Communications Specialist

First 5 Alameda County • Alameda, CA

44d • $90,000 - $130,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision, performs a variety of professional communications duties focused on content development, storytelling, digital engagement, and channel management in support of First 5 Alameda County’s communications strategies. Coordinates and executes day-to-day communications products and projects across multiple platforms, with particular emphasis on written content, newsletters, social media, and digital storytelling. Develops clear, accessible, and equity-centered messaging that supports Agency initiatives, programs, and system-building work, and provides professional communications support to Agency leadership and staff.
Content Development & Storytelling: Develop clear, engaging, and equity-centered content across platforms that translates complex policy and program work and elevates community voices in a consistent Agency voice.
Social Media & Digital Communications: Manage and execute the Agency’s social media and digital presence, including content creation, scheduling, engagement, performance tracking, and basic website updates.
Newsletters & Owned Channels: Plan, produce, and manage internal and external newsletters and owned content channels, ensuring coordinated, timely, and cohesive communications.
Campaign & Project Execution: Collaborate with leadership and staff to plan and execute communications campaigns, advising on messaging, content framing, and channel strategy.
Media, Publications & Technical Content: Draft press materials and support Agency publications, including reports, issue briefs, and annual reports, in collaboration with program, policy, and data teams.
Design & Multimedia: Produce basic visual and multimedia content and coordinate with vendors to support digital storytelling and communications needs.
Operations, Coordination & Oversight: Coordinate communications workflows, timelines, and vendors, providing quality control and technical direction as needed.
Continuous Improvement: Monitor communications trends and recommend tools and strategies to strengthen Agency communications effectiveness.

Requirements

• Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.
• Additional experience and/or education can be substituted to meet typical qualifications.
• A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience managing the full life cycle of communications programs and/or projects from conceptualization to execution and a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in journalism, public relations, communications, or a closely related field.
• Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet college coursework/training standards.
• Knowledge of: Principles, practices, and techniques of a robust communications/public information program.
• Standard and accepted principles, techniques, and methods of preparing and disseminating public information and community relations materials.
• Standard and accepted methods and practices related to the preparation, publication, and distribution of press releases, media, and marketing materials and public service announcement.
• Best practices with website and content management.
• Techniques and methods for developing persuasive written and verbal communications.
• Research, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of programs, projects, and materials.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Attributes and characteristics of various styles of writing, such as Associated Press style, and the appropriate adaptation of communication style for targeted audience.
• Techniques and methods of data research, synthesis, organization, and interpretation.
• Record keeping and filing systems and methods.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Agency and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Agency staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• Ability to: Understand and use social media effectively with little supervision.
• Prepare clear and effective narrative, informational, and educational reports, correspondence, and other written material independently.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for assigned functional areas.
• Research, read, analyze, plan, evaluate, and summarize technical and complex information, materials, and data including, policies, regulations, legislation, statutes, codes, and documents.
• Effectively explain complex policies and objectives to technical and non-technical audiences, including but not exclusive of the process for making and influencing laws and regulations.
• Develop effective public and community outreach strategies and campaigns; work effectively with diverse groups of different ages and various socio-economic backgrounds; listen to and discuss problems and complaints tactfully.
• Speak publicly before large and small groups of individuals in a positive, inclusive, and motivational manner; make persuasive verbal presentations.
• Analyze situations and identify pertinent problems/issues; research and collect relevant information; evaluate realistic options; and recommend/implement appropriate course of action.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Perform arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations accurately.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Prepare clear and concise correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively use computer systems and software applications, including graphic design, photo and video editing and other systems and applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Observes and complies with all Agency and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Responsibilities

• Content Development & Storytelling: Develop clear, engaging, and equity-centered content across platforms that translates complex policy and program work and elevates community voices in a consistent Agency voice.
• Social Media & Digital Communications: Manage and execute the Agency’s social media and digital presence, including content creation, scheduling, engagement, performance tracking, and basic website updates.
• Newsletters & Owned Channels: Plan, produce, and manage internal and external newsletters and owned content channels, ensuring coordinated, timely, and cohesive communications.
• Campaign & Project Execution: Collaborate with leadership and staff to plan and execute communications campaigns, advising on messaging, content framing, and channel strategy.
• Media, Publications & Technical Content: Draft press materials and support Agency publications, including reports, issue briefs, and annual reports, in collaboration with program, policy, and data teams.
• Design & Multimedia: Produce basic visual and multimedia content and coordinate with vendors to support digital storytelling and communications needs.
• Operations, Coordination & Oversight: Coordinate communications workflows, timelines, and vendors, providing quality control and technical direction as needed.
• Continuous Improvement: Monitor communications trends and recommend tools and strategies to strengthen Agency communications effectiveness.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees