Communications & Engagement Manager

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The City of Rochester invites applications for the position of : Communications & Engagement Manager

The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.

We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.

It takes us all working together .

Communications & Engagement Statement of Intent

Consistently engage and clearly communicate news, opportunities, and information to community members in an inclusive, transparent, and thoughtful way that allows their voices to be heard and incorporated into the work of the City of Rochester..

Nature of Work Under the direction of the Strategic Communications & Engagement Director, the Communications & Engagement Manager serves as a primary administrator and consultant for the City's community engagement, public information, and internal communications.

This position serves as a resource to all City Departments for the development, maintenance, implementation, and continual improvement of effective current and long-range communication policies, plans, and practices, including the development of procedures and processes to build proactive, clear, and consistent two-way communication between City government and residents, businesses, organizations, visitors and other stakeholders.

This is inclusive of the variety of public realm and infrastructure projects which utilize a business forward approach and methodology.

A focus of this role will be on the strategic transformation projects and initiatives.

The Communications & Engagement Manager will support the Strategic Communications & Engagement Director and City leadership in advancing and accomplishing organizational goals related to communications and equitable community engagement.

Pay : 2024 starting salary is 91.918 to 108,139 based on qualifications with advancement to $135,175.

Schedule : The typical work schedule 8 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday with evening and weekend work based on the timing of community events.

Remote work is available on a hybrid basis.

To have your application considered in the first round of reviews, please apply before September 3, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The items below are representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification. The work is performed with considerable independence.

• Provide leadership for the strategic transformation projects and initiatives and manage the related communications and engagement activities.
• Serve as the lead Communications & Engagement teammate on the strategic transformation projects and initiatives.
• Take an active role in building, sustaining and growing relationships with organizational partners like Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency (DMC), Mayo Clinic, contract partners and other key stakeholders.
• Lead the oversight of contracts with communications and engagement consultants.
• Maintain ongoing awareness and assessment of key milestones and project needs, and ensure the successful execution of strategic communications and engagement activities.
• Remain aware of sensitive or political issues and needs and provides assistance with the development of internal and external information as necessary.
• Assist with the development and delivery of specific and strategic community engagement efforts with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a comprehensive community engagement strategy which increases community participation and collaboration in various decision-making processes.
• Develop and implement processes and programs to determine the needs and desires of the community.
• Gather information from residents and others on a periodic basis using surveys, focus
• Take a leadership role in the use of the Business Forward methodology on City projects.
• Anticipate future trends to allow for continual engagement and equitable involvement.
• Assist with the development and implementation of City-wide communications plans in support of the organization's strategic goals and objectives.
• Participate in the formulation of the City-wide communications plan, as well as departmental level plans, and associated City policies and guidelines to ensure communications products meet standards for appropriateness, diversity, equity and inclusion, quality, and consistency.
• Take a leadership role in the implementation of the City's and departmental communications plans.
• Participate in city-wide committees and ad-hoc project assignments focused on City communications and engagement efforts.
• Assist with oversight of digital communications, including the City's website, social, and new media to build brand awareness and advance equitable community engagement.
• Serve as a resource to teammates by assisting with the delivery of information, community outreach, equitable community engagement, and communication strategies.
• Serve as the Deputy Public Information Officer (PIO) in emergency situations and take a lead role to coordinate all communication and information distribution as well as coordinating the work of all Public Information Officers (PIOs) for the City of Rochester.
• Serve as the City's media relations manager.
• Assist with all aspects of media relations, including preparing and training spokespersons and Department representatives to appropriately convey the City's message in a variety of situations to various audiences.
• Actively cultivate and manage media relationships resulting in positive and accurate coverage of City programs, services, special events, public announcements, and projects.
• Analyze media coverage and maintain awareness on issues of relevance to the City.
• Provide supervision to assigned employees
• Provide work direction to employees relative to the completion of designated assignments; delegate responsibilities as appropriate.
• Provide employees with ongoing coaching and feedback; conduct annual performance evaluations in compliance with organizational policies;

initiate corrective action when appropriate.

• Partner with the designated human resources business partner to implement effective hiring and selection practices.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of divisional budgets and strategic priorities.
• Ensure employee personnel, timekeeping, and training records are accurately maintained per City policy and statutory requirements.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field AND 5 years of full-time experience in public relations, community engagement, marketing, or closely related field in a government, non-profit or public sector setting, including 1 year providing leadership and direction to other employees.

An equivalent combination of education to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team.

Licenses

Possession of a valid driver's license .

Desirable Qualifications

Fluency in one or more languages spoken by the city's immigrant and refugee populations is highly desirable, particularly in Spanish or Somali.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work : Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and / or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2 / 3 or more of the time), frequently (1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1 / 3 of the time) are noted below :

Continuous demands : Standing, Sitting, Walking, Fine Dexterity

Frequent demands : Standing, Walking,

Occasional demands : Pushing / Pulling, Kneeling, Lifting, Handling, Reaching, Carrying, Crouching, Bending

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight, hearing, and touch.