Community Relations Manager

Job Description:

Community Relations Manager

Description

Job Characteristics

***OPEN & PROMOTIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITY***
COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

The City of Concord is seeking an experienced communications professional to serve as its next Community Relations Manager in the City Management Department.

The City Management Department:

The mission of City Management is to direct the efficient and effective delivery of services through the following programs: City Clerk's Office, City Council Services, City Manager's Office, Community Relations, Franchise Management, Mail and Reception Services, and Records Management.
The Community Relations Division conducts public affairs programs including public and internal communications, and community and media relations . They also produce City News, other major publications, video productions and cable programming, and manage special programs and events, such as employee functions, as well as the City's website and social media channels.

What you will be doing:
As the driving force behind the City's community relations and public information efforts, the Community Relations Manager is a master communicator, strategist, and problem-solver. This role blends research, planning, and public engagement to shape the City's voice and presence. Acting as the City's Public Information Officer, the manager navigates media relations, crafts compelling messaging, and ensures transparency. From handling concerns to leading social media strategies, overseeing video productions, and coordinating major city events, this position is at the heart of fostering trust, connection, and engagement between the City and its residents. In times of crisis, the manager is responsible for providing critical updates and ensuring clear, timely communication. With a deep commitment to public service and innovation, this role is essential in making the City an informed, connected, and vibrant community.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a strategic thinker, dynamic communicator, and creative leader
• Builds partnerships with city departments, and leverages talent across the organization to take the city's communications, social media, and community engagement programs to the next level
• Has a strong interest and experience in social media platforms and current communication strategies, with a good understanding of cultural and generational differences
• Has the ability to understand community culture, values, and priorities, and how to effectively communicate city operations and policies within that lens
• Inspires and motivates others to assist with employee and community outreach and organizational team building
• Possesses excellent communication skills and abilities, both oral and written
• Performs with tact, flexibility, and political savvy - someone who can work with elected officials, community members and employees
• Possesses strong customer service skills, who can work independently, and also possesses advanced multi-tasking skills
• Possesses excellent time management skills, and ability to meet tight deadlines
• Someone who embraces, promotes, and is guided by the City's Mission, Vision and Values

What we offer:
The City of Concord offers the opportunity to take part in a collaborative and exciting work experience, where you can grow in your career while working alongside the community to make Concord a city of the highest quality. The City is an employer that invests in its employees’ professional and personal development, values work-life balance, is dedicated to employee wellness and provides numerous benefit and retirement options, to include the following:

• Participation in CalPERS pension, tiered based on date of hire
• A variety of health care plans or a cash-in-lieu benefit of $200 monthly if waiving coverage
• City-paid dental insurance; employee-paid vision insurance
• Vacation accruals starting at 15 days per year, 12 days of sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, plus 80 hours of administrative leave per year available upon completion of probation
• Generous tuition reimbursement program
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans, including an employer paid contribution of 3% plus $2000 annually
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare, dependent care and commuting costs
• Life insurance in the amount of twice the annual salary (up to $400,000 max) and disability insurance
• A wellness program that offers access to fitness plans, annual health expos, health and nutrition education, as well as a variety of mental health resources
• Option for alternative work schedules, based on prior approval

*Salary is negotiable within the advertised range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found at www.cityofconcord.org .

The Community:
Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Diablo, Concord is a major East Bay community located 29 miles east of San Francisco and 58 miles north of San Jose. With a population of almost 125,000 residents occupying an area of 31 square miles, Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County. The City’s central location offers easy access to the entire Bay Area including Oakland, San Francisco, and the Silicon Valley. Concord has much to offer; its local lifestyle reflects a careful blending of the City’s early California heritage, along with modern planned development. It is a harmonious community of quiet neighborhoods, an excellent park system, convenient shopping centers, large preserves of open space, a state-of-the-art hospital, and a wide variety of restaurants. Additionally, diverse public and private educational opportunities for students of all ages are available in Concord. Concord residents enjoy a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild winters. The ideal weather and natural beauty of Concord make the area ideal for visitors and locals seeking active outdoor activities. In Concord, where “Families Come First,” one is never far from a park or an open green space for active play or just relaxing. Todos Santos Plaza, the heart of downtown Concord, features a year-round Farmers' Market, several seasonal and community celebrations, as well as serving as a wonderful outdoor space for all to enjoy.
SELECTION PROCESS

1. Submit a completed City of Concord application, a cover letter, and resume online at www.cityofconcord.org by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025. Only application materials submitted online during the filing period will be accepted.

