Director of Communications

Salary: See Position Description

Location : Des Plaines, IL

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 24-17

Department: City Administration / Media Services

Opening Date: 08/12/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

Description

Expected Starting Salary: $140,000 +/- Qualifications.

Performs a variety of supervisory, administrative, and technical work associated with the City's video, marketing, and communication programs.

The Director of Communications is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of all communications, outreach initiatives, and digital strategies in the City of Des Plaines. The Director plans, manages, and oversees the activities and operations of the City's Media Services Division; city-wide communications and engagement activities; and functions as the City's Public Information Officer (PIO).

The Director coordinates communications and community outreach initiatives in a cooperative, forward-thinking, and innovative manner, while working with all departments to skillfully deliver consistent messaging and essential information that resonates with our diverse community.
Under the guidance and direction of the City Manager, exercises supervision and professionally develops team members.
Examples of Duties

• Develops the short- and long-term communication strategy and objectives for the City. Oversees both internal and external communication activities.
• Develops, manages and administers strategic communication plans; prepares and oversees the drafting of speeches including the annual State of the City, press releases, public service announcements, brochures, flyers, pamphlets, newsletters, annual reports, articles and scripts for City officials and staff to educate the public and enhance the City's public image including assisting with "branding" the City.
• Oversees consistency in external communications deliverables including, but not limited to press releases, website content, brochures/promotional pieces, thought leadership articles, video, newsletters, and presentations, as well as other platforms such as (website, DP311, Intranet, social media, E-News, newsletters, fliers, notices, billboards, digital message boards, DPTV, employee news), etc.
• Serve as the City's Public Information Officer, media spokesperson, chief "storyteller" and brand advocate. Ensures accuracy of the information and brand consistency.
• Responsible for the programming, development, operations, procedures and administration of the City's cable television and YouTube channel, including managing franchise agreements.
• Oversees crisis communications function and responses for the City. Includes coordination with all necessary approvals with internal and external stakeholders. Responds to crises or challenging situations quickly and professionally.
• Oversee and manage all City-sponsored events, ensuring they are executed successfully and align with the City's event standards and objectives. Develop and implement creative ideas to enhance event experience and optimize event management processes. Analyzes current event performance and continually assesses new ideas for city events that could be incorporated for the city.
• Develops, maintains, and curates media relationships for the City of Des Plaines and builds key media and communications contacts. Consistently develops and maintains positive relationships with members of the media, local government offices, business leaders, and other community leaders and organization groups.
• Stays informed on City programs and projects and provides advice on the method and timing of press releases, press conferences, and media events. Identifies opportunities for promoting the City's programs and projects. Plans, organizes and implements multimedia events and special publicity campaigns for various projects, programs and issues.
• Develops a systematic communication outreach strategy to increase the City's brand recognition and positive messaging. Uses feedback, data, and reporting to drive continuous improvement. Ensures all city materials have consistent and positive messaging and branding.
• Develops and manages budget, financial controls, and risk ensuring operations are executed efficiently and within established budgets. Maintains equipment inventory and replacement schedule; evaluates the need for and recommends the purchase of new equipment, supplies, and services; maintains system licenses and support contracts.
• Manages, coaches, and develops staff; works with employees to set goals in training and development to achieve goals within available resources, plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments; evaluates assigned staff; reviews progress and directs changes as needed. Responsible for supervisor activities, including written performance evaluations, recommendations for promotion, demotion or reprimands, hiring and job descriptions.
• Develop and guide other City Departments' development of information and public awareness campaigns.
• Appropriately responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources.
• Provide staff support to assigned boards and commissions.
• Stays abreast of current industry trends and communication's technology by attending conferences and meetings and communicating regularly with consultants and industry peers; represents the Media Services Division in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in communications, public relations, journalism or closely related field. Master's degree in similar field preferred, but not required. Local government experience preferred.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in community relations, media relations, management and markets; public access broadcasting; website and social media content development; and general knowledge of communication technologies with at least two years of which is in a supervisory capacity.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.

Supplemental Information

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to problem solve and provide critical thinking to projects at hand. Ability to be deadline and detail oriented, with a strong propensity to organize a great deal of information into a "soundbite."
• Goal oriented, self-directed and self-motivated within a team environment.
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, marketing and communication skills. Strong ability to tell an engaging story to an average consumer.
• Ability to prepare reports and correspondence; to present information and respond to questions verbally; and to read and interpret documents and materials.
• Extensive knowledge of social media and marketing. Thorough knowledge of the methods of municipal communications, public relations, and cable television administration, programming and franchise agreements.
• Ability to prepare content for comprehensive news releases, feature stories, bulletins, and pamphlets.
• Ability to generate routine and crisis written and on-camera person media interactions.
• Abilitytoeffectivelysupervisestaff,establishandmaintaineffective and professional working relationships with employees, graphic designers, City officials consultants, other governmental agency representatives and the general public.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a diverse audience.
• This position is required to attend City wide events, often occurring on nights and weekends. This position must also attend official meetings as required.
• State of Illinois Class "D" Driver's License with a good driving record; or reliable transportation to and from required travel from City Hall.
• Requires frequent use of City issued computer and Microsoft 365 programs including Excel, Word and SharePoint.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

• 15 Paid Vacation Days, 3 Paid Personal Days and 12 Paid Sick Days. Vacation and personnal days grow with years of service.
• 11 Paid Holidays
• $100,000 Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Participation in Illinois Municipal Employee Retirement Fund System (IMRF)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other benefits offered to employees by the City of Des Plaines include a Retirement Health Savings Account, Transportation Spending Account, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, Roth IRA and optional Life Insurance.