Company: City of Chelsea
Job description:
Department: Executive/City Manager Union: Non-Union
Grade: MM6 – Salary Range $78,036.52 – $108,363.26 (FY27)
POSITION SUMMARY
The purpose of this position is to perform complex professional work in organization and implementation of the City’s communications and community engagement strategies. The Communications and Community Engagement Manager works collaboratively within the Office of the City Manager towards the goal of increasing avenues of participation for civic engagement, particularly for underrepresented populations. Responsible for expanding the City’s outreach strategies to include multiple mediums and forums. Responsible for innovating how the City of Chelsea reaches its residents.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Engages in the facilitation of effective group and meeting processes. Establishes and maintains relationships and serves as a liaison to all public and private stakeholders while mobilizing participation from all sectors of the City (e.g. race, class, disability, public & private housing, etc.) and creating strategies and processes that will sustain that participation.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive communications strategic plan for the City to engage Chelsea residents and tell the stories of City departments and services.
- Creates, coordinates, and executes the City’s communication plan including creating and updating the City’s branding and style guide.
- Oversees the work of any external and internal communications processes. On a daily basis helps to create and support City social media content, press releases, and City news stories.
- Establishes and maintains positive media/press relations, including with nontraditional media, and coordinates responses to media inquiries. Serves as a spokesperson for the City of Chelsea at the request of the City Manager or Deputy City Manager.
- Supports projects related to public meeting best practices to encourage and mobilize civic engagement and participation from all sectors of the City, particularly among underserved populations and creates strategies and processes that will sustain increased civic participation.
- Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with City departments, local community groups and leaders and serves as a liaison to residents. Acts to develop and sustain lines of constructive two-way dialogue and active involvement.
- Creates forums and other means for dialogue among and between residents, elected City officials, the City Manager, city departments, boards, and commissions. Acts to support effective and appropriate collaboration among and between groups of participants.
- Selects publicity materials and distributes them through a variety of channels; responds to inquiries from community members and other interested parties; when needed, recruits a knowledgeable spokesperson or information source to assist.
- Plans, coordinates, and executes special events and dissemination of information to the public.
- Writes, edits, and oversees the design of print and online materials such as the City website, newsletters, and brochures for various communication channels.
- Reviews and analyzes the suitability of citywide publications, reports, and notices prior to release to the public.
- Oversees social media communications and intern programs.
- Performs similar or related work as required.
(The essential functions or duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Training and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, public administration or related field. Three to five years of experience in community engagement, social media management, public relations or journalism, and structured communications and organizing. Fieldwork in community engagement; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree preferred. Bilingual (English/Spanish) helpful.
Knowledge, Ability and Skill
Knowledge: Thorough working knowledge of community engagement and organizing principles and practices; knowledge of key elements of relationship and community building; knowledge of strategic and tactical design of grassroots actions; knowledge of effective storytelling. An understanding of PR-related activities and social media savvy to drive interest and engagement. Event management and promotion skills, both online and in person.
Ability: Demonstrated ability to work across cultural, racial and class differences. Ability to “learn a community,” i.e. gatekeepers, power brokers, decision-making structures, resource building, etc. Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with a variety of governmental agencies and community groups. Ability to communicate and present ideas effectively, orally and in writing, to public professional staff, other City departments, community leaders and residents. Ability to build and implement community focused content strategies; ability to work with City departments to enhance the quality of communications externally to create a cohesive voice.
Skill: Demonstrated communication, outreach, program administration and public relations skills. Skilled at managing conflict and building effective teams. Skilled at negotiating with residents and local community leaders. Skilled at data management and analysis. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Good analytical skills and innovative problem solving skills. Proficiency in the following platforms is preferred, not required:
- Canva
- InDesign
- Meta Business Suite
- Constant Contact
- Google Suite
- Hootsuite
- Revize/CivicPlus or similar website management platform
Proficiency in and proven responsibility with social media platforms. Superior organizational skills.
SUPERVISION
Supervision Scope: Under the guidance of the Deputy City Manager – Operations, the Communications and Community Engagement Manager exercises independent judgment, leadership, and initiative in planning and overseeing the implementation of the City’s communications plan and community engagement strategy.
Supervision Received: Work is performed under the direction of the City Manager and Deputy City Manager in accordance with established policies and procedures. Resolves procedural and administrative problems independently, requesting assistance with situations which do not have clear precedents.
Supervision Given: Under the direction of the Deputy City Manager, the Communications and Community Engagement Manager may coordinate the work of volunteer groups, committee work, and interns. Responsibility involves assigning tasks, providing strategic direction, leadership coaching, and other forms of assistance to both community entities and City staff.
JOB ENVIRONMENT
Administrative work is performed under typical office conditions; the noise level is moderate. Attends frequent evening and weekend meetings and City events in public buildings and in the community at large. Responsible for covering these events and meetings via the City’s communications mediums. Operates a computer, printer, facsimile machine, copier, calculator, typewriter, and other standard office equipment.
Makes daily contact with other City departments/boards/committees, community groups and residents, and a wide variety of local/state/federal governmental agencies. Contacts are in person, in writing, and by telephone and require persuasiveness, resourcefulness, and discretion to influence the behavior of others.
Has access to confidential information related to departmental business and operations.
Errors in judgment or omissions could result in loss of department services, and have serious financial and legal ramifications, resulting in considerable costs to the City.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Regularly required to walk, stand, sit, talk, and hear; operate objects, tools, or controls; pick up paper, files, and other common office objects. Lifts/moves objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Communicates verbally and in writing. Vision and hearing at or correctable to normal ranges. Ability to operate a keyboard at an efficient speed.
DISCLAIMER
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee. It is used as a guide for personnel actions and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Job type: Full Time
Fully remote: No
Salary range: $78,036.52 – $108,363.26
Location: Chelsea Massachusetts
Apply: jobs@chelseama.gov