Public Safety Communications & Outreach Manager

City of Bellingham; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 8,400 - 10,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation leave

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Health insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Flexible spending accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement plan

457 deferred compensation

Job summary

City of Bellingham seeks an innovative Public Safety Communications Manager to lead unified public safety and emergency communications with the Police Department. You will develop multimedia content, strengthen information-sharing systems, and engage the community with transparent, accessible updates.

This hands-on role blends traditional PIO duties with strategic communication planning, emphasizing equity, collaboration, and timely crisis communications across departments and platforms.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in communications, marketing, public relations, law enforcement, criminal justice, or related field required.
• Three years of professional experience coordinating, developing, and implementing communications, media relations and public engagement activities required.
• Master’s degree preferred; government experience preferred.
• Combination of education and experience may be considered to meet requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead unified public safety and emergency communications across City departments.
• Develop and manage outreach systems to inform and involve the Bellingham community in city safety work with transparency and timeliness.
• Oversee media relations, print and digital communications, events, community engagement and public opinion research.
• Develop and maintain emergency communication plans and protocols; ensure equitable, inclusive outreach.

Skills

Public communications

Media relations

Community outreach

Crisis communications

Public engagement

Education

BA/BS in communications

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

We are looking for an innovative, adaptable Public Safety Communications Manager to join our dynamic Communications and Community Relations team. This role sits within the Police Department and is both a traditional PIO who will handle day-to-day communications and a communication strategist who can shape clear, modern communication and engagement strategies—while also serving as a steady, trusted source of information during critical moments.

This is a hands-on, highly collaborative position for a communicator who can think strategically, act decisively, and build strong relationships across departments and the community. You’ll manage a portfolio of public safety and emergency communications efforts, develop multimedia content across platforms, strengthen systems for timely and accurate information-sharing, and help create meaningful opportunities for public understanding and engagement.

If you’re a clear, confident communicator who thrives in fast-paced environments, brings a calm presence under pressure, and cares deeply about serving the community with integrity, we encourage you to apply.

JOB SUMMARY:

This position assists the Communications and Community Relations Director in leading and coordinating unified public safety and emergency communications across City departments. Develops, implements and manages effective communications and outreach systems and strategies to inform and involve the Bellingham community in the City’s public safety work with a focus on transparency and access to timely, accurate and understandable information about Citywide public safety actions and services. Leads all communications, community engagement, and outreach activities for the Police Department, including media relations, print and digital communications, special events, community engagement, and public opinion research. Serves a lead role in the City’s emergency communications team, and develops and maintains the City’s emergency communication plans, protocols, and templates. Develops and facilitates strategic communications and community relations approaches to ongoing and emerging public safety issues. Ensures the City’s commitment to equity and belonging is incorporated in communications and public outreach initiatives and actively contributes to an inclusive City. Participates in strategic planning and development of new initiatives. Contributes to Citywide communications priorities as assigned.

For more information, please review the jobdescription.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS:

The current full salary range for this position is $8,352/month - $10,117/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.

The City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor’s degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master’s degree in a related field when the master’s degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications.

For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours of sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon. 9/14/26 4:30 PM Pacific Time

• BA/BS degree in communications, marketing, public relations, law enforcement, criminal justice, or related field required.
• Three years of professional experience coordinating, developing, and implementing communications, media relations, public relations and/or public engagement activities required. Experience in law enforcement, public safety, criminal justice or related field preferred.
• Experience in a government agency preferred.
• Master’s degree in related field preferred.
• A combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check, background investigation, polygraph examination and fingerprinting. Criminal convictions check subject to re-check every five years.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted at the time of hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.
• Requires ability to work a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work to attend meetings, respond to emergencies, and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Certificate of completion from Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) /Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Courses within six months of hire: IS-29.A Public Information Officer Awareness; E0105 Public Information Basics.
• Must be able to obtain Level I ACCESS operator and CJIS certification within six months of hire.

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along.**

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around September 25, 2026.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.