Sr Specialist, Communications

City of Fort Collins•Fort Collins, CO

About The Position

The City of Fort Collins Communications and Engagement department is seeking an experienced strategic communicator for its central communications office. The department provides the City’s strategic communications direction and brand management, along with public relations, communications, and public engagement strategy and support for City Council, leadership, and City departments and programs. The Senior Communications Specialist serves as a strategic advisor to Transportation Services, including Parking, Streets, Transfort, Engineering, and Transportation Planning. The role may also support other departments and programs. Working with subject matter experts, communications staff, graphic designers, and video producers, the specialist develops communications, marketing, and public engagement plans and campaigns for internal and external audiences. The position also provides event-planning, survey-development, and content-creation guidance. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of communications methods and platforms, excellent project-management and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective collaborations across City departments.

Requirements

Five or more years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including expertise in AP writing style and editing.
Ability to interact effectively with City staff, vendors, and the general public.
Typing, word-processing, and layout skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
Ability to work independently on projects and participate as an engaged, supportive team member.
Proficiency in developing and maintaining web pages, including some technical knowledge of backend processes.
Ability to conceptualize and analyze solutions for public-information assignments.
Ability to research, write, and edit technical and general information into clear final products for general and specific customer groups.
Knowledge of and experience working as a lead or backup public information officer in collaboration with internal and external organizations.
Ability to make effective written and oral presentations to staff, City management, and the public.
Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet strict deadlines.
Ability to develop and manage project budgets and contribute to department budget analyses and reviews.
College degree or equivalent work experience.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement public relations and strategic marketing plans, policies, and procedures.
Direct press relations, including serving as a spokesperson, pitching stories and feature articles to media, and writing press releases.
Work with engineers, subject matter experts, and other professionals to develop strategic communication plans and build positive working relationships within the department, across City departments, and with stakeholders.
Advise and assist department staff on information dissemination, marketing plans, media relations, advertising, and development and maintenance of web pages and social media.
Advise management on media relations and community relations projects and activities.
Help coordinate departmental participation in public or virtual events.
Contribute to decisions about outsourcing projects and coordinate production with external vendors, including printers, mail houses, media, graphic designers, and independent contractors.
Coordinate with others and produce communications materials such as posters, flyers, web and social media content, brochures, newsletters, talking points, invitations, calendars, advertisements, presentations, press releases, and feature stories.
Coordinate or assist with video and advertisement production.
Develop advertising and promotional campaigns and negotiate contracts for print, radio, digital, broadband, and television media.
Coordinate development and updates to video, web, social media, and photography projects.
Coordinate quality-control procedures to ensure publicity materials distributed to the public are high quality.
Collaborate to ensure Title VI requirements, including language access, and ADA requirements are met for service-area issues and projects.
Provide backup public information officer assistance as needed by the service area or other City departments.
Manage marketing budgets, submit reports to management and subject matter expert partners upon request, and maintain electronic internal files.
Assist with grant writing, strategic marketing plans, and other proposals as applicable.
Assist with community event booths and speaking engagements for departments and City officials addressing community groups.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible family members, beginning the first of the month after hire.
Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
One-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new full-time Classified and Unclassified Management hires.
Retirement plan with company contributions after a six-month probation period and immediate vesting.
Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care.
Employee Assistance Program offering counseling, legal, and financial assistance.
Life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Wellness program and workout facilities.
Onsite employee and family health clinic.
Learning and development opportunities and opportunities for career mobility.