Job Abstract

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y?
Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

The City of Richmond is announcing an exciting opportunity for an innovative and enthusiastic individual who wants to make an impact on the city and our community. The Department of Strategic Communications (DSC) is responsible for coordinating the City of Richmond’s public, media, and marketing. The city seeks a director who will design and implement strategies that cultivate our relationships within our community, the media, and engage targeted audiences while enhancing the City of Richmond’s “One Richmond” brand.

The director will be tasked with acting as a change agent, furthering the implementation of “One Richmond” with best-in-class communications, marketing capabilities, and relationship-building capacity where strategic engagement is driven from a citywide department perspective.

The director develops and executes strategies that will uphold a positive public image. The director will advance the city’s mission and services by raising awareness of the organization’s impact, successes, and results. The incumbent will leverage internal and external partner relationships to create opportunities for growth and collaboration and foster greater citizen and stakeholder engagement.
The incumbent must be a strong conceptual and strategic thinker who will work closely with city departments to design and implement the communications and advocacy strategy. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader with excellent communication skills, who provides experience within the federal, state and/or local government sector. The individual will be highly skilled in establishing productive relationships with various members of the media, city departments, businesses, and the community. A record of successfully envisioning, developing, and implementing an effective and comprehensive long-term communications strategy with multiple internal and external partners.

• Managing, directing, and integrating broad, comprehensive media and public relations services for the city, including providing strategic leadership and recommendations.
• Relaying information in an understandable and useful manner.
• Develop and manage the implementation of the city’s internal and external communications and marketing strategy, including online and social media components, that supports the city’s “One Richmond” brand and overarching vision.
• Organize and managing high profile press and marketing for community engagement initiatives in conjunction with the Mayor and City Council.
• Acting as the city’s representative during community events and overseeing internal and external public information activities.
• Growing the city’s various “owned” communications channels including web, e-newsletters and email blasts, social media and broadcast and video services and incoming customer service calls.
• Researching and analyzing public opinion and communicating findings to appropriate leadership.
• Overseeing the city’s Freedom of Information Act process, ensuring compliance with applicable law, and managing centralized coordination of public records requests for the city.
• Enhancing the reputation of the city in all aspects and through new and innovative channels.
• Coordinating social media platforms, city websites, and internal communication.
• Informing leadership on market trends, calculating communications budgets, arranging interviews, and preparing speeches.
• Setting objectives for the team and monitoring team members’ performance.
• Maximizing brand presence on various channels (i.e.: web, TV, and social media).
• Cultivating and maintaining relationships with media and influential professionals.
• Arranging interviews and press releases to promote the city, showcasing services, and initiatives.
• Ensuring brand consistency in all communication efforts.
• Organizing events to increase awareness of the city.
• Assigning tasks and projects to the team.
• Tracking and influencing media coverage.
• Distilling a variety of information and stories from numerous sources down to the most pertinent facts and communicating them effectively to senior leaders.

• Managing, supervising, and efficiently deploying a team of communication specialists responsible for the seamless execution of support services for department initiatives.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of city management, other governmental officials, employees, and the public.
• Representing the city effectively in public relations and communication efforts on a variety of issues.
• Presenting information, findings, and recommendations in a thoughtful, comprehensive, and sophisticated manner.
• Exercising tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations.
• Employing principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
• Exercising sound expert independent judgement and display discernment when communicating confidential material.
• Managing sensitive issues to maintain the city’s good reputation.
• Responsibilities are broad in scope allowing for a high degree of program and administrative discretion.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated experience with overseeing multimedia production including graphics, print publications and reports, videos, and infographics.
• Proficiency in effectively presenting communication strategies and work plans to senior executive staff.
• Demonstrated experience in writing, critical, and analytical thinking.
• Considerable work experience in media and public relations or public information.
• Coordinating successful communication strategies.
• Expertise in different social networks, including Facebook and Twitter.
• Display confidence as the city’s spokesperson.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Enhanced creative abilities.
• Effective team management skills.
• Proven ability to prepare and present oral and written reports with recommendations that are easily understandable to a variety of audiences including elected officials.
• Ability to work with others who want to build a remarkable and vibrant city and ability to foster long-term relationships with key professionals.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations and/or Journalism
• At least ten (10) years relevant experience designing and implementing communications strategies and activities on behalf of a federal, or state or local agency
• Five (5) years of supervisory experience

• Five (5) years of experience developing and implementing a strategic communications plan in a municipal or state organization.
• Experience overseeing an organization’s external-facing branding, including marketing materials, website, media, social media accounts, and events.
• Track record of successfully placing written publications, pitches, or other communications deliverables (op-eds, reported articles, manuscripts, guest columns, publicity for reports or journal publications, etc.) and managing media relations on behalf of an organization or research center.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including public speaking.
• Experience with developing communications campaigns in support of academic projects.
• Experience developing grant proposals and managing contracts.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a collaborative environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Talent Acquisition Partner, Senior at (804) 646-4705 or by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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