Specialist, Communications

POSITION TITLE: Specialist, Communications (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)

REQUISITION #: req8013

DEPARTMENT: Recreation

LOCATION: 215 OFFICE BLDG

BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $54,671.00 - 91,118.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)

ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $64,000.00 - 72,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)

SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 3/10/2025.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check required.

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Wellness program, workout facilities
• Employee/family onsite health clinic
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment
  
  

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Job Summary

The City of Fort Collins is hiring for a Communications Specialist to join the team supporting our Parks & Recreation Departments in a fast-paced and rewarding hybrid work environment. The Communications Specialist will work closely with internal and external partners to support strategic communication and marketing initiatives for parks and recreation, public outreach, special events, and targeted engagement with the community.

Key responsibilities of this position include the development and implementation of communication and marketing plans, ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners, timely coordination of projects and deliverables, support of special events, and coordination of public engagement and outreach. This position also manages content development for social media accounts, and the production of digital and print marketing materials.

Ideal candidates will bring a demonstrated understanding of communication and marketing tactics, experience in digital content creation, excellent writing skills, as well as a strong ability to manage multiple projects at one time. Understanding of public government and experience with special events is beneficial.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team in a community that values parks and recreation!

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Contributes to development and implementation of departmental communications, public relations and marketing plans, policies, and procedures
• Advises and assists department staff with information dissemination, such as: internal communications, media relations, advertising, web page development and maintenance, social media, and marketing
• Advises management on internal communications and/or community relations projects and activities
• Contributes to tracking and support of media coverage and processes
• Makes decisions concerning outsourcing of projects and coordinates production with external vendors including mail houses, printers, media, and independent contractors
• Coordinates with others and produces a wide variety of projects including posters, fliers, web-based applications, brochures, instruction manuals, newsletters, speaking notes, surveys, invitations, calendars, ads, presentations, press releases, feature stories, etc., using a variety of communications and social media platforms
• May create, coordinate, and assist with production of videos and cable television broadcasts
• May develop advertising/promotional campaigns and contracts for print, radio, digital and television broadcast media
• Coordinates with others to develop and update social media, video, cable, web, intranet, and photography projects
• Contributes to the creation and management of web pages and City intranet pages, including routine maintenance, navigation analysis and improvements and metric tracking
• Supports press relations including preparation of news releases and feature articles
• Contributes to coordination of quality control procedures for producing high quality publicity materials that will be distributed to the public
• Contributes to the research and planning of public outreach and engagement activities
• Supports special events through interdepartmental coordination, development of sponsorships and advertiser relationships, and management and logistics
  
  

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
  
  

Required Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to establish and implement cohesive communication and marketing strategies and plans.
• Ability to interact effectively with City staff, vendors and the general public
• Proficient in use of personal computer and a variety of software packages, including Adobe Creative Suite, Power Point, Excel and Microsoft programs.
• Experience with web content design and development, SharePoint preferred. Ability to learn internal website CMS.
• Familiarity with all aspects of social media
• Organizational and technical skills to schedule and manage website updates and design
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze solutions for communications / public information assignments, develop communications plans, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure communication success
• Ability to research, write, and edit information to develop a final product that is customer-friendly.
• Ability to compose project layouts and use computer graphic software
• Ability to make effective written and oral presentations
• Photography and video skills desired
• Ability to train staff in applications and website updates as needed
• Ability to manage multiple work assignments and meet strict deadlines
• Familiarity with environmental issues, utilities industry, local municipal government policies, trends and best practices desired
  
  

MinimumPreferred

Required Qualifications

College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or Communications or related field.

Experience Requirements

• Five (5) or more years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Proficiency with AP style writing required.
  
  

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

Specialist, Communications

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical And/or Recreational Marijuana Use

Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Background Check Required.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.