Public Affairs & Communications Chief - $75,971 - $94,963

Dairy Queen of Globe, Inc.; Globe (AZ); On-site; USD 75,971 - 94,963; Full time

Job summary

Gila County is seeking a Public Affairs & Communications Chief to lead strategic communications for the Board of Supervisors in Globe or Payson, AZ. You will serve as the County’s principal advisor on public information, media relations, and community engagement, supporting the County Manager and leadership.

The role requires an experienced communications professional with crisis management and digital communications expertise, able to guide messaging during emergencies and high‑profile matters

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in public affairs, communications, or related field; including executive-level responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, public administration, political science, marketing, emergency management, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred; government or emergency management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Regularly assigns work to other employees and supervises related activities.
• Develops, implements, administers, and evaluates countywide public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, public information, digital communications, and community engagement initiatives.
• Serves as the County’s designated Public Information Officer (PIO) during emergencies and crisis situations, coordinating emergency public information activities.
• Oversees county website content, social media, and multimedia communications efforts.
• Coordinates media relations activities including press releases, interviews, and public statements.
• Represents County Administration during meetings, public events, media engagements, and intergovernmental activities.
• Assists departments with outreach initiatives and communications planning.

Skills

Public affairs

Communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Public information

Digital communications

Community engagement

Executive communications

Education

Associate degree in related field

Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Position

Public Affairs & Communications Chief – Board of Supervisors – Salary $75,971 - $94,963 – Globe or Payson, AZ – Full Time

Job Overview

Under limited supervision serves as the County’s principal advisor and administrator for public affairs, strategic communications, public information, media relations, crisis communications, digital communications, and community engagement activities for Gila County.

Develops, coordinates, and administers Countywide communications strategies and public information initiatives supporting the County Manager, Board of Supervisors, County departments, emergency operations, and County strategic priorities. Serves as the County’s designated Public Information Officer (PIO) and oversees emergency and crisis communications in accordance with Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles.

Provides executive-level communications support involving strategic messaging, media coordination, public outreach, website administration, social media management, reputation management, and organizational transparency efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Regularly assigns work to other employees and supervises related activities.
• Provides recommendations on managing employees who also report to other managers.
• Develops, implements, administers, and evaluates Countywide public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, public information, digital communications, and community engagement initiatives supporting County leadership, departments, and organizational priorities. Provides executive communications guidance and strategic messaging recommendations to County leadership involving sensitive, controversial, or high-profile matters.
• Serves as the County’s designated Public Information Officer (PIO) during emergencies, disasters, incidents, and crisis situations. Coordinates emergency public information activities in accordance with Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Joint Information Center (JIC) principles. Develops and disseminates emergency notifications, public advisories, media briefings, and crisis communications materials.
• Oversees County website content, social media platforms, digital communications systems, public messaging standards, branding consistency, accessibility compliance, and multimedia communications efforts. Monitors public sentiment, media coverage, and communications trends impacting County operations and reputation.
• Coordinates media relations activities including press releases, interviews, public statements, executive messaging, speeches, presentations, talking points, and responses to public inquiries. Represents County Administration during meetings, public events, media engagements, and intergovernmental activities.
• Assists departments with public outreach initiatives, communication planning, public education campaigns, strategic initiatives, and organizational transparency efforts. Researches and implements communication best practices, emerging technologies, and community engagement strategies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education Required

• Associates Degree with college coursework pertaining to computer assisted mass appraisal, statistics, database management or computer related field.

Minimum Years of Directly Related Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Political Science, Marketing, Emergency Management, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Master’s Degree preferred.

Professional Credentials Required

• Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in public affairs, communications, public information, media relations, emergency communications, government relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or related field; including experience involving executive-level communications responsibilities, crisis communications, and public-facing operations.
• Government or emergency management experience preferred.