Communications Specialist

$45,000 - $52,500/Yr

Town Of Siler City - Siler City, NC

Full-time

Siler City, NC

About the position

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Town Manager, the Communications Specialist performs professional work in developing and administering internal and external communication programs for the Town. This role encourages open communications, civic engagement, and employee engagement. The Communications Specialist will provide strategic leadership for the Town's affairs and communication initiatives, executing marketing and communications efforts, along with managing media relations, town employee programs, events, services, and issues. The employee will exercise considerable initiative and creativity to develop, coordinate, and execute a variety of events and activities within the community. This position requires continuous contact with a variety of public officials, community leaders, media representatives, the public, and internal Town directors. The responsibilities include developing public communications strategies, researching and compiling information as requested by the Board, Town Manager, and Assistant Town Manager, and performing special project work as needed. The Communications Specialist will research and write content for the Town's website, social media, infographics, and newsletters. The role also involves planning, promoting, organizing, and executing a year-round program of events and activities. The employee will create, write, design, edit, and proofread a variety of materials, demonstrating considerable skill in dealing with the public in high-stress situations. Maintaining working relationships while exercising tact and courtesy in frequent contact with professionals, public officials, merchants, vendors, volunteers, and the general public is essential. The position requires the ability to perform research, compile, organize, analyze, and present information in various formats. Effective oral and written communication skills are crucial, as is the ability to solicit and secure sponsorships. The Communications Specialist must adhere to the Town's style guide, ensuring the production of high-quality and error-free copy. A strategic and creative mindset, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines are also necessary. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop public communications strategies.
• Research and compile information as requested by the Board, Town Manager, and Assistant Town Manager.
• Perform special project work as requested in the appropriate manner.
• Research and write content for the website, social media, infographics, and newsletters.
• Plan, promote, organize, and execute a year-round program of events and program activities.
• Create, write, design, edit, and proofread a variety of materials.
• Deal with the public in high-stress situations with considerable skill.
• Maintain working relationships while exercising tact and courtesy in frequent contact with professionals, public officials, merchants, vendors, volunteers, and the general public.
• Perform research, compile, organize, analyze, and present information in a variety of formats.
• Express ideas effectively in oral and written forms.
• Solicit and secure sponsorships.
• Demonstrate applied skills in social media content creation and website editing.
• Adhere to the Town's style guide, ensuring high-quality and error-free copy.
• Exhibit a strategic and creative mindset with meticulous attention to detail.
• Work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduation from a community college with an associate degree in business, office administration, office technology, or related field and considerable experience in communications or marketing; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Moderate experience in executive assistant type duties.
• Moderate experience in communications and dealing with the public.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Extensive customer service experience dealing with a diverse customer population.
• Highly computer literate with capability in email, MS Office, and related business and communication tools.
• Content writing experience for all media platforms.
• Proven social media and networking expertise.
• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree in marketing/communications or related field and considerable experience in communications management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous experience as a Communications Specialist or Public Information Officer.
• Previous experience in a municipality.
• Bilingual in both written and spoken English and Spanish.