program improvement. Oversee presentations promoting awareness of assigned programs, activities, actions and accomplishments to civic groups, school districts, and the public.

Manage and oversee media relations for assigned departments. Involves: Network and build positive relationships with local and regional media outlets. Maintain media contact lists. Provide information on sensitive or controversial matters of public information to leadership. Act as a media spokesperson for assigned departments, when necessary. Oversee preparation of news releases, opinion columns, public service announcements and other communication products for the media. Gather messages and guidance from Subject Matter Experts for interviews with the media and handling specific customer complaints. Manage regular reports of media coverage. Archive important media stories. Manage strategic direction and participation in digital and social media platforms. Involves: Measure and track the impact of social media efforts. Develop and produce content for digital platforms such as posts, stories, videos, and infographics for use on website and social media platforms.

Serve as department liaison. Involves: Respond to requests for information from elected officials or their constituents. Assist City departments and portfolios with media and public relations needs for major projects and City events. Partner with the Information Technology Department to establish City webpage content. Advise departments on publicity and media relations needs.

Supervise assigned personnel. Involves: Schedule, assign, instruct, guide and check work. Appraise employee performance. Provide for training and development. Enforce personnel rules and regulations and work behavior standards firmly and impartially. Counsel, motivate and maintain harmony. Interview applicants. Recommend hiring, termination, transfers, discipline, merit pay or other employee status changes.

Note: This is an unclassified contract position.