Communications Coordinator

Bring your communications expertise to the City’s Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Team to make a difference in Santa Rosa!

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:
In addition to offering a rewarding work environment, opportunity for career growth, and an excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, a choice of health plans, a flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, and top of the line employer paid vision and dental coverage.  Detailed information about available benefits can be found in the City's Benefits Guide and in the Unit 18 MOU. 

ABOUT THIS POSITION:
As a Communications Coordinator, you'll develop, implement, manage, and monitor the public information, marketing, media relations, and/or outreach needs for a variety of assigned City projects and programs. 

You will support the City's police and fire departments, with an emphasis on emergency preparation and response. You will also support other City departments and divisions, projects and/or program areas, as needed, such as Planning, Economic Development, Public Art, Recreation, Parks, Housing & Community Services, Human Resources, Parking, Finance, Transportation and Public Works, and Water Utility.  

WHAT YOU'LL BRING
The ideal candidate will possess:

• Excellent public speaking and written communication skills
• Strong initiative and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines  
• Extensive experience developing and implementing effective marketing campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness of the services of an organization
• Extensive experience presenting to and engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including governmental bodies, members of the public and a variety of public agency staff  
• Expertise in overall marketing strategy, branding, and public relations
• Expertise with a variety of digital/social and traditional media, including webpage design and/or management

Expertise in specific public information areas such as journalism, creative writing, media relations, graphic design, videography, event planning, and/or other areas relevant to professional mass communications is also highly valued. Bilingual ability in English/Spanish is desirable.

ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE:
The Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office (CIRO) is responsible for developing accessible and timely communication about city initiatives, programs, and services to enhance and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with the community and inform the public on current initiatives, events, and important topics in Santa Rosa. CIRO manages the daily operation of the City’s communications channels, including the website and social media accounts, guides and facilitates engagement with the media and the public, and provides departments with strategic communications counsel.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as "See Resume" can result in disqualification from the selection process.  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. 

THE SELECTION PROCESS:
The first step in the selection process will consist of a review of each applicant's employment application and supplemental questionnaire for minimum qualifications. The next step is anticipated to consist of a thorough evaluation of training and experience as presented on the applications and responses to supplemental questions. Applicants scoring highest in this process will be invited to the next step, which will include interviews and may include additional components such a skills examination, role play exercise and/or review of a portfolio. 

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Karen Rodriguez at krodriguez@cpshr.us.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:
The following duties are considered essential for this job classification:

• Develop and manage strategies designed to increase and expand program participation and/or program/initiative awareness such as outreach campaigns, events, community meetings, contests, surveys, etc.
• Train and educate employers, schools, and the public about department programs
• Serve as liaison with members of the news media, including print, radio, TV and online journalists
• Develop and coordinate the dissemination of critical messages during an emergency on a variety of platforms
• Develop content for and monitor the City’s social media platforms
• Develop standardized templates; update applicable procedures and guidelines for various public outreach platforms
• Develop and maintain department and/or program websites
• Plan and deliver outreach programs and presentations for schools, service groups, neighborhood groups, and other external organizations;
• Conduct outreach to surrounding communities
• Develop and/or deliver presentations to department managers, community groups, boards, commissions, City Council, and other government agencies
• Produce a variety of materials for public outreach purposes to both English and non-English speaking audiences, including but not limited to press releases, articles, video and audio public service announcements, newsletters, promotional videos, and graphics for digital and print use
• Build support and advocacy by developing and managing relationships between public officials, City staff, the public, neighborhood groups, associations, major employers and public interest groups
• Establish and maintain working relationships with media contacts and assist new media contacts
• Develop and negotiate partnering agreements (e.g., financial sponsorships; liaison with other agencies)
• Manage departmental and/or program resources, including assigned budgets
• Monitor and evaluate program/project participation, progress and outcomes
• Develop, review, and analyze reports and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of outreach campaigns 
• Represent the City by facilitating various staff and community meetings and events

Required Qualifications

Knowledge of: Principles and methods of community relations, public affairs, and the dissemination of public information including publications and community outreach efforts; techniques for preparing effective written and multi-media materials for a variety of audiences; effective marketing and promotional strategies; principles and practices of outreach plan development, implementation, and evaluation; data collection and research methods including but not limited to opinion surveys; contract administration; graphic design principles; current graphic design software capabilities and functions; current social media trends and best practices for public agencies.  

Ability to: Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, public officials, and the public; manage departmental resources responsibly and effectively; operate computer software such as desktop publishers, presentation software, graphic design, spreadsheets, and databases; develop and manage web pages; compile and analyze statistical information; make creative and effective verbal and visual public presentations to a variety of audiences; research and prepare technical reports; communicate complex information and proposals in a concise, logical and understandable manner to both technical and non-technical audiences; write effectively and edit the writing of others; plan, organize, implement, direct, manage and evaluate program activities related to department and section assignments; develop effective outreach programs to reach diverse target markets. Attendance at public meetings and community events, as well as the need to respond to urgent issues requiring public information dissemination outside of regular work hours will require the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Experience and Education: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience - Sufficient responsible experience in coordinating development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive outreach or marketing program, which demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above. Experience with promoting a public service desirable.  

Education - A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in communications, public relations, journalism, public or business administration, marketing, or a closely related field. An advanced degree in a related field is highly desirable.

Additional Information

Working conditions and physical job requirements are available on the online job description.

THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA - A WONDERFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME:

Santa Rosa is the largest city in Sonoma County, located 55 miles north of San Francisco. Nestled in world famous Sonoma Wine Country, Santa Rosa serves as the County seat and is the center of trade, government, commerce and medical facilities for the Northern San Francisco Bay area. The City offers a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities, and is well known for its excellent schools, temperate weather, and abundant beautiful parks and open space. Residents work in a well-balanced mix of management, professional, manufacturing, sales, tourism, transportation, construction, and service jobs.
The City of Santa Rosa provides a full range of services including police and fire protection; construction and maintenance of streets and other infrastructure; water, storm water, and wastewater utilities; housing services through its Housing Authority; economic development; transit; parking; and recreation, parks, and cultural services, including a municipal golf course.
 

The City of Santa Rosa is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. You may also contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 543-3060 or jobs@srcity.org.