Communications & Community Engagement Manager

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

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About The Position

The Communications & Community Engagement Manager is a dynamic, public facing professional dedicated to elevating transparency and civic participation for the Denver Clerk & Recorder (DCR). This full-time position serves as a bridge between our agency and Denver’s diverse residents, educating the public about essential services while fostering strong relationships with community stakeholders, media representatives, and government agencies. The Communications & Community Engagement Manager reports to DCR’s Senior Strategic Advisor and currently has five direct reports.

Requirements

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in a full-time marketing/communications, community engagement, and/or government affairs role
• At least three (3) years of supervisory experience
• Passion for public service and civic engagement
• A self-starter with the ability to work and execute assigned tasks independently, as well as lead collaborative projects
• Experience developing messaging to diverse audiences and delivering presentations/speaking publicly
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work closely with a team
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work assignments while staying organized and adhering to deadlines
• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or a related field.
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included supervision of marketing and/or communications professionals.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in another language commonly used in Denver; preferably Spanish
• Knowledge of and experience working within Denver’s neighborhoods and community groups
• Experience with external communications developing outreach plans with metrics
• Experience building coalitions with service providers and other government agencies
• Bilingual proficiency, particularly in Spanish, is highly preferred to serve Denver’s diverse community
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to identify innovative ideas, make clear decisions under pressure, and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal skills, with the ability to perform on-camera interviews and effectively reach varied audiences. Communicates with clarity, transparency, and cultural humility; develops messages to ensure language and physical accessibility.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools (e.g., Constant Contact, Salesforce), digital creative software (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc.), social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, others), and both organic and paid marketing tools.
• Community Partnership: Engages with constituents and partners as co-creators; prioritizes accessibility, listens to and values lived experience, and ensures that service delivery is culturally responsive and honors the dignity of all community members.
• Collaboration & Solidarity: Actively seeks out and elevates underrepresented voices within the team and community. Practices radical empathy, shares credit and fosters a culture of belonging where diverse perspectives aren't just “respected” but are foundational.
• Restorative Practice: Addresses disagreements and grievances using restorative principles; focuses on repairing harm, acknowledging power imbalances, and seeking resolutions that strengthen community ties rather than just “minimizing impact”.
• Political Navigation: Demonstrates an understanding of the internal and external political landscapes. Ability to navigate bureaucracy, as well as identify unspoken narratives, biases, and power shifts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an annual operational work plan that includes communications approaches, marketing campaigns, community engagement strategies, and media tactics that align with agency priorities and strategic goals.
• Track progress for communications and the community engagement activities; report out on metrics to the senior leadership team.
• Track and manage financial resources, ensuring all outreach and communications efforts remain within budgetary constraints.
• Act as the primary point of contact for media, responding timely to requests, proactively arranging press coverage and managing distribution of all official announcements.
• Advise the senior leadership team on how policy decisions may be perceived by the public and recommend messaging adjustments to improve public opinion.
• Develop policies for public information responses and ensure strict legal compliance with CORA (Colorado Open Records Act) and other public access requirements.
• Manage responses to critical or sensitive information requests from the public, media, and elected officials.
• Develop and manage tools to identify, track, and strengthen external relationships with stakeholders across Denver.
• Identify and implement new public outreach tools and technologies to modernize the agency’s engagement strategy.
• Manage a team of communications and community engagement professionals, providing daily guidance and oversight.
• Conduct formal performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and manage the full employee lifecycle, including hiring, training, and disciplinary actions.
• Communicate annual work plans to staff and ensure the team remains focused on achieving performance standards and continual improvement.
• Manage professional staff and contractors in the design and production of informational materials, marketing assets, and public campaigns.
• Monitor programs to ensure effective communication with diverse audiences and seek support and guidance from the Acceso Spanish-language advisory board.
• Provide staffing and administrative support for the Denver Election Advisory Council.
• Partner with city and other government agencies to identify opportunities to address complex regional problems and strategic challenges.
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment with diverse, complex assignments.
• Ability to work independently, manage tight schedules, and work evenings or weekends as required by community events or election cycles.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 13 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees