Public Information & Communications Lead

City of Richmond; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Richmond, Office of Strategic Communications, is seeking a Public Information Manager to coordinate the development, distribution, and timely release of information to the public and media.

You will lead content creation, manage media relations and social media, support public engagement, assist in crisis communications, and ensure messaging is accurate across city agencies. This role requires collaboration with assigned agencies and strong writing and presentation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• Five years of public communications experience with supervisory experience preferred.
• Equivalent combination of training and experience may be used to meet the minimum qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Content Creation: Lead campaign creation, develop and edit press releases, social media posts, newsletters, and other communication materials.
• Media Relations: Serves as the official point of contact and spokesperson for assigned agency, coordinating interviews and maintaining positive relationships with local media outlets.
• Social Media Management: Work with the City’s Social Media Manager to update the City’s social platforms and ensure consistent messaging.
• Public Engagement: Support and, at times, lead public outreach efforts, including attending community events and coordinating meetings.
• Crisis Communication: Assist in preparing and disseminating information during emergencies.
• Research & Reporting: Conduct research on communication trends and prepare reports on outcomes.
• Website Maintenance: Update and manage content on the City’s website and ensure accessibility.
• Collaboration: Coordinate with departments to ensure consistent messaging.

Skills

Media relations

Public speaking

Social media

Graphic design

Content creation

Writing/editing

Project management

Interpersonal comm

MS Office

Adobe Creative Suite

CRM / GIS

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

CRM

GIS

Photo editing software

Job description

City of Richmond, Office of Strategic Communications, is seeking a Public Information Manager to coordinate the development, distribution, and timely release of information to the public and media.

You will lead content creation, manage media relations and social media, support public engagement, assist in crisis communications, and ensure messaging is accurate across city agencies. This role requires collaboration with assigned agencies and strong writing and presentation skills.