Communications Coordinator

POSITION TITLE: Communications Coordinator

REPORTS TO: Assistant City Manager

DEPARTMENT: Public Works Department

LOCATION: In Office

WORK HOURS:  8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays; some weekends, evenings, and emergency call-ins

SALARY RANGE: $53,435-$60,445 Annually DOQ (Exempt)

This position is responsible for developing and managing communications for City of Decatur’s Public Works Department, including creating content for the City’s website, newsletters, social media, and print material. This role ensures accurate, timely communication about department projects, services, and initiatives. The nature of the work requires a high degree of customer service, excellent writing skills, editing, creativity, flexibility, self-sufficiency, an ability to multitask and perform under tight deadlines, as well as the ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders. Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail are also essential. This role maintains consistent communication with the Assistant City Manager and Communications Manager (City Manager’s Office). 

Responsibilities:

• Responds to customer inquiries and requests for information.
• Ensures web pages are accurate and includes timely and complete information.
• Acquires photos and videos and maintains a comprehensive and evolving photo library.
• Demonstrates effective performance by successfully organizing and managing multiple assignments, projects, and priorities to ensure the fulfillment of projects, tasks and responsibilities with established deadlines and minimal supervision.
• Provides responsive and timely feedback on status and progress of work activities, department, and City goals to staff.
• Develops, implements, monitors and updates progress of a department marketing plan in collaboration with the City Communications Plan.
• Resolves concerns, conflicts, and problems by ensuring that services are provided in a professional and safe manner.
• Analyze and benchmark best practices for social media data to guide marketing efforts.
• Align and actively collaborates with the Equity and Engagement Department to ensure strategic direction for communications and marketing is followed.
• Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for the successful marketing and communications of operations and services to ensure high quality written and published materials as a part of the overall departmental and citywide strategic direction, goals and objectives.
• Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as recommending policies and procedures changes.
• Participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures.
• Attends community events, City Commission and other public meetings, staff meetings, conferences, and other meetings as directed by Assistant City Manager of Public Works 
• Assist with crisis communication during emergency events.
• Verify content and information submitted to the City for posting/sharing.
• Work closely with the peer communications representatives to create content as necessary. 
• Performs related duties as required.

Competencies & Skills:

• Writing, copy editing, and proofreading experience.        Strong grammar, spelling and punctuation skills.

• Highly organized and detail oriented.

• Good knowledge of computers and related software applications in word processing and database management.
• Experience with variety of communications tools including digital newsletters, websites, press releases, and other social media.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work under pressure and complete multiple assignments under deadline conditions in a dynamic office environment.
• Knowledge or the ability to obtain knowledge of Decatur’s history, city government, and other related information about departments within the city.

• Ability to learn and utilize the City’s style guide and usage standards.

• Ability and desire to work closely with residents, business owners and volunteers in a positive and respectful way.
• Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITES AND REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the required duties.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, mass media, English, public relations, journalism, marketing or other related fields. 
• Familiarity with local government operations and at least two (2) years of experience (or equivalent combination of training and experience) in marketing, public relations, graphic design, media relations preferred. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:

• Ability to sit, walk, and stand for long periods.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy objects (10-50 lbs.) sit, bend, squat, and twist on a daily basis; must be able to physically operate city vehicle.
• Ability to sit for long periods using office equipment and computers.
• Ability to deal with constant interruptions, noise, and meet with others on a regular basis.
• The employee may be exposed to a variety of extreme weather conditions. Ability to operate computer software, including word processing software; calculator; copy and fax machine; phone; mobile or portable radio.
• Available to work weekdays and (some) weekends.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Decatur is committed to having a workforce that reflects diversity at all levels and is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment, and employees are treated during employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.