Primary Purpose

The City of Sterling is excited to announce the opening of our new position of:

Community Relations Representative

The primary purpose of this position is to effectively plan, develop, coordinate, and execute the vision of the City Manger through an effective communications strategy to disseminate timely, accurate, and engaging information to both internal and external audiences. This person will coordinate activity within a downtown revitalizing program utilizing historic preservation as an integral foundation for downtown economic development. Promote and market the City of Sterling and serve as the initial contact person as well as attend meetings with local organizations on behalf of the City Manager. The person chosen for this role will report to the City Manager.

Essential functions

Essential Functions

Builds and maintains relationships with members of the community and identifies key stakeholders, such as community leaders, organizations, and influencers, and builds relationships with them to foster positive partnerships.
Acts as a liaison on behalf of the City Manager and participates in local community activities including tourism, business development, and local outreach.
Uses social media, the City's website, and other sources to coordinate community relations.
Drafts and distributes/publishes various content pieces that promote the city, as well as individuals or groups within the agency, and distributes them through a variety of channels.
Serves as a point of contact on behalf of the City manager for community-related inquiries. When needed recruit a knowledgeable spokesperson or information source to assist.
Conduct research and stay updated on local community trends, needs, and issues that may impact the organization's reputation or operations.
Develops and maintains a database of community contacts, partnerships, and collaborations.
Prepares reports documenting community relations activities and their impact on the organization.
Involvement in the grant writing process to secure funding for community projects and initiatives.
Performs other related duties as assigned such as but not limited to City related projects and programs involving local community activities, business development, tourism and local outreach.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Community Relations Representative must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well-organized and capable of functioning effectively in an independent situation.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to articulate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures.
Ability to work well under pressure and manage sensitive or controversial subjects with tact, kindness, and professionalism.
Proven experience in community engagement, public relations, or a related field.
Knowledge of community dynamics, issues, and resources.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
Creative thinking and problem-solving skills to develop innovative community engagement strategies.
Proficiency in social media platforms and other digital communication tools.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.