Summary

Primary Responsibility: Reporting directly to the County Manager, the Communications Officer is the County’s main communications professional, responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of all internal and external communications. This role serves as the County’s spokesperson and media liaison, leads countywide communications planning, and has responsibility for the County’s digital accessibility program. The position also provides high-level administrative and policy support toBOCC

Description

General Information
- Job Title:
  
  Communications Officer
- Location:
  
  203 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427, United States
- Base Pay:
  
  $74320.00 – $114216.00 / Year
- Employee Type:
  
  FT Exempt
- Job Category:
  
  County Manager's Office
Description
Job Title: Communications Officer

Department: County Manager’s Office

Immediate Supervisor: County Manager

Supervises: None

Status: Full-Time

Classification: Exempt

Primary Place of Work: 203 Eureka St. Central City, CO 80427

Primary Responsibility: Reporting directly to the County Manager, the Communications Officer is the County’s main communications professional, responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of all internal and external communications. This role serves as the County’s spokesperson and media liaison, leads countywide communications planning, and has responsibility for the County’s digital accessibility program. The position also provides high-level administrative and policy support to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners through drafting policies, resolutions, agenda materials, and formal correspondence.

Duties:

The duties listed below are representative of, but do not necessarily include, all the duties and responsibilities that an individual in this position may be called upon to perform.

Strategic Communications & Public Affairs
- Serve as the County’s spokesperson and primary media contact.
- Develop, implement, and steward the County’s comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, aligned with County priorities and strategic planning.
- Lead public and community outreach efforts to promote transparency, trust, and engagement.
- Plan and execute proactive communications campaigns highlighting County services, initiatives, and community successes.
- Represent the County at press conferences, public events, and community engagement activities.
Digital Communications & Content Oversight
- Direct and manage the County’s digital presence, including the County website and all official County social media platforms.
- Serve as the County’s website administrator, overseeing content, design, governance, and major updates.
- Establish content standards, train departmental contributors, and ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of information.
- Produce and oversee newsletters, publications, videos, and other multimedia content for public and internal audiences.
- Facilitate community engagement efforts such as community meetings, surveys, contests, etc.
Digital Accessibility Leadership
- Serve as the County’s Digital Accessibility Manager with responsibility for program development, implementation, and compliance.
- Lead the Digital Content Committee (including website); set accessibility standards, priorities, and related budget requests and implementation efforts.
- Conduct digital content accessibility assessments and audits; remediate inaccessible content and oversee corrective actions.
- Train staff on accessibility tools and best practices and respond to accessibility inquiries or grievances.
- Ensure County compliance with applicable digital accessibility laws, policies, and regulations.
Internal Communications & Organizational Coordination
- Develop and implement internal communications strategies to improve coordination, alignment, and information-sharing across departments.
- Coordinate messaging among departments and offices; attend meetings and distill key information for broader staff awareness.
- Produce regular internal communications, including staff newsletters and departmental spotlights.
Governance, Policy & Administrative Support
- Provide direct communications and administrative support to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners.
- Draft policies, resolutions, letters of support, proclamations, agenda items, and staff reports.
- Support updates to the County’s Master Policy & Procedure Manual.
- Attend meetings of the Board of County Commissioners and other boards, commissions, and committees as assigned.
Intergovernmental & Legislative Coordination
- Track legislation relevant to County operations and priorities.
- Coordinate communication among elected officials, department leadership, and lobbyists.
- Attend legislative briefings and maintain awareness of Commissioner positions and impacts to County operations.
Crisis & Emergency Communications
- Support and serve as backup to the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer.
- Participate in on-call crisis communications during emergency events.
- Be available with little notice during emergency situations.
Boards, Committees & External Relations
- Serve as ex-officio member and administrative support to the Gilpin Advertising Panel (GAP), if appointed.
- Represent County communications interests on committees, interagency groups, and external organizations.
- Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, community partners, and stakeholder organizations.
Minimum job requirements:
- Must pass background check, including traffic and criminal and a pre-employment drug screening
- Must possess FEMA IS100 and IS700a within six months of employment.
- Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license without any restriction due to driving record. Must also be able to drive a county vehicle.
Ability to:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to direct communication development and delivery; ability to edit work and proofread the work of others; ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively for various audiences; strong computer software skills; and knowledge of correct usage of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Ability to work independently, be flexible, and exercise excellent judgement in critical and/or high stress situations; and the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
- Complete projects with significant independence and provide effective leadership for project teams.
- Proven experience with local and regional public affairs and has the ability to stay abreast of the county’s legislative and intergovernmental activities as well as the major programs, services and initiatives administered by other offices and departments.
- Garners and maintains trust and support of the Gilpin County organization and has the ability to assess the political climate and adapt to changing priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate information to support organizational objectives and interact with all levels of personnel with the city, and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner.
- Ability to work through stressful situations, manage conflict and deescalate concerns.
Requirements
Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

Experience and Work Ethics
1. At least three years of progressively professional experience in communications and/or public relations; or any combination of education, training and experience which produces the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the principal job duties.
2. Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related fields
3. Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge and skills as determined by Gilpin County may be substituted for the requirements above.
4. Bilingual Spanish skills preferred but not required.
Civic Minded
1. Must possess strong community interest, while understanding the County government organization, function, policy rules and regulations.
2. Ability to be innovative and creative in management of financial resources in an often changing and challenging environment.
3. Attends and actively participates in meetings, while using good judgment.
4. Ability to present professionally to large and small groups publicly, while representing the interests of the County.
5. Ability to review and evaluate operating procedures and recommend improvements.
6. Use of professional and personal discretion to protect the County from any actual and/or perceived appearances of impropriety.
7. Applicate Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
Personal Responsiveness
1. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected and appointed officials, businesses, the general public and with the ability to communicate effectively.
2. Self-directed and self-motivated in job-related tasks.
3. Commitment that employment with the County is primary to all other forms of employment.
4. Be punctual and prompt for work and meetings.
5. Locate, organize, and retrieve department records and files in a timely fashion.
Knowledge of
1. Understands the general theories and principles of public relations; community and organizational communications;
2. Understands website development and content administration; social media platforms and management of social media strategies; project management techniques; graphic design; and journalistic protocol; and possesses a high level of comfort with technology.
3. Possesses knowledge of media tactics, including interview techniques and preparation.
4. Strong knowledge and understanding of communication strategies, practices and principles
Mental/Physical Demands:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
- The employee frequently is required to sit for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee is required to: stand, walk, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- Must be able to respond to the customers’ needs and perform tasks requiring extensive hand and eye coordination.
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Physical ability and mobility to drive a motor vehicle to and from other work sites and meetings as required.
- Ability to attend training and meetings outside of regularly scheduled hours and the ability to work in stressful situations.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed in an office environment and outside settings. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax/scan machines. Ability to tolerate and be productive in a quiet to moderate noise level in the work place. Employee will have periodic exposure to hazards in the field such as driving and inclement weather.

Hours:
- Office hours are from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday.
- Evenings and weekends may be required as needed.

Summary

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, duties and responsibilities. Gilpin County provides reasonable job-related accommodations for disabled persons. Must pass drug screen and pre-employment screening.

*Part-time and Temporary staff are ineligible for the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401A, Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability plans in additional to Long-term care. See the benefit details at the end of the job posting for part-time options.

Benefits for Full Time Employees:

Paid Holidays: Gilpin County provides 13 paid holidays per calendar year. An employee will be paid ten (10) hours per holiday.

Vacation: The first year of employment, (based on the anniversary of the hire date) full-time employees are given 40 hours of vacation and earn 3 hours of paid vacation leave bi-weekly. After that time, leave shall accrue as follows:

	Lump Sum on Date of Hire (Hours)	Hourly Accrual Rate (bi-weekly)
Zero – 12 months	40	3
13 – 60 months	–	5
61 – 120 months	–	7
121+ months	–	8

Full-Time employees are encouraged to take their earned vacation leave each year. Vacation time accrual shall cap at the maximum amount and shall not exceed the maximum accrual amount, based on total months of service.

