Council Communications Strategist

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•$73,000 - $84,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Council Communications Strategist manages media outreach, public information, and community engagement for the City Council District 1 Office. This is an intermediate level role that assists a City Council Member and serves as an assigned liaison with other city organizations and agencies, chairs or facilitates citywide Boards or committees; and negotiates and resolves sensitive issues.

Requirements

Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in Business Administration or Public Administration and experience in communications or public information.
Experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.
Knowledge of public information, marketing, public relations, media relations programs.
Knowledge of the functions and organization of municipal government, to include the relationships between departments, divisions and agencies.
Knowledge of the principles associated with the role of meeting the necessary standards of customer service.
Knowledge Federal, State and Local laws.
Knowledge of city practice, policy and procedures.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in handling multiple projects and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Skill in planning and organizing.
Ability to interpret policies and guidelines.
Ability to write articles for publication.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to lead and train others.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Nice To Haves

A digital-first mindset and demonstrated expertise creating original, on-brand content across multiple social media platforms, with a portfolio showcasing photography, videography, graphic design, and video editing.
A self-starter mentality with the ability to work independently, identify storytelling opportunities, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and consistently deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision.
Proficiency with industry-standard creative tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, CapCut, or similar multimedia production software.
Strong visual storytelling skills and an understanding of platform-specific content strategies, audience engagement, analytics, and emerging social media trends.
Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
Commitment to collaboration, public service, and community engagement.
Passion for communications, digital media, journalism, public affairs, government, and community organizing.
Knowledge of Austin's political landscape and familiarity with local, state, and national public policy issues.

Responsibilities

Prepares and reviews written correspondence, speeches, and other informational material.
Handles public relations and develops communications and marketing strategies.
Manages community outreach, newsletters, emails, updates, public meetings, or public forums.
Attends meetings and provides staff assistance during meetings and attends to needs and requests of Council.
Lead the office's digital communications strategy by planning, creating, and publishing high-quality content across multiple social media platforms.
Create compelling visual and multimedia content, including graphic design, photography, videography, video editing, reels, and other short-form digital storytelling that aligns with the office's established brand and messaging.
Develop innovative strategies to grow the office's digital presence by leveraging platform trends, analytics, and emerging best practices.
Independently identify, capture, and produce content opportunities that highlight the Council Member's work, community engagement, policy initiatives, and District accomplishments.
Draft engaging, accessible content for digital communications, including social media copy, newsletters, website content, and other public-facing materials.
Support planning and execution of community meetings, town halls, press events, and other public engagements, including onsite photography, videography, and live content creation.
Perform other communications and outreach duties as assigned.