Senior Communications Coordinator

City of Rowlett; Rowlett (TX); On-site; USD 67,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Rowlett seeks a Senior Communications Coordinator to lead day-to-day media relations, crisis communications, and content strategy under the Director of Communications and Community Engagement.

This role requires guiding a team, coordinating across departments, and serving as the on-camera spokesperson for the City while ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent messaging across all channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field required.
• Three years of experience in communications, media relations, broadcast journalism, or public relations, with at least one year in a senior/supervisory role.
• Government/public affairs or news organization experience strongly preferred.
• AP Style fluency, on-camera spokesperson skills, and strong news writing ability expected.

Responsibilities

• Oversee city communications, track performance metrics, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the communications team.
• Coordinate with city departments, public safety, and partners on communications and emergency notices.
• Serve as contact for press inquiries and public inquiries; act as on-camera spokesperson.
• Manage media relations, press releases, advisories, and statements.
• Assist with crisis communications programs and 24/7 guidance as needed.
• Plan and execute media events and prepare leadership for on-camera appearances.
• Lead digital and social communications, monitor analytics, and guide content decisions.

Skills

Communication operations

Media relations

Crisis communications

Content development

Messaging strategy

On-camera spokesperson

AP Style

News writing

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations

Tools

Microsoft Office

Canva

Adobe

Social media platforms

Job description

Hiring range: $67,027.26 to $83,783.78

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Under the direction of the Director of Communications and Community Engagement, this position serves as the senior staff member for communications operations, leading day-to-day media relations, crisis communications, content development, and messaging strategy while providing recommendations to leadership to enhance communications impact, efficiency, and measurable outcomes.

The Senior Communications Coordinator provides guidance to other city staff, ensuring consistency and transparency in all communication efforts. The Senior Coordinator collaborates with City departments, public safety officials, and external partners to manage communications, earned media, and citywide notifications. This position oversees both the Digital Media Specialist and the Communications and Media Specialist in day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate brings a background in broadcast journalism or strategic public relations, with demonstrated ability to serve as an on-camera and on-record spokesperson for the City.

The Senior Communications Coordinator ensures that the City’s communications are well-written, accurate, and responsive to community needs.

Responsibilities include:

• Communication Oversight & Leadership – Ensures all aspects of City communications are executed effectively, including tracking performance metrics and evaluating communications output to inform continuous improvement.
• Team Guidance & Mentorship – Provides strategic direction and mentorship to communication team members, ensuring alignment with City initiatives and best practices for communication programs, including media relations protocols, AP Style standards, and on-camera spokesperson preparation.
• Operational Coordination – Works across City departments to facilitate various communications, including event notifications, proactive media outreach, emergency notices, community awareness and other necessary communications.
• Public Engagement & Communication – Serves as a contact for press inquiries and public inquiries, collects community feedback for city engagement activities; serves as an on-camera, on-record spokesperson in press conferences, media availabilities, and public events.
• Media Relations & Earned Media – Manages proactive and reactive media relations with DFW broadcast, print, and digital outlets; pitches City-initiated stories; drafts and distributes press releases, media advisories, and statements.
• Crisis Communications – Assist with the implementation of the City’s crisis communication programs, to include implementation of crisis communications policies and plans and provide 24/7 crisis communications support and guidance for the City Manager, City Council, and all City departments, including drafting on-record statements and managing media response during active incidents, as needed.
• Media Events & Spokesperson Preparation – Plans and executes press conferences, groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and media availabilities; prepares City leadership for on-camera and on-record appearances; oversees photography and videography for City functions and special events.
• Digital & Social Communications – Leads content strategy and supports social media execution, ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms; monitors platform analytics and reports on engagement metrics to evaluate effectiveness and guide content decisions. Performs other duties as assigned. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential function of this position, as is the ability to create and maintain professional, harmonious working relationships with others.

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field is required. Three (3) years of experience in communications, media relations, broadcast journalism, or public relations required, with at least one of those years in a senior or supervisory role. Experience in a government, public affairs, or news organization setting is strongly preferred, and graphic design skills are a plus. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

The Senior Communications Coordinator must demonstrate strong leadership and mentorship abilities, guide team members while ensuring alignment with City initiatives. The role requires strategic communications judgment, the ability to advise senior leadership under pressure, and strong media relations skills, including building reporter relationships, pitching stories proactively, and managing sensitive inquiries with discretion. On-camera confidence, AP Style fluency, and news writing proficiency are required; experience in broadcast journalism or media relations is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate excels in organization and multitasking, managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines efficiently. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Canva, Adobe, and social media platforms is required. Ability to track and analyze communications metrics — including media coverage, digital engagement, and platform analytics — and apply data to improve communications output is essential. Sound judgment, knowledge of Texas Public Information Act requirements, and familiarity with municipal government communications is a plus. Valid driver's license required. Must have and maintain a good driving record in accordance with the driving standards as established by the City of Rowlett. Must report all traffic citations to his/her departmental Director or his/her designee within two working days of receipt.

Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required.

The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods, bend, stoop, crouch, and carry or lift up to 50 lbs. Work may be performed both indoors in climate-controlled facilities and outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes.