PART TIME COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST

City-of-SAN-Marcos,-C; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

City of San Marcos, within the Parks and Recreation Department, seeks a seasonal, part-time Event Coordinator to plan and coordinate citywide events and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. You will support day-of logistics for City Council events and partner with departments to deliver engaging community experiences.

The ideal candidate brings event planning experience, strong communication skills, and a data-driven mindset to measure event impact and improve future programming.

Qualifications

• Experience in event management is required or strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and attend local public outreach events.

Skills

Event planning

Public speaking

Customer service

Time management

Data analysis

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

In San Marcos, we're looking for a creative thinker with a passion for serving the community in coordinating and planning citywide events. Working as the hub for collaborating amongst the core outward facing departments, this unique position will be responsible for presenting cornerstone annual events such as State of the City, State of Your Community, and the Volunteer Appreciation Event, to highlight a few. In addition, this position will lead the way in coordinating ribbon cutting events for new city facilities and amenities while assisting City Councilmembers with day of logistics for events.

As a key member of the Parks and Recreation Department, this position will play a vital role in engaging the community by creating memorable experiences and fostering meaningful connections. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for communication and event planning, taking the lead in organizing and supporting innovative citywide events. As a steward of public funds, the incumbent must effectively utilize and interpret analytics to measure the impact and success of events, ensuring data-driven improvements for future programming.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with other city departments and engage with the public, making strong teamwork and adaptability essential. The ideal candidate must be able to balance multiple priorities, manage last-minute project requests, and maintain a flexible approach to evolving needs. This position requires a proactive and solution-oriented mindset to ensure seamless coordination across various stakeholders. Additionally, attendance at key city events—including evenings, weekends, and holidays—may be required to support and oversee successful event execution.

We operate a little differently than most cities, and we're proud of that. So, bring your fresh ideas. You're going to need them here.

This position is seasonal.

Part Time positions are limited to working no more than an average of 20 hours per week and no more than 999 hours per fiscal year. Specific hours for each position are determined per department programmatic needs and schedule flexibility is offered.

Application period closes: 4:00pm, September 9th, 2026

Interview: TBD

Examples of Essential Functions

• Coordinates and attends local public outreach events.
• Organizes and coordinates employee events, coordinates holiday parades, and other special events sponsored by the City of San Marcos.
• Serves as day-of coordinator during special events to assist with day-of logistics.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Develop timelines, balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Coordinates participation of staff from other departments; requests and schedules assistance for internal and public events.
• Make recommendations for the annual budget for assigned activities.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports related to events and assigned activities, including board meeting documents
• Communicates with personnel, vendors, and outside organizations to coordinate activities and exchange information.
• Attends a variety of meetings as assigned.
• May provide a variety of clerical support for the outreach department, including tracking metrics, social media and special projects as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in event management is highly desirable. This position requires creativity while maintaining a strong attention to detail, ability to adhere to timelines, collaborating with peers and providing outstanding customer service to our community and City Councilmembers.
• This position requires the incumbent to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with or without reasonable accommodation, in dealing with the public and/or other employees -- all while completing assignments in a timely and efficient manner.
• Incumbents work under close supervision while being trained and gradually work more independently as knowledge and skills increase.
• Last but not least, the City of San Marcos holds true to its charge of providing excellent customer service and community outreach, which means you may be required to work outside of regular business hours.

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience

• A minimum of one (1) year of related work experience in a similar or related field.

License or Certificate

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license with satisfactory driving record.