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required with your application. These documents are part of the assessment process and those applications that do not include a resume and cover letter will not move forward.

2. All qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, and those candidates demonstrating the strongest qualifications for the position will be invited to participate in a panel interview. If you are selected to participate in the panel interview and are unavailable, we regret that we will not be able to reschedule you.

Conviction History:
If you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City of Concord.

Examples of duties include, but are not limited to

Administers the City's marketing, public information, and media communications programs; acts as Public Information Officer; may or may not act as City spokesperson. Receives, coordinates, responds, and facilitates solutions to resident complaints, inquiries, and requests.Responds to media queries; identifies spokespersons, coordinates responses, tracks media coverage, provides advice and support to City staff and elected/appointed officials regarding public and media relations, including goals, strategies, tactics, and tools, as appropriate; plans and presents training on public and media relations.Responds to emergency situations as the City's Public Information Officer in the Emergency Operations Center.Prepares and/or edits newsletters, news releases, correspondence, social media posts, reports, speeches, multi-media presentations, and other special communication projects.Develops, implements, and updates policies and procedures for community relations, media relations, video productions, social media, and customer surveys.Leads the City's social media work and oversees staff contributions to social media channels, with the exception of the Police Department's social media posts.Attends a variety of staff, City Council, and public meetings.Advises staff from all departments on development of marketing, promotional, and community engagement strategies and programs.As a member of the City's Executive Management Team, assists the City Manager in the overall administrative and policy planning process of the City.Coordinates departmental and City-wide survey activities.Produces employee events and awards programs; manages employee team responsible for enhancing employee morale.Responsible for the content of the City website and Intranet; works with IT staff and departments to change, update, revise and create webpages.Coordinates and facilitates the City's community academy for residents and members of the Concord business community.Prepares and submits awards nominations.Coordinates City ceremonies, workshops, and meetings as assigned.Serves as staff photographer; photographs City employees, facilities, awards, events, and other City activities.Oversees Concord Cable TV channel; supervises assigned staff.Oversees external printing services for all City departments and manages the contract with the printing vendor.Prepares the Community Relations program annual budget; prepares technical requirements for RFP's and evaluates proposals for contracted services.Promotes the City's Mission to make Concord a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services; understands and subscribes to the Vision and Values Statement adopted by the City.Performs other work as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of the principles, methods, and trends involved with the administration of public information and community relations programs.

Ability to communicate effectively with City staff, elected and appointed officials, the public, community partners, and the media, including preparing/presenting news releases, informational materials, training programs, speeches, social media posts and correspondence; to research, assist, and advise in a full range of community relations activities, including the use of social media, cable television and computer systems; to design and implement marketing campaigns to promote City services, programs, and special events, including the targeting of special population groups; to provide supervision and coordinate the work of other professionals; to collect and analyze complex and sensitive information, and to draw valid conclusions; to understand, interpret, and apply appropriate rules, regulations, and procedures; and to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education: Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field. A Master's Degree in Communications is desirable.

Experience: Five years of professional experience in public relations, public communications, or related government experience.

Other

A California Driver's License and satisfactory driving record are conditions of initial and continued employment. An Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), or comparable professional association is desirable.

The City of Concord takes pride in offering a generous benefits program that provides flexibility for the diverse and changing needs of our qualifying employees.

For a complete overview, click here .
Below is a brief listing of what the City offers:

• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Insurance
• Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Pre-tax Savings Benefits
• Retiree Medical (3 levels based on date of hire)
• Retirement Program
• Short-term Disability*and Long-term Disability
• Social Security/Medicare
• Vacation & Sick Leave

*Not available for sworn personnel.

Closing Date/Time: 3/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$110,531.20 - $151,964.80 Annually