Listing Summary

POSITION SUMMARY

The purpose of this classification is to oversee a team that manages day-to-day media inquiries and responses relating to the administration of the city; prepares and distributes news releases, hosts news conferences, and related media events, drafts speeches, manages crisis communications, measures media coverage, and promotes digital communications.  The director effectively and efficiently manages all internal and external communications activities of the City of Stonecrest and implements a comprehensive communications strategy for all departments in the city.  The director sets the tone for messaging and portrays the organization’s values.  Reporting to the City Manager, the Director of Communications/Public Information Officer ensures that the city’s messaging is concise, transparent, consistent, and delivered in a timely manner.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
   
• Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work activities for public relations, website, social media, cable television channel, ecommerce, and customer service: prioritizes work activities to meet objectives; ensures subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex and problem situations and provide technical expertise; and provides progress and activity reports to City Manager

 

• Develops and implements long- and short-term plans, goals, and objectives for department: researches, assesses and develops strategies to meet current and future issues and concerns regarding City communications; and implements needed changes, modifications and/or enhancements.
• Develops, implements and updates policies and procedures for the department, formulates and develops work methods and practices, policies, standard operating procedures, and training programs; monitors implementation of rules and regulations; and updates policies and procedures as required.
• Develops, defends, and implements department budget: monitors expenditures and revenues to ensure compliance with approved budget; coordinates with division staff members regarding division budgets; and maintains related documentation.
• May serve as spokesperson for the City: responds to media inquiries and questions, including after-hours and weekend media requests; provides print and broadcast interviews as needed; manages essential and time-critical communications activities; and serves as media manager for events within the City and for emergencies as needed.
• Directs the development of all marketing initiatives, public relations activities, and other external communications: designs, writes, and coordinates all branding and promotional materials and activities; provides audio visual design and oversight for all major City campaigns and images; approves press and media kits; enforces logo use policy; develops web content and concepts for new communications tools; and oversees the writing and distribution of news releases, advisories, articles, social media posts, and other communications materials.
• Provides general oversight and professional advice regarding all projects with City image and public relations impact: receives and processes sensitive, complex and confidential material and information; apprises City Manager of issues, problems, and opportunities relating to public relations; advises and counsels City officials and employees regarding media relations and interviews; and ensures compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Consults and communicates with City Manager and elected officials, city employees, media, outside agencies, the public, and other individuals to review operations and activities, review and resolve problems, receive and give advice and direction, and provide recommendations, attends and/or facilitates meetings; and provides information, reports, documentation, etc. as requested.
• Consults with others on complex problem situations and provides technical expertise.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university, in communications, journalism, marketing, business administration, political science, or a closely related concentration and a minimum of six (6) years professional experience in communication, digital communications, public affairs, media relations, including three (3) years in a supervisory capacity required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

 

Preferred Qualifications: A master’s degree, and seven (7) years of related professional experience preferred; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

 

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

  Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license. 

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
• Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit; includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.
• Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and/or rapid adjustments.
• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
   
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.
• Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
• Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, taste, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
   
• Prioritizes and plans work activities and use time efficiently.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors own work to ensure quality and applies feedback to improve performance.
• Interacts and communicates clearly with coworkers, citizens, and vendors in a courteous, friendly matter.
• Manages difficult situations, responds promptly to needs, solicits consultant feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance and meets commitments.
• Exhibits tact, consideration, and patience in difficult situations.
• Approaches sudden, unexpected challenges effectively with confidence.
• Punctual, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems time efficiently; Gathers and analyzes information; Develops solutions; Uses reason.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Organizes or schedules other tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively; Listens and gets clarification when necessary; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and concisely; Edits work; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Must be a dynamic, forward-thinking, visionary communications professional who offers a proven record of accomplishments in the field of communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field.  Must be able to work an adjusted schedule for assisting in events occurring after 5:00 p.m. and weekends such as meetings, or planned events.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS SPECIFICATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION IN ORDER TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE JOB.