Communications Manager I

Loudoun County Government•Leesburg, VA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

County Administration’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications is looking for a Communications Manager to join our team. Our office is responsible for countywide internal and external communications and constituent services programs that connect Loudoun County residents, businesses, and communities with information about their government and its services. This position will support the Department of Planning and Zoning. We are seeking an experienced professional communicator who has a strong background in communication planning and execution, strategic public engagement, media relations, research and writing, and content production. Loudoun County is a growing organization that serves a large and diverse population located about 30 miles northwest of Washington, DC. Loudoun County offers a meaningful career, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or related field
four (4) years of related work experience
one (1) year of supervisory experience
equivalent combination of education and experience
Outstanding writing and content creation skills
Ability to organize information from multiple sources
Commitment to accuracy and quality

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in journalism, public relations, communication, marketing or other related discipline
five (5) years of related experience
Experience managing communications for a local government department and/or with the topic of land use
Experience working with senior elected and appointed officials in a communications capacity
Candidates with experience translating scientific or technical material into digestible content for the general public are preferred
Experience working independently to serve the communications needs of an entire department or organization will be useful

Responsibilities

Coordinating the department’s overall communication requirements with staff within the Department of Planning and Zoning and with the communications team within the Office of Public Affairs and Communications
Coordinating media relations activities
Developing and implementing public engagement campaigns
Developing and implementing strategic communication plans, both internal and external
Researching and writing news releases, correspondence with members of the public, communication plans, and technical communications
Synthesizing complex information into messages for lay audiences
Supporting outreach to target audiences
Planning and managing events and community meetings
Managing website content
Producing content, e.g., flyers in Canva, social media posts, photography, video scripts, etc.
Coordinating marketing/paid advertising activities
Providing executive support
Participating in crisis communications planning and responses
Collaborates with the other members of the Public Affairs and Communications team to support countywide priorities, including support for the Board of Supervisors and senior leadership, countywide media relations activities and public information campaigns, strategic communication planning, employee communications, and emergency communication within the National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework.