Director of Communications

Full Job Description

Cover Letter/Resume Required

Career Opportunity

The city of Las Vegas invites applications for a Director of Communications.

This position will plan, direct, manage and oversee the activities and operations of the Office of Communications, including press releases, press conferences and other media events, the city's official web site and various social media platforms, publications, courier and mailroom, graphic design, and the city's government access television channel; to provide public information direction and management expertise to the City Council and city departments; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager's and Mayor's offices.

Applications will be screened, and candidates deemed to possess the most relevant qualifications will be invited to participate in an interview.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strategic, experienced communications leader with a strong background in public sector media relations, public information, marketing, social media, and digital communications.

This individual excels at developing and executing citywide communications strategies and serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and elected officials.

The successful candidate is an effective people manager with proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams, overseeing budgets, and ensuring consistent standards across all communication channels, including social media platforms, web, publications, and government access television.

They are an accomplished writer and spokesperson with sound judgment, political acumen, and the ability to respond effectively in high-profile or urgent situations.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, service-oriented professional committed to transparency, public engagement, and advancing the city’s mission through clear, accurate, and impactful communications.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general administrative direction from the City Manager.

Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, technical, clerical and professional staff.

Requirements

Essential Functions:

1. Assume full management responsibility for all services and activities of the Office of Communications, which provides comprehensive media relations, public relations, speech writing, advertising and marketing programs in support of the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and all city departments, and manages the operation of the city's government access television station.
2. Develop and implement, in conjunction with executive management, a communications strategy for the entire city. Ensure all communications materials are aligned with the city's branding and that all external communications are consistent and coordinated.
3. Select, train, supervise, motivate and evaluate employees; work with employees to develop short and long term goals, monitor accomplishments, establish performance requirements and personal development targets and provide coaching for performance improvement and development.
4. Plan, develop, produce, implement and conduct programs, events and publications designed to inform the public of the roles, resources and activities of city departments; indirectly responsible for all public information activities and communications released by all departments; provide central clearinghouse services for the standardization and coordination of all public relations information.
5. Develop, maintain and ensure city staff adheres to policies and procedures for media relations, city of Las Vegas television station, digital platforms, and publications.
6. Oversee the city's digital communications; supervise web site content and organizational structure; coordinate development of new applications designed to serve the public; promote use of the latest communications tools and programs.
7. Oversee the growth and operations of the city's government access television channel; supervise telecasts of public meetings and news conferences.
8. Oversee the regular monitoring and review of social media and the associated analytics to keep the city in touch and connected with the public.
9. Coordinate activities such as producing and disseminating printed materials.
10. Establish and maintain media contacts and monitor news coverage and trends; prepare concise and accurate news releases and supervise dissemination of news materials; initiate contacts with appropriate media personnel to obtain coverage of city activities.
11. Prepare resolutions, correspondence, proclamations, speeches, agenda backup and other materials required in the area of public relations by serving as staff writer.
12. Develop and administer the Office's annual budget.
13. Gather information through research and interviewing; compile information; maintain informational press files for matters of general interest; provide issue briefings as required.
14. Represent the city at business, civic, industry and governmental meetings; serve as primary media contact and lead communicator for the city.
15. Plan, organize and publicize programs and public events; serve as special event coordinator; coordinate ceremonial matters and ceremonial agenda items; coordinate city special events between departments, City Manager's Office and the City Council; maintain master event calendar.
16. Supervise and coordinate preparation of city annual report; coordinate preparation of graphic arts materials, video and audio presentations and other collateral support material.
17. Manage any public relations special projects requiring involvement of City Manager's Office and select special projects for City Council.
18. Work with local business to coordinate public or private partnerships to promote city programs.
19. May be required to respond to urgent situations during the evenings or weekends.
20. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications

Experience:

Six years of increasing responsible experience in the field of communications, media coverage, public relations, advertising, marketing or a related area, preferably in a local government environment.

Training:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in communications, journalism, marketing or a field related to the essential functions.

Bachelor's degree may not be substituted with additional work experience.

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

Operational characteristics, services and activities of a comprehensive public affairs and communications operation.
The political, social and historical issues and personalities of the local community.
Principles of government structure, operations and procedures and the role of staff and elected officials.
Interrelationships of local, regional and state governments.
Techniques and accepted practices of news gathering, writing and reporting.
Techniques of speech-writing.
Principles and practices of print and electronic media operations, management and public relations.
The latest digital technology and its applications to city government communications.

Social media platforms, web content management, and digital communications tools.

Principles and practices of government access television programming.Management skills to analyze and develop policies, programs and operational needs.Principles and practices of program development and administration.Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.

Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
Methods of research, program analysis and report preparation.
English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Modern office procedures, methods and computer software and hardware.
Basic principles and procedures of record keeping.
Pertinent federal, state and local laws, policies and regulations.

Ability to:

Understand the organization and operation of the various city departments and divisions.
Communicate effectively in a wide variety of situations and with a wide variety of people.
Lead and motivate employees by setting clear goals and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to employees.

Interpret and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures.Perform responsible and difficult administrative work in a high-profile position dealing with topics under intense public and media scrutiny and respond rapidly as situations change.Develop and implement short- and long-range public information, public project and community relations strategies, programs and procedures.Interpret complex legal, technical, financial and policy issues from local, state and federal levels.Negotiate solutions with staff from other departments.Coordinate the activities of city staff who directly report to other departments.Delegate authority and responsibility.Research, analyze and evaluate programs, policies and procedures.Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: -- Making observations; -- Communicating with others; and -- Reading and writing.Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of: -- Making sound decisions; and -- Demonstrating intellectual capabilities.

Competencies:In addition to Core Workforce and Supervisor Competencies:

Executive Competencies

Establishing Trust – Noticing, interpreting and anticipating others concerns and feelings; creating opportunities for collaborative, respectful dialogue; showing trust in others first and holding self and others accountable for words and behaviors that build community; using face to face communication as a primary means to build trust within the organization.

Communicating Clarity – Developing and communicating goals in support of the city mission, vision and purpose; clarifying direction of work, roles and expectations for successful attainment of objectives.

Providing Recognition – Identifying and recognizing employees at all levels for their ideas, work and achievements; providing opportunities for both formal and informal recognition within the organization; creating a culture of peer recognition and encouragement.

Reinforcing Organizational Health – Routinely reviewing existing processes, practices and policies to ensure a balance in the ability to work productively and efficiently with employee needs for empowerment and development; changing processes, practices and policies when necessary to achieve the balance; establishing regular professional development time for each employee so they have opportunities to attend classes and other activities to enhance their professional growth; meeting regularly with employees.

Thinking Globally – Finding effective solutions and prioritizing problems using holistic, "big picture" thinking; putting the needs of the broader organization or community ahead of the needs of an individual department or community; developing and analyzing both near and long term impacts of decisions.

Business and Political Acumen – Having expertise in technical, political and budgetary leadership responsibilities; preparing and presenting complex concepts and proposals in a respectful, collaborative, understandable way to build community; comparing competing priorities and agendas looking for ways to establish a win/win solution whenever possible; speaking at community events and to the media to enhance the city's reputation and standing with the broader community.

Community Engagement – Identifying and working with different communities, whether internal, external or both, to achieve city mission, vision and purpose; including groups of stakeholders in decisions that affect them, directly or indirectly, whenever possible to do so; acting on decisions and strategies developed through community engagement.