Communications and Public Relations Manager - City of Bel Aire

Purpose of the Position: Communications and Public Relations Manager plays a crucial role in enhancing public relations, managing communications, and promoting community engagement for the City of Bel Aire. This position is responsible for developing and disseminating clear, accurate, and timely information to the public, stakeholders, media, governing body and staff. This position ensures that both the community and city employees are well-informed about city operations, initiatives, emergency responses, and employer/employee initiatives.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

Media Relations: Build and maintain relationships with the media, act as the city's spokesperson/Public Information Officer, and manage media inquiries and press conferences.

Content Creation: Write, edit, and distribute press releases, newsletters, and other communication materials to effectively share information about the city's initiatives, events, and important public notices.

Social Media Management: Oversee and manage the city's official social media profiles. Develop content strategies, post updates, and interact with the public to engage the community and provide critical information.

Crisis Communication: Develop and implement communication strategies during emergencies, ensuring accurate and consistent messaging.

Public Engagement: Organize and participate in community events and public meetings to foster community relations and gather feedback on city services and policies.

Internal Communications and Engagement: Facilitate effective communication within the organization, ensuring staff are informed about important project updates, employer/employee initiatives, and employee events, programs and achievements.

Strategic Planning: Assist in developing and implementing strategic communication plans to support the city's goals and initiatives. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and make recommendations for improvement.

City Marketing Initiatives: Support the creation and implementation of marketing strategies aimed at showcasing the City of Bel Aire as a destination for living, business, and tourism. This involves crafting marketing campaigns to spotlight the city’s distinctive attributes, cultural happenings, leisure activities, and initiatives for economic growth.

Website Management: Oversee the City of Bel Aire's official website, ensuring it serves as an effective digital gateway for residents, businesses, and visitors. This responsibility includes updating website content to reflect current initiatives, events, and important information, optimizing navigation and user experience, and ensuring the site's accessibility standards are met.

Experience & Education: Required 3-5 years’ experience in a communications role, preferably in a government or public sector setting. Preferred bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues.

Prioritize daily work assignments and perform daily duties in an efficient manner.

Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products.

Working knowledge of computers, electronic data processing, and modern office practices and procedures.

Ability to multitask and work independently with drive and initiative.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively.

Experience managing social media platforms and digital content.

Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage crisis communication situations.

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including city staff, media, and the public.

Experience working in a governmental or public affairs setting.

Familiarity with the local community, its issues, and stakeholders.