Police Communications Manager

City of Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Wilmington is seeking a Police Department Communications Manager to oversee the department's communications program, shape messaging, and lead media relations and crisis communications. You will work with the Office of Communications to promote transparency and public understanding of public safety priorities.

Responsibilities include staff leadership, campaign design, and advising executive leadership during critical incidents, with a focus on community engagement and accurate

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Communications or related field with supervisory experience.
• Experience in local government or public safety communications is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and mentorship for public information staff.
• Develops and implements integrated communication campaigns across channels.
• Directs media relations, crisis communications, and executive messaging.
• Advises Chief of Police and leadership on communication strategy.

Skills

Crisis communications

Media relations

Strategic communications

Public information

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master’s degree in Communications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications

Job description

One City. One Voice. One Stronger Community.

Are you a strategic communicator who knows how to build trust, navigate complex situations, and tell a story that matters?

The City of Wilmington is seeking a Police Department Communications Manager who will oversee the department's comprehensive communications program, develop and implement strategic internal and external communications to advance the department’s organizational priorities, promote transparency, strengthen public trust, and foster meaningful public understanding of the department's mission and services. Serving as a trusted advisor to the Chief of Police and executive leadership, you’ll shape messaging, lead media relations, guide crisis communications, and foster meaningful community engagement. Working in close partnership with the City’s Office of Communications, you’ll help ensure clear, consistent, and timely communication—especially when it matters most.

Why This Position Is Important

Effective communication is essential to building trust between law enforcement and the community. As the Police Department Communications Manager, you’ll help ensure the public stays informed, understand the department’s priorities, and has confidence in the information it receives. From everyday communications to high-profile incidents and emergencies, your leadership will help shape public understanding, support transparency, and strengthen the relationship between the Wilmington Police Department and the community it serves.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Provides leadership, mentoring, performance management, and professional development for civilian and sworn public information staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Provides instruction and guidance to department staff and participates in administrative strategy meetings.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with media outlets, community organizations, government partners, and public information professionals to enhance collaboration and information sharing.

Communications Strategy and Planning

• Develops and manages communication policies, standards, and protocols that promote consistent messaging and align with citywide communication practices.
• Designs and executes integrated communication campaigns supporting crime prevention, public safety education, community engagement, recruitment, organizational initiatives, traffic safety, and internal communications.
• Directs the department’s multimedia communication strategy, including video production, digital storytelling, social media, websites, and other communication platforms.
• Evaluates emerging communication technologies and trends to strengthen outreach and organizational effectiveness.
• Advises executive leadership on communication strategy during critical incidents, emergencies, major investigations, and other high-profile events, ensuring timely, accurate, and transparent information while considering operational and legal constraints.

Operations and Public Information

• Ensures departmental compliance with state and national accreditation standards and City public information procedures.
• Oversees daily department operations, including preparing and distributing information, responding to media and citizen inquiries, and coordinating information releases with departmental units.
• Provides on-scene public information support during major and minor police events of community concern.
• Monitors media coverage, digital conversations, social media trends, public sentiment, and emerging issues to identify opportunities, mitigate misinformation, and inform communication strategy.

Executive Communications Support

• Serves as executive communications advisor to the Chief of Police and command staff.
• Develops speeches, presentations, correspondence, talking points, reports, opinion pieces, video messages, and other executive-level communications.
• Provides media coaching to department leadership and manages requests for leadership participation in public appearances, productions, and community events.

Program Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Assesses communication program effectiveness through analytics, media monitoring, audience engagement, and performance metrics.
• Uses data and emerging trends to refine communication strategies and enhance public outreach.

Education/Experience

• Master’s Degree in Communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital media, and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in local government, program management, communications, or a related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Or, Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital media, or a related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in local government, complex program management, communications, or a related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Or, any other equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Other Requirements

• US Drivers License and an acceptable driving record.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with the public, coworkers, and interdepartmental teams
• Strong project and program management skills.
• Experience with municipal operations.
• Ability to understand complex instructions and work independently.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, facilitation, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with businesses, community groups, contractors, event organizers, City staff, and regional partners.
• Ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and make recommendations to the department director.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when required by departmental activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Office Work: Primarily sedentary, involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.

Field Work: May require standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects up to 10 pounds occasionally. Employees may encounter uneven terrain, traffic and outdoor weather conditions and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.

General Requirements: The position involves occasional travel to meetings, events, or weather-related response. Often handles multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and maintains situational awareness. All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with frequent use of standard office equipment and computers. The position may require occasional travel to City facilities, construction sites, and public rights-of-way to assess accessibility, monitor compliance, and conduct inspections. The incumbent may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions, construction environments, and varying levels of accessibility challenges, and may be required to walk, stand, or navigate uneven surfaces for extended periods.

The position may require evening or weekend work to attend meetings, public hearings, or training sessions, and occasional lifting or carrying of materials. The incumbent must handle sensitive and confidential information related to disability accommodations and accessibility complaints, communicate effectively with employees, management, elected officials, and the public, and may participate in emergency operations and disaster-recovery activities as assigned.