Communications & Community Engagement Director

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County•Athens, GA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to provide strategic leadership for Athens-Clarke County Unified Government’s (ACCGov) communications, community engagement, and public information functions. The Director develops and implements communication and community engagement strategies that promote transparency, strengthen public trust, and improve public understanding of local government services, projects, decisions, and priorities. Serving as ACCGov's senior advisor on communications and community engagement, the Director partners with the Manager's Office and departments across ACCGov to ensure communication and public engagement are considered early in planning, support informed decision-making, and strengthen transparency and public trust. As the leader of a small department, the Director serves as both a strategic leader and working manager, providing executive guidance while remaining actively engaged in the department's most complex and high-impact work.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field with seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, public engagement, public information, media relations, public affairs, or a related field required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.
Five years of supervisory experience required.
Must possess a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading communications or community engagement in a local government setting.
Master’s degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

Plans, directs, manages, and evaluates the operations, personnel, budget, programs, and initiatives of the Communications and Community Engagement Department to ensure effective service delivery and alignment with ACCGov's goals and priorities.
Supervises, mentors, develops, and evaluates assigned staff; establishes work priorities; assigns and reviews work; provides coaching, counseling, and corrective action when necessary; conducts employee performance evaluations.
Develops and administers the departmental budget; monitors expenditures; oversees contracts, consultants and other professional services; and ensures the responsible stewardship of departmental resources.
Establishes department policies, procedures, performance expectations, and operational priorities.
Serves as ACCGov’s senior advisor on communications and community engagement, providing strategic guidance to executive leadership regarding organizational messaging, public engagement, emerging issues, and complex communications challenges.
Establishes the long-term vision and direction of communication and community engagement strategies that support ACCGov’s mission, strategic priorities, and organizational objectives.
Advises the Manager’s Office and departments on communication considerations related to policy initiatives, major projects, organizational change, public meetings, controversial issues, and other significant governmental actions.
Evaluates emerging communication trends, technologies, and best practices and implements improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness and public service.
Establishes departmental goals, performance measures, and service standards and evaluates program effectiveness through analytics, community feedback, and organizational outcomes.
May attend meetings of the Mayor and Commission, advisory boards, interdepartmental committees, community organizations, and other groups to support communication, community engagement, and organizational initiatives.
Represents ACCGov on community organizations, advisory boards, professional associations, committees, and task forces to strengthen partnerships and advance organizational objectives.
Leads ACCGov’s community engagement program by establishing organizational standards and best practices that promote meaningful and accessible public participation.
Advises departments on communication and community engagement by providing strategic planning support, coaching, training, and communication strategies for major initiatives, capital projects, master plans, and other significant community issues.
Partners with departments early in project planning to identify stakeholders, establish communication objectives, recommend engagement methods, develop communication timelines, and evaluate engagement outcomes.
Develops organizational guidance, standards, toolkits, templates, and training that strengthen communication and community engagement practices across ACCGov.
Evaluates community engagement efforts and recommends improvements that enhance participation, transparency, and public understanding.
Oversees ACCGov 101 and other community engagement programs that educate residents about local government operations, services, and opportunities for civic participation.
Oversees implementation of ACCGov's comprehensive communications strategy across digital communications, social media, website content, publications, multimedia, presentations, executive communications, and other public information channels.
Ensures communications are timely, accurate, transparent, and accessible.
Leads the development of communications regarding government services, projects, decisions, programs, and organizational initiatives to improve resident understanding, provide opportunities for meaningful input, and enhance transparency.
Oversees the operation, governance, and continuous improvement of the ACCGov's website, digital communication platforms, social media presence, and content management practices.
Leads ACCGov's social media program by establishing strategy, editorial direction, and content priorities; overseeing the planning, development, and delivery of digital content; and ensuring social media effectively communicates government services, projects, decisions, and community impacts.
Oversees media relations and serves as the primary communications contact for significant organizational issues, coordinating information with departments and executive leadership to ensure accurate, coordinated, and consistent public information.
Responds to resident inquiries and concerns by providing information, resolving issues when appropriate, and coordinating with departments to facilitate timely and effective responses.
Reviews, edits, and provides quality assurance for significant organizational communications, publications, presentations, reports, and other public information materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, accessibility, and alignment with organizational communication standards.
Provides media relations guidance, spokesperson coaching, presentation coaching, and communication training to department directors, executive leadership, and designated organizational representatives.
Monitors traditional media, digital media, social media, and other communication channels to identify emerging issues, public sentiment, misinformation, and topics affecting ACCGov operations and community interests.
Consults with the County Attorney's Office and other appropriate staff to ensure communications and public information activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including open records and other public information requirements.
Advises departments on communication planning, messaging, public engagement, branding, and communication best practices.
Oversees organizational communication standards, editorial quality, messaging consistency, branding, and accessibility across departments.
Directs executive communications including speeches, presentations, correspondence, reports, talking points, and other communications prepared for executive leadership.
Directs ACCGov's organizational identity, branding standards, and communication style.
Develops and supports internal communication strategies that improve organizational awareness, employee engagement, leadership communication, and the timely sharing of information with employees during routine operations, organizational initiatives, and emergency situations.
Develops communication strategies that help residents and employees better understand ACCGov services, initiatives, decisions, and community outcomes through clear and accessible communications.
Leads ACCGov's emergency communications function in coordination with and direction from the Emergency Management Manager, public safety agencies, executive leadership, and departmental representatives.
Creates, maintains, and regularly evaluates emergency communication plans, procedures, training, and communication protocols that strengthen organizational preparedness and response.
Serves as the communications lead within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during activations and coordinates internal and external communications across departments and partner agencies.
Directs communication strategies before, during, and after emergencies to ensure timely, accurate, coordinated, and actionable public information.
Coordinates organizational messaging to address misinformation and provide clear, consistent communication during emergencies and other rapidly evolving situations.
Conducts after-action evaluations related to emergency communications and implements improvements to strengthen future response efforts.
Performs other related duties as required.