Manager of Communications

West Basin Municipal Water District; Carson (CA); In loco; USD 156.000 - 214.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

District benefits

Descrizione del lavoro

West Basin Municipal Water District seeks a seasoned Manager of Communications to lead strategic messaging, media relations, and community outreach across its service area. The role requires guiding communications for public affairs, educational initiatives, and branding while supervising staff and managing budgets.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in public relations within a governmental or utility context, with a track record of policy translation into clear, public information

Competenze

• Bachelor's degree required in marketing, PR, communications, or closely related field with seven years of experience in public information or related areas.
• Supervisory/managerial experience with proactive initiative and ability to mentor a team.
• Experience in a governmental setting is desirable; Master’s degree preferred.

Mansioni

• Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive communications, branding, and public education strategies aligned with the District's mission.
• Advise leadership on public affairs, media inquiries, community engagement, and reputation management.

Conoscenze

Public speaking

Public relations

Research

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Computer skills

Formazione

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

Master’s degree in a related field desirable

Descrizione del lavoro

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a global leader in the water industry in water recycling, conservation, water resource management, and youth and adult education. West Basin provides drinking water and recycled water to six cities, four private water utilities, one county waterworks district and one groundwater agency. The District serves a population of nearly one million residents in 17 cities and unincorporated areas along the coastal corridor from Palos Verdes to Malibu. The District is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors and is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

West Basin operates the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility and three satellite locations. It is the largest treatment and water purification system of its type providing nearly 40 million gallons of water each day to nearly 600 site connections. West Basin utilizes various advanced treatment processes to produce five types of “fit-for-purpose” waters used for commercial, industrial, and landscape purposes, including three ultra-pure waters.

West Basin owns and operates over 100 miles of recycled water pipelines and supplies recycled water to customers for non-potable use. To expand the use of recycled water, the District assists customers with the process of converting their sites to utilize recycled water. In addition, the District conducts site inspections to ensure compliance for the safe use of recycled water.

West Basin is an equal-opportunity employer, promoting diversity in its recruitment process and programs. The District is committed to customer service and seeks to provide its customers with the most qualified and exceptional professional services through those they employ while offering an excellent benefits package to its employees.

West Basin Municipal Water District is seeking an experienced, energetic, and strategic communications professional to serve as its Manager of Communications. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, creative, and self-motivated leader who demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, strong communication skills, and a commitment to public service.

This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating communication strategies, media and community relations, education initiatives, marketing, and public affairs for the District. Incumbents are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision‑making responsibilities, which include developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned areas of responsibility, budget administration and reporting, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and supervising department staff by consistently monitoring and evaluating performance goals and project expectations. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines.

West Basin seeks a hands‑on, working manager who leads by example, brings fresh ideas, takes initiative, and actively contributes to both strategic planning and day‑to‑day operations. The successful candidate will mentor and develop staff, promote teamwork, encourage creativity, and foster a positive, collaborative, and results‑oriented work environment while strengthening relationships with communities, elected officials, stakeholders, and staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Planning: Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive communications, branding, and public education strategies aligned with the District's mission Internal Leadership Communications:Advise the Board of Directors, General Manager, and District leadership on public affairs, media inquiries, community engagement, reputation management, and sensitive communications matters.
• External Leadership Communications:Serve as a District spokesperson and cultivate strong network relationships with city and water retailer communications professionals within the West Basin service area, as well as local, regional and statewide partner agencies.
• Media & Public Relations: Oversee the District’s media outreach strategy and contact database, supervise the writing and distribution of press releases, handling of media inquiries, and managing crisis communications.
• Community Engagement & Events: Oversee the planning and coordination of public meetings, facility tours, educational workshops, and project groundbreakings or ribbon‑cutting ceremonies.
• Legislative, Technical and Regulatory Support: Manage the translation of complex topics - such as water rate adjustments, construction notices, and state conservation mandates - into clear, accessible public information.
• Digital & Content Management: Oversee content creation for agency website, social media channels, digital newsletters, video production, and collateral materials.
• Team Leadership & Administration: Supervise Public Information and Education staff and contractors, manage department budget, and track program metrics to report back to executive leadership and the board of directors

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in marketing, public relations, communications, or a closely related field, and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, public information, community outreach, intergovernmental relations, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory or management experience that includes proactive and strategic initiative, self‑motivation, and the ability to mentor, inspire, and lead a collaborative team. Candidates who demonstrate a positive work ethic, creative problem‑solving, sound judgment, and a commitment to professional growth and team development are encouraged to apply.
• Experience in a governmental setting and a master’s degree in a related field are desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Public relations principles, planning, strategies and activities.
• Water and environmental issues.
• Media protocol.
• Research techniques.
• Effective presentation principles.

Exceptional ability and skills in:

• Speaking in public.
• Preparing public relations materials.
• Using computers and related software applications.
• Providing customer service.
• Conducting research.
• Demonstrating strong interpersonal communications skills to lead collaboration, convey information and to receive work direction from management and executive leadership and the board of directors and to effectively lead and supervise the Public Information and Education Department team.

• Required to operate standard business equipment; reach with hands and arms; and is frequently required to stand and walk, kneel, crouch or twist, and occasionally lift or carry materials up to 25 pounds.
• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License, proof of insurance, and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and as a condition of continued employment. The employee is required to use their vehicle with mileage reimbursed at the standard IRS rate.

There is one vacancy available for this position. The salary range is $155,958.00 - $214,439.00 annually, depending on qualifications. The position is eligible for District benefits.