CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

APPLY ONLINE AT LONGMONTCOLORADO.GOV/JOBS

Department: Shared Services
Division: Communications

Hiring Range: $11,430 – $12,700/month
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, weekends and evenings required. Remote and schedule flexibility with supervisor approval.
Regular Full-time with Benefits
Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending, Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 401(a) Money Purchase Plan, Life & Survivor, Term Life & AD&D, Long Term Disability, Bereavement, Jury & Witness Duty, FMLA, Military Leave, Parental and Caregiver Leave, Sick, Vacation at start of employment, Holiday pay, EAP, Tuition Assistance.
Other benefits: Optional, employee elected, voluntary benefits are available.
Open Until Filled positions may close without advance notice. To be considered, please apply as soon as possible.

Definition:

The Citywide Communications Director is responsible for developing, leading, and executing a comprehensive communication strategy that enhances public understanding of the city's vision, programs, services, and initiatives. This role oversees all internal and external communications, including media relations, social media, digital content, and public engagement, ensuring consistent and transparent messaging across all platforms. The Director will work closely with city leadership, departments, and community stakeholders to promote the city’s goals, foster civic engagement, and ensure that the public remains informed and connected.
The ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional with a proven ability to lead a multi-channel communications strategy in a municipal or public-sector setting, and possesses strong leadership, media relations, and crisis communication skills.

Principal Duties:

Develop and implement a high-level, comprehensive citywide communications plan aligned with the city's strategic goals, vision, and values.
Provide leadership in shaping the city’s public narrative, ensuring clear, consistent, and proactive messaging across all communication channels.
Advise/support the City Manager, Mayor, City Council and all department directors in matters relating to internal/external communications, community relations/engagement, media relations, marketing/advertising, special events, and website and social media management in support of municipal operations and issues.
Serve as a liaison between the city and its residents, ensuring that community feedback and concerns are incorporated into the city’s communication efforts.
Establish goals/objectives and operational direction for the division. Directly manage, supervise, and train assigned communications staff. Direct, coordinate, and liaise with contract resources as needed.
Assume responsibility for all communications division personnel matters and decisions relating to hiring, retention, performance appraisals, recognition, discipline, and salary. Develop mechanisms to ensure the personal and professional development of all personnel.
Oversee the cultivation of the City’s audience on social media and other pertinent platforms. Uphold and assist with enforcement the City’s social media standards internally and externally. Oversee development of social media strategy and content in coordination with other departments as needed.
Develop web communication strategy and content-flow (sitemap/navigation interface) for content that is sensitive, high-priority, cross-departmental and/or related to key initiatives. Ensure web functionality, content updates, and site improvements. Liaise with service providers as appropriate to ensure quality of user experience. Oversee development of web content standards.
Direct and oversee the development, delivery, and quality of publications, collateral, signage, websites, videos, podcasts, and digital communications including employee and community newsletters in accordance with best practices and established brand guidelines. Analyze effectiveness of communications channels to optimize impact.
Coordinate City communications/team members/efforts for emergency operations and preparedness.
Lead the response or assist with responding to public requests for information or complaints; ensure positive public relations and relationship building necessary for community trust, cohesiveness and understanding.
Serve as civic engagement consultant to city departments for all aspects of communications; coordinate the handling of high profile or sensitive projects.
Serve as leader of the City’s Public Information Team, assisting in developing strategies and communication plans for the City, along with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for shared resources.
In conjunction with the Public Information Officer, monitor local news and provide analysis and consultation to City Council, City Manager and Department Directors on issues of interest to the City.
Remain current on citywide issues, services, programs, events, projects and trends; collaborate with City departments to identify and create earned media opportunities and implement those strategies to promote and market City programs, services, ballot measures, etc.
Develop a city-wide video strategy and manage existing contract with cable/public access outlet to ensure weekly broadcast of City Council meetings and producing videos that inform the public and promote city events, programs and services.
Provide communication and media relations training and support to staff in developing communication skills and implementing media relations strategies for various departments.
Produce key external communication materials in varied formats, using a style that is engaging, concise and appropriate in tone for the organization/audience; ensure accuracy of information; develop messages appropriate for a wide variety of subjects and audiences.
Keep up-to-date on emerging communication trends and technologies, and recommend and implement new tools that can help broaden and deepen the City's communication efforts; work closely and collaboratively with staff to research, develop and implement new ways to efficiently and effectively engage diverse audiences, including those with limited English proficiency.
Make presentations to Department Directors, staff, media, Boards and Commissions, City Council and/or the public on matters related to City communications and/or attend meetings and events as requested. May be required to attend weekly City Council meetings and other evening and/or weekend events.
Plan, execute, direct or attend City events as assigned to support the City Manager or the Mayor and Council.

Working Environment:

Work is performed in a standard office environment. Occasional light lifting and carrying of up to 15 pounds. The work requires reading, editing, and writing; includes frequent verbal communication and cooperation with others, performing multiple concurrent tasks, organization, and performing detailed work. Work requires the ability to perform under time constraints and deal with frequent interruptions.

Qualifications:

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations or a related field and at least ten years of increasingly responsible work experience in communications, public relations, project management, graphic design and/or web design. Media relations and municipal experience preferred. A Master’s Degree may substitute for a portion of the experience criteria. Special Qualifications: Possession of a valid Colorado Driver License. Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills with experience in print, web, and social media. Bilingual (English/Spanish) advanced proficiency preferred but not required.
We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications, and encourages all candidates to apply and help us achieve our goal of creating an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Selection

The selection process will include complete job description review, personal interview, computer testing, background investigation, criminal background check, and substance screening. Unescorted Security Clearance Required.

DEADLINE: Open Until Filled
An ONLINE APPLICATION is required. This job is Open Until Filled. The online application process is available for this position on our website at www.longmontcolorado.gov/jobs. Resumes will be accepted in lieu of the full City Application; however, they must be submitted via the City application site for consideration. Open Until Filled positions may close without advance notice. To be considered, please apply as soon as possible. For more information, call (303) 651-8609.

The City of Longmont is an equal opportunity employer. The City affirms its commitment to diversity and to complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination in employment. The City will not discriminate against any person in recruiting, examining, appointing, hiring, training, placement, termination, layoffs, recall, transfer, leave of absence, promoting, compensating, retaining, disciplining, or any other personnel action on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, except when any of these categories constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification (i.e., an actual qualification for performing a job). If you need special assistance in the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department in advance to make arrangements.

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