Assistant Director of External Affairs

Travis County•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of External Affairs serves as a strategic leader responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating the County Clerk’s Office communications, public affairs, community engagement, and stakeholder relations programs. This position provides leadership and direction for a multidisciplinary team responsible for communications, media relations, community outreach, public information requests, Commissioners Court support functions, and administrative operations. The Assistant Director is responsible for identifying opportunities to increase the visibility of the County Clerk’s Office through public education initiatives, strategic partnerships, media engagement, speaking opportunities, and community outreach campaigns. This position evaluates the effectiveness of communications and engagement efforts, recommends strategic adjustments, and ensures messaging remains consistent, accessible, and aligned with the mission and goals of the office. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled communications and public affairs professional with strong strategic planning, relationship-building, and leadership abilities. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, political awareness, creativity, and the ability to translate complex government services and initiatives into meaningful, accessible information for diverse audiences.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Government, Criminal Justice or a directly related field AND five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in government or related field, including two (2) years of mid- to senior level supervisory or management experience; OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
Knowledge of management and supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
Knowledge of strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, community engagement, and stakeholder relations principles and best practices.
Knowledge of strategic planning, performance measurement, and program evaluation methodologies.
Knowledge of budget development, administration, and resource allocation practices.
Knowledge of principles of organizational leadership, change management, and employee development.
Knowledge of public meeting processes, governmental operations, and intergovernmental relations.
Knowledge of computer equipment and software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, content management systems, social media platforms, and presentation software.
Knowledge of business writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.
Skill in developing and implementing strategic communications, outreach, and public engagement initiatives.
Skill in leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
Skill in supervising staff, allocating resources, managing performance, and fostering professional development.
Skill in strategic planning, program development, monitoring, and evaluation.
Skill in developing public education, awareness, and engagement campaigns.
Skill in building partnerships and maintaining effective relationships with community organizations, governmental entities, media representatives, and stakeholders.
Skill in analyzing issues, exercising sound judgment, and making effective decisions in complex or sensitive situations.
Skill in developing, monitoring, and managing program budgets and resources.
Skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and consensus-building.
Skill in verbal and written communication, including public speaking, presentations, executive communications, and media interactions.
Ability to develop and execute strategic plans, initiatives, and engagement strategies that support organizational goals.
Ability to advise executive leadership on communications, stakeholder engagement, public perception, and emerging issues.
Ability to develop, mentor, coach, and evaluate staff while fostering accountability, innovation, and strategic thinking.
Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, operational plans, and performance measures.
Ability to identify opportunities for organizational improvement and recommend innovative solutions.
Ability to analyze complex information, evaluate alternatives, and develop practical recommendations.
Ability to represent the County Clerk's Office effectively with elected officials, community leaders, media representatives, governmental agencies, and the public.
Ability to prepare and present administrative, operational, and statistical reports.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and organize diverse activities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to prepare correspondence, memoranda, presentations, briefing materials, and other written communications.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, community stakeholders, representatives of outside agencies, County employees, and the general public.
Ability to respond effectively and professionally to sensitive, controversial, or high-profile issues and situations.
Ability to work extended and non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime during critical operations periods and election cycle.

Responsibilities

Develops, implements, and evaluates comprehensive communications, outreach, and public engagement strategies that advance the County Clerk's Office mission, strategic priorities, and public service objectives.
Leads the development of public awareness, education, and engagement campaigns; identifies opportunities to expand community reach, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and increase public understanding of County Clerk programs, services, and initiatives.
Oversees community engagement efforts, including outreach plans, presentations, public events, stakeholder meetings, and strategic partnerships, ensuring activities align with organizational goals and community needs.
Directs communications activities, including media relations, social media management, public messaging, talking points, public information materials, and responses to external inquiries, ensuring messaging is accurate, consistent, accessible, and aligned with office priorities.
Provides strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding communications initiatives, stakeholder engagement, public perception, emerging issues, and opportunities to enhance public trust and awareness.
Establishes goals, performance measures, and evaluation methods for communications and outreach initiatives; analyzes outcomes and community feedback to improve effectiveness and inform future strategies.
Supervises Commissioners Court support functions, including court minutes, agenda and records requests, and records digitization efforts, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and operational standards.
Supervises, coaches, and develops assigned staff; establishes priorities and performance expectations; provides regular feedback and accountability; and fosters strategic thinking, innovation, collaboration, and professional growth within the division.
Promotes continuous improvement by encouraging creative problem-solving, identifying new opportunities for public engagement, and implementing innovative approaches to communications and outreach.
Represents the office in meetings, public events, media engagements, and community activities, serving as a professional ambassador for the County Clerk's Office and its mission.