Communications Supervisor

JOIN REDMOND!

The City of Redmond is a thriving, culturally diverse community and home to over 80,000 residents. Redmond is the hub of an array of commerce and industry ranging from technology, aerospace, and gaming to biomedical and innovation start-ups.

The Communications Manager will be responsible for implementing division workplans aligned with department priorities, managing deliverables, outcomes, and timelines, while providing project management and coordination of the City’s communications and media relations.

Key responsibilities include developing and implementing communication plans for various projects and managing the distribution and coordination of press releases. Additionally, this role will guide internal and external storytelling efforts, manage content creation for social media platforms, and handle media inquiries.

Note: This position is currently budgeted as limited duration through 12/31/2026

This position is full-time and might require some weekends and evenings.

Role & Responsibilities

• Implement division workplans that align with department priorities and manage deliverables, outcomes, and timelines. Provide project management and coordination of the City’s communications and related media relations.
• Act as the primary back-up to the Executive Manager for related communications issues and events.
• Develop, recommend, and implement communication plans for assigned projects.
• Manage the coordination and distribution of the City’s press releases including writing press releases, timing of distribution, and handling associated media inquiries and responses.
• Act as a Public Information Officer representing the City during media or emergency events. Attend all necessary Emergency Management training.
• Collaborate with the City’s emergency management team as assigned to create and implement effective emergency outreach communication plans.
• Manage and oversee the planning, coordination, promotion and execution of community outreach events, stakeholder meetings, branded City campaigns, etc.
• Collaborate with and provide storytelling guidance to a variety of internal staff and external contacts from the media, business community, local and regional elected officials.
• Manage and provide oversight for the creation, curating, and/or writing of content for the City’s main social media venues, as well as monitoring and responding to citizen comments and questions.
• Develop relationships with members of the press, journalists, bloggers and other media outlets on behalf of the city and cultivate relationships by understanding the drivers and interests of contacts.
• Write, edit and proof/read documents, articles, postings, reports, press-releases, fliers, web content, etc.
• Manage and provide oversight to the City’s brand, writing, and style guides.
• Provide oversight of all communication platform utilized for both internal and external communications.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Team management, coaching, counseling, trends, techniques and best practices.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Skilled in innovative community outreach and engagement, targeted demographics and internal corporate communication and engagement strategies and techniques (for Communications division).
• Knowledge and expertise in a variety of traditional and non-traditional communications platforms including, but not limited to: print, web, social media, graphics, video, photography, etc. (for Communications division).
• Demonstrated understanding of the news media, its structures and technology for reporting news (for Communications division).
• Strong command of and effective use of the principles of written communication.
• Excellent writing skills and knowledge of grammar, editing, and proofreading.
• Strong oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentations.
• Conducting research, locating relevant information, and critically evaluating the research findings.
• Use of relevant technology/software applications.
• Using software to perform analysis, manage data and develop reporting.
• MS Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, in addition to Photoshop, and Acrobat Pro.
  
  

Abilities To

• Effectively and collaboratively manage creative and community involvement staff.
• Effectively and collaboratively work with elected officials and staff at all levels to execute assigned projects.
• Establish and maintain frequent communication to ensure open lines of communications regarding priorities, requirements, and status of projects.
• Facilitate rapid change management and assist in re-prioritizing project schedules as new projects are added or priorities shift.
• Demonstrate ability to manage all aspects of assigned project tasks to ensure successful completion by established timelines.
• Successfully multi-task, organize, and prioritize multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Produce quality work products with tight deadlines and short turn-around times.
• Hold collaborators, vendors, and staff accountable to deadlines and commitments.
• Negotiate deadlines, timelines and resources with tact and diplomacy.
• Successfully give and receive direction and feedback.
• Demonstrate initiative, attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Be flexible and adaptable in terms of timing and work projects.
• Ensure that work products/deliverables are quality, clear, concise, and effectively convey the intended messages and information.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, elected officials, and the public.
• Effectively make decisions, problem solve, and resolve conflicts.
• Handle stressful situations with diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
• Streamline processes to increase production and efficiency.
• Understand and navigate local and regional political landscapes.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Three years experience in assigned area;
• Supervisory experience preferred; or demonstrated leadership experience or team lead experience;
• High school diploma or equivalent, some college preferred;
• Or equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  
  

Licenses And Certificates

• Valid Washington State driver’s license
  
  

Other

This class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the job.

Please review the Executive Department Supervisorjob description for more information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, working conditions, and physical requirements.

Selection Process

• All applicants will be notified of their application status.
• Top candidates will be contacted to participate in the next phase of selection process, which may include testing and/or an interview.
• Note, the City may review existing application pools to fill this position or use this pool to fill future vacancies.
• Offers of employment are conditional based on the candidate successfully passing both background and reference checks. Internal candidates are subject to passing a new background if the previous check was conducted more than six months ago.
• Additionally, new hires relocating to the area are required to have Washington State residency within 30 days of their start date to comply payroll tax purposes.
  
  

Benefits

Our employees earn competitive wages and enjoy an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• MEDICAL INSURANCE - Choice of two plans for employees and their eligible dependents: Premera or Kaiser Permanente. All employee healthcare premiums paid for by the City of Redmond.
• PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE - Included with each medical plan
• DENTAL INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• VISION INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• OTHER INSURANCE - Life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - For tax savings on healthcare and dependent care expenses
• PAID VACATION & HOLIDAYS – with (13) paid holidays per year
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
• RETIREMENT PLANS - Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plus additional options that include: Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (Social Security replacement plan) and MetLife 457 Plan
• Annual COLA adjustments
• Annual merit increases of up to 5%
  
  

To learn about benefits at the City of Redmond, please visit C2MB (ajg.com)

Please visit Connect2MyBenefits to learn about benefits at the City of Redmond

Benefit rates are subject to change without notice due to federal and state mandates and contractual changes as applicable.

01

Please select your highest level of education.

• High School or GED
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher
  
  

02

Do you have at least 3 years of experience working in Communications?

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

Do you have experience as a Public Information Officer (PIO)?

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

Do you have experience writing for and/or technical expertise with the following? Check all that apply.

• Social Media Platforms
• Graphic Design
• Direct Mail
• Community Outreach
• Speech Writing
• Executive Correspondence
• Creating Presentations
  
  

05

This position is currently budgeted as limited duration through 12/31/2026. Is this something you are ok with?

• Yes
• No
  
  

06

The set range of this position is $105,216 - $142,044. Does this align with your expectations?

• Required Question