Fresh Listing

Posted: March 23, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Senior Communications Strategist

City of Tacoma

Customer Experience & External Affairs

Fresh

Location

Salary

$43.95 - $61.87

per hour

Closes

April 11, 2026

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This role involves creating and managing communication plans for a public utilities department, working with teams to craft messages that reach the right people and support the organization's goals.

It's perfect for someone who loves strategy, handles multiple projects under tight deadlines, and has experience in public outreach or marketing.

You'll use various channels like social media and press to make communications effective and measurable.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
  • At least 4 years of experience in public information, community engagement/outreach, or marketing
  • Strong strategic thinking and ability to develop comprehensive communication plans
  • Proficiency in creating content for web, social media, print, and other channels
  • Skills in data analysis to evaluate and improve communication efforts
  • Experience in media relations, including drafting press releases and handling inquiries
  • Comfortable in fast-paced environments with attention to detail and deadline management

Full Job Description

Primary Responsibilities:

Do you thrive on tackling complex communication challenges and shaping impactful narratives? Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for driving organizational goals through effective communication? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Tacoma Public Utilities is looking for multiple professionals to join our team as Senior Communications Strategists.

In these pivotal roles, you will be responsible for planning and executing sophisticated communication initiatives utilizing your advanced expertise and strategic acumen.

Using effective communication, grounded in collaboration and professionalism, you will partner closely with key internal stakeholders to develop and implement comprehensive communication plans that resonate with target audiences and align seamlessly with our organizational objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a strong strategic mindset and a deep understanding of customer focused and integrated communications.

They will be highly accountable, consistently meeting deadlines and following established processes with precision and reliability.

Comfortable in fast-paced, high-pressure environment, they will have a proven track record of managing a high volume of projects while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Additionally, they will have demonstrated expertise in advising on and executing communications strategies that drive measurable results.

This position will work a full-time schedule Monday through Friday with core hours between 8:00am and 5:00pm, and may have occasional evening and weekend work. A partial telework schedule may be available; however, a minimum of three days of in-office work per week is expected.

Primary Responsibilities Include:
  • Provide strategic communications support to internal clients to assess and address their communication needs.
  • Develop comprehensive communications plans and strategies.
  • Create and implement strategic communications across a variety of channels such as web, social media, print, and other mediums.
  • Analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of communication efforts and use insights to refine strategies.
  • Provide media relations support by drafting talking points, preparing press releases for review, and assisting in responses to media inquiries.

Requirements

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, marketing or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
4 years of public information, community engagement/outreach and/or marketing experience

*Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

Desired Qualifications
Experience managing complex communications projects
Background in Word Press, SharePoint online, or content management system

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Some positions may require a Washington State Driver's License

Additional Information

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve.

We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation.

If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience.

We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

Apply

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $43.95- $61.87
Annual Salary: $91,416.00- $128,689.60

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.


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Posted on NEOGOV: 3/23/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/24/2026

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-tacoma-5266113