Communications Officer

First 5 Alameda County•Alameda, CA

14h•$121,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Under general guidance, the Communications Officer assists in executing the vision, direction, and deployment of communications that promote and articulate First 5 Alameda County’s (Agency’s) strategic initiatives. The Communications Officer assists in developing communications that cultivate the Agency’s public face as well as internal strategies by designing, delivering, and evaluating Agency communication approaches to ensure engagement in Agency’s mission and vision. The position supports facilitating the Agency’s public information and strategic communication program ensuring the impact of the work is clear and accessible while supporting internal change management activities. Lead, supervise, and support communications staff and contractors, providing strategic guidance, project management, and professional development. Partner with Leadership to shape agency messaging, strategic direction, and resource development communications. Develop and implement internal and external communications strategies that support systems building and change, change management, and organizational goals. Regularly evaluate communication tactics to ensure the most effective strategies are identified and less effective ones are re-oriented or ended. Create and implement a social media plan that tracks and improves metrics across the Agency’s social channels. Recommend strategy to increase reach and engagement; develop materials that support the agency’s mission. Develop and maintain a cross-agency content calendar to coordinate communications efforts. Build and execute strategic communications and marketing plans in support of First 5’s work. Collaborate with internal teams to strengthen messaging and tell the First 5 story in creative, culturally responsive ways. With Leadership direction, proactively source and pitch stories, respond to media inquiries, and maintain relationships with media, partners, and community stakeholders. Draft press releases, op-eds, messaging guides, and other communications materials. Work with policy and data staff to develop communications that advance evidence-informed policy recommendations Support agency-wide branding initiatives, including campaigns, videos, website updates, and annual reports. Work closely with Executive Leadership to develop audience-focused messaging and advance the agency’s mission, including racial and economic justice In partnership with Leadership Support internal communications to promote alignment, clarity, and effective change management.

Requirements

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. The combination of training and experience must clearly demonstrate possession of the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Minimum eleven years of full-time progressively responsible experience in communications, public/government affairs, journalism, and/or community/corporate relations or a related field; strongly prefer experience supervising professional-level staff.
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field may be substituted for 4 years’ experience. A Master’s degree may be substituted for an additional year.
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of public relations, public policy
Principles of equity, social, racial, and economic justice
Principles and practices of project management, budget management, evaluation, and strategic planning
Principles and practices of systems thinking and systems building within an organization
Media relations
Creating content including stories, graphics, and presentations
Strategies to support change management planning, implementation, and evaluation activities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Office 365 preferred
Communication professional software, tools, and various methods of presentation formats
Ability to:
Identify communication strategies to support leadership vision and promote organizational alignment
Keep a positive attitude with shifting expectations and work requirements
Plan, supervise, review, and evaluate the work of others, either directly or through subordinate supervision
Plan and conduct communications projects including project management to completion
Collaborate effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Provide thought partnership, critical thinking and adeptness at problem solving with Senior and Executive Leadership
Establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with a wide range of professionals and administrative employees including but not limited to, Agency staff and Commission members, partnering agencies, stakeholders, and members of the broader business community
Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in a variety of contexts; support the operationalizing of the Agency’s commitment to equity and social justice
Maintain confidentiality in sensitive work situations
Adapt, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in agency operations and work assignments or procedures in a fast-paced work environment
Define and creatively address problems or management challenges requiring analysis of multiple variables or situations, collect and analyze information, consider alternatives, and draw valid conclusions
Effective presenter, active listener, open to new ideas, keeps stakeholders informed and engaged, competently facilitate small and large groups
Promote a customer-oriented approach toward meeting the needs of the Agency
All First 5 employees must live and work in California.

Responsibilities

Lead, supervise, and support communications staff and contractors, providing strategic guidance, project management, and professional development.
Partner with Leadership to shape agency messaging, strategic direction, and resource development communications.
Develop and implement internal and external communications strategies that support systems building and change, change management, and organizational goals.
Regularly evaluate communication tactics to ensure the most effective strategies are identified and less effective ones are re-oriented or ended.
Create and implement a social media plan that tracks and improves metrics across the Agency’s social channels. Recommend strategy to increase reach and engagement; develop materials that support the agency’s mission.
Develop and maintain a cross-agency content calendar to coordinate communications efforts.
Build and execute strategic communications and marketing plans in support of First 5’s work.
Collaborate with internal teams to strengthen messaging and tell the First 5 story in creative, culturally responsive ways.
With Leadership direction, proactively source and pitch stories, respond to media inquiries, and maintain relationships with media, partners, and community stakeholders.
Draft press releases, op-eds, messaging guides, and other communications materials.
Work with policy and data staff to develop communications that advance evidence-informed policy recommendations
Support agency-wide branding initiatives, including campaigns, videos, website updates, and annual reports.
Work closely with Executive Leadership to develop audience-focused messaging and advance the agency’s mission, including racial and economic justice
In partnership with Leadership Support internal communications to promote alignment, clarity, and effective change management.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package with health care options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. These benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage, $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Plan and more.
We also offer paid vacation, paid time off and sick time. We have 17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off.

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