Assistant Director of Communications

City of Missouri City • Missouri City, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Missouri City is seeking an experienced, innovative, and strategic communications leader to serve as Assistant Director of Communications / Chief Public Information Officer (PIO). This executive-level position serves as the operational leader of the Communications Department and is responsible for implementing and managing the City's communications operations, public information activities, media relations, emergency communications, community engagement initiatives, digital communications, and communications performance analytics. Reporting directly to the Director of Communications, the Assistant Director oversees daily communications activities, coordinates media relations and public information efforts, manages crisis and emergency communications, while directing departmental workflows, and ensuring the successful execution of strategic communication initiatives. As the City's designated Chief Public Information Officer (PIO), this position leads operational communications during emergencies, disasters, incidents, and other critical events. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with Police, Fire, Emergency Management, executive leadership, and departmental staff to ensure timely, accurate, transparent, and coordinated communications with residents, businesses, media representatives, elected officials, and community stakeholders. The Assistant Director provides leadership and oversight for the Public Information and Community Engagement Division and the Digital Media and Creative Services Division, ensuring communication strategies are effectively implemented across all communication platforms and service areas. Additionally, this position leads the department's analytics and performance measurement initiatives by utilizing communication metrics, digital analytics, media monitoring, audience insights, and engagement data to evaluate communication effectiveness, improve operational performance, and support data-driven decision-making. The successful candidate will build and maintain strong working relationships with employees, residents, community organizations, media representatives, elected officials, and external partners while fostering a culture of transparency, responsiveness, collaboration, and excellence in public service communications. This position reports directly to the Director of Communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in communications, media relations, journalism, public information, emergency communications, or a related area.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public information, media relations, crisis communications, emergency communications, operational communications management, and digital communications.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System (ICS) operations, emergency management coordination, and operational communication procedures during emergencies and disasters.

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory or management experience is preferred.
• Experience working in municipal or government communications, crisis communications, media relations, emergency management coordination, and public engagement is highly preferred.
• Experience using communication analytics, digital reporting tools, performance metrics, and audience engagement data to evaluate and improve communication efforts is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages and coordinates daily operations of the Communications Department and implements departmental priorities established by the Director of Communications.
• Serves as the City’s designated Chief Public Information Officer (PIO) and coordinates operational public information activities during emergencies, disasters, incidents, and high-profile events.
• Supports Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Joint Information Center (JIC) operations, and coordinates emergency messaging with Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and partner agencies.
• Manages media relations operations, including media inquiries, interview coordination, press releases, media advisories, public statements, and press conferences.
• Develops operational messaging, talking points, speeches, and communication materials related to routine, emergency, and high-profile issues.
• Monitors media coverage, communication trends, public sentiment, and community feedback.
• Provides operational recommendations to department leadership.
• Leads departmental analytics and reporting efforts, including website analytics, social media metrics, communication dashboards, audience engagement reporting, and campaign performance analysis.
• Utilizes communication data and analytics to improve operational efficiency, communication effectiveness, audience engagement, and service delivery.
• Coordinates editorial calendars, workflow management, communication requests, project timelines, and operational priorities across communications divisions and staff.
• Oversees operational coordination of the Public Information and Community Engagement Division and the Digital Media and Creative Services Division.
• Supports implementation of strategic communications initiatives, branding campaigns, public outreach activities, and citywide communication projects.
• Coordinate and supports major citywide events, initiatives, and outreach programs, including the annual State of the City event and other large-scale community engagement initiatives.
• Ensures communications materials are accurate, timely, accessible, and consistent across print, digital, broadcast, social media, and multimedia platforms.
• Assists in developing and implementing departmental procedures, communication standards, operational protocols, and workflow improvements.
• Supervises, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff; provide mentorship, coaching, and professional development support.
• Assists in administering the department budget and oversee operational contracts, vendors, and consultants as assigned.
• Serves as Acting Director in the absence of the Director of Communications.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of City operations and departmental objectives.

Benefits

• Works as an essential employee before, during, and after emergencies or disasters, whether natural or man-made.
• Subject to emergency operations recall and other assignments necessary to maintain continuity of City services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive