Public Affairs & Communications Strategist

Lake County Government; Leadville (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Job summary

Lake County Government in Leadville, CO is seeking a Public Affairs Specialist to serve as the county’s primary spokesperson and lead strategic communications for the County Manager’s Office. You will develop outreach plans, manage media relations, oversee the county website and social channels, draft briefing materials, and coordinate communications during emergencies.

The role requires strong written and verbal skills, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and the ability to work flexible

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, public administration, political science, public policy, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years experience in public affairs, government relations, communications, advocacy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience running communications or social media campaigns.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience designing communications collateral to disseminate messaging to various audiences.
• Ability to break down complex subjects into plain language to brief superiors or stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Travel to conferences or events within and outside of Colorado may be required.
• Must be available to respond to urgent county communications needs, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategic communications plans and SOPs for submission, review, and clearance of official county messaging.
• Plans and implements stakeholder engagement and outreach events including community meetings and town halls.
• Communicates official county messaging through channels including speaking engagements, news releases, social media, website, and newsletters.
• Maintains relationships with county staff and external partners and media to convey items of relevance.
• Establishes vetting protocols for public-facing digital content to ensure branding and accuracy.
• Manages the county website and develops approval protocols for posting official information.
• Manages official county social media accounts and coordinates campaigns across departments.
• Drafts memos, speeches, briefings, and talking points for county leadership.
• Serves as the county’s public information officer during emergencies as directed.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Written communication

Verbal communication

Campaign management

Bilingual English-Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, public administration, political science, public policy, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Lake County Government in Leadville, CO is seeking a Public Affairs Specialist to serve as the county’s primary spokesperson and lead strategic communications for the County Manager’s Office. You will develop outreach plans, manage media relations, oversee the county website and social channels, draft briefing materials, and coordinate communications during emergencies.

The role requires strong written and verbal skills, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and the ability to work flexible