What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Relations Manager position at City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County?
Charlotte’s local government, with more than 7,000 employees and a $2.39 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play.
Charlotte Communication & Marketing (CC&M) is a group of creative communications strategists working together through our seven workstreams — constituent services, public relations, media relations, social and digital, broadcast, creative design, and internal communications – to develop and execute marketing and communication strategies to optimize outcomes and deliver results. Collaboration, creativity and results are the cornerstones of our work as we strive to advance the city’s overall vision and tell the stories that shape Charlotte.
Function
Summary
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the public relations team, responsible for communication strategies, special projects and citywide events.
- Serve as the main advisor and subject matter expert for PR around large-scale communication efforts and events.
- Build and maintain relationships with client departments, CC&M channel leaders, city leadership and elected officials.
- Have a strong understanding of local government and working in a political environment.
- Be able to juggle multiple projects and deadlines, with a variety of stakeholders and moving targets, while achieving goals and ensuring projects are completed.
- Maintain a level of excellence in everything the PR team produces and puts out to the public.
- Set objectives for PR team and assign tasks and projects to team, and manage teams to successful outcomes
- Develop and manage budgets and production schedules
- Event management
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Critical thinker understanding departmental goals and how CC&M can support/drive goals
- Strong organizational and project management and ability to meet/manage deadlines
- Experience crafting messaging and communications campaigns
- Ability to work in fast-paced and highly visible organization
- Excellent leadership & communications skills / presentation abilities
- Understanding & interest in current events, politics and government, and ability to anticipate public reaction and think strategically
- Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment within general policy guidelines
- Ability to work well with different team members and manage lateral reporting relationships
Preferred Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in English/Communications/Public Relations/Marketing/Advertising/Journalism or similar field
- Five years of experience in-house or communications agency
- Experience managing people and teams across complex / integrated organization
- Experience in government or in highly regulated industries
- Track record of developing and executing communications and marketing strategies/campaigns
- Experience working with journalists, responding to media requests and with issues management/crisis communications
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with at least six (6) years of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential job duties
Salary
Conditions of Employment
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
As of October 1, 2021:
The City of Charlotte requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for all new City of Charlotte employees. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such, will consider reasonable accommodations as required by law.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Benefits
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.
In Conclusion