Director Of External Affairs

Tarrant County•Tarrant County, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of External Affairs will be responsible for assisting with the daily functions of the Office of External Affairs including leading Tarrant County’s comprehensive communications, media relations, and intergovernmental relations strategy. This position oversees external and internal communications, legislative engagement, and community outreach to ensure consistent, accurate, and strategic messaging on behalf of the County. The Director advises County leadership; represents the County before local, state, and federal officials; and directs communication during critical incidents. Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises one or more employees in the External Affairs department. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these employee(s). Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the county’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employee(s); planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Must be able to stay organized and know how to prioritize the workload.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Competency with computers and Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
Advanced analytical, organizational and project-management skills.
Must be able to speak on behalf of Tarrant County during media interviews.
Must have a strong understanding of media and web-based development skills.
Must be able to direct multiple team members in high-stress critical incidents in order to quickly and accurately disseminate information to County personnel and the public.
Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Communications, Political Science, Journalism, Business, or other related field, or equivalent.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, legislative affairs, or governmental relations.
Three (3) or more years of management experience.
Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops, implements, and manages legislative strategies in coordination with the County Administrator and Commissioners Court.
Represents Tarrant County before the Texas Legislature, U.S. Congress, and state and federal agencies.
Monitors and analyzes legislation, budgets, appropriations, and policy developments affecting the County.
Prepares briefing materials, fact sheets, reports, and position papers for County leadership.
Cultivates partnerships with elected officials, legislative staff, public agencies, and community organizations.
Develops and directs internal and external communication strategies for employees, the public, media, and community stakeholders.
Serves as spokesperson for Tarrant County, including during critical incidents.
Oversees messaging across digital, print, social media, video, and web platforms to ensure clarity, transparency, and consistency.
Leads the response to breaking news and high-risk events, coordinating with the Public Information Officer and other County departments.
Strengthens relationships with journalists, community partners, and external organizations
Advises County leadership on messaging, legislative priorities, and policy impacts.
Builds organization-wide awareness of best practices for media and public engagement.
Coordinates with internal departments to ensure unified messaging and aligned policy advocacy.
Represents the County to external organizations including schools, civic groups, professional associations, and advocacy bodies.
Engages citizens and business leaders to address concerns and communicate County initiatives.
Manages partnerships with statewide and national associations relevant to counties and government operations.
Performs all other duties as assigned.