Months of Service	Maximum Vacation Accrual
Zero – 60	248
61 – 131	268
132 – 192	288
193 – 239	308
240+	328

Sick Leave: Full-Time employees shall accrue four (4) hours of sick leave each bi-weekly pay period. The maximum sick leave that may be accumulated by such an employee is 600 hours.

Medical Plans: Gilpin County offers two medical plans with Kaiser and United Health Care. Gilpin County offers a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for all employees to cover co-pays, deductibles, and other medical expenses. Employees are eligible for benefits the first of the month following 30 days of service. This HRA card will have $3,000.00 on it for an individual or $6,000.00 for a family. Both plans have a max out of pocket for $1,000 individual or $2,000 per family after the use of the HRA card for in network expenses.

United Health Care Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$80.85/$167.72/$149.40/$234.30

Kaiser Permanente Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$72.60/$152.62/$134.47/$210.90

Dental Plan: Gilpin County offers dental coverage through Delta Dental with PPO and Premiere network coverages. Individual deductible at $50 and family deductible at $150. In network coverage for preventative and diagnostic services are covered 100%, basic services covered at 80%, major services at 50%, and ortho covered at 50% with a $2,000 max. The plan offers a “Right Start 4 Kids” plan that covers most children basic services up to their 13th birthday at 100% with no deductible (some exclusions apply). Annual max this plan pays for covered dental services is $2,000 per individual covered on the plan.

Delta Dental Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$28.71/$54.00/$72.50

Vision Plan: Gilpin County offers vision coverage through VSP. In network coverage includes copays at $10 copays with an allowance of $175 per pair of either one prescription eyeglasses or contacts yearly on a 12-month calendar basis and discounts on Lasik.

VSP Vision Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$3.20/$3.40/$5.60

Retirement: Two retirement savings plans are available through the Colorado Retirement Association: 401(a) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

· The 401(a) has a 5% required full match with a 4-year vesting period.

· The 457 Plan is optional and has Pre-tax and Roth Options available. After four years of service, this plan could also include a County match as described below.

Social Security, as required by law: 6.2% required full match.

Effective July 8, 2025, for all new employees hired on or after this date, the graduated vesting schedule for the 5% match on employees’ 401(a) plan is as follows:

Years of Service	Vesting Amount
0 to less than 1 year	0%
1 year to less than 2 years	25%
2 years to less than 3 years	50%
3 years to less than 4 years	75%
4 years or more	100%

Starting January 1, 2026, two new voluntary retirement plan matches will be initiated, with one plan for POST (law enforcement officers) and a second for all other employees, based on years of service. The employee would need to make voluntary contributions into a 457 account at the minimum level in order to be eligible for the County match into the employee’s 401(a).

POST 401(a) eligible positions, 1:1 match

Years of Service	POST Employee Contribution to 457	County Match to 401(a)
4 to 8 years	1%	1%
9 to 12 years	2%	2%
13 or more years	3%	3%

All other 401(a) eligible positions, 1:2 match

Years of Service	Employee Contribution to 457	County Match to 401(a)
4 to 8 years	1%	0.5%
9 to 12 years	2%	1%
13 or more years	4%	2%

Short-Term Disability: Short-term disability pays 60% of your earnings with a max of $1,000 per week for up to 11 weeks. Benefits begin on day 15 and your first two weeks you will have to cover with sick, personal, or vacation time. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee.
Long-Term Disability: Long-term disability kicks in after 90 consecutive calendar days of a qualified disability. The plan will pay 60% of your earnings with a max of $5,000 monthly. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All one Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free memberships, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.

Benefits for Part Time and Temporary Employees:

Sick Leave: Leave accrues at the rate of 1 hours of sick leave per 30 hours worked to a maximum of 45 hours per year.
Retirement: As a part time or temporary employee, you may participate in the optional 457b or 457 Roth plan. These plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All One Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Retirement: Gilpin County offers optional 457b or 457 Roth plans. The optional 457b plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free membership, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.