Description

Job Summary

Under general administrative direction, this position establishes, manages, and implements effective communications and public involvement strategies to provide timely, accurate, and understandable information to the community. The Communications & Marketing Director maintains the direction of the City’s communications function as a high-energy, fast-turnaround creative studio, building systems that support rapid content development, trend-aware storytelling, and innovative approaches that make government information accessible, engaging, and relevant. This role oversees and coordinates citywide messaging and public information programs, expands communication resources through the use of emerging technologies and media platforms, and ensures consistent, strategic outreach to residents. The position exercises a high degree of initiative and independent judgment while interfacing frequently with City management, City Council, media representatives, and staff to present recommendations and administer impactful public information programs.

Compensation

Salary: $125,200 - $180,000 annually
Starting salary is depending on qualifications and experience 

Essential Job Functions and Other Important Duties

• Lead the City’s communications and community engagement strategy, ensuring the organization shows up clearly, creatively, and consistently in the moments that matter to residents.
• Translate City priorities and initiatives into clear, relatable stories that resonate across diverse audiences and community interests.
• Leads the development of creative, plain-language communications that translate complex City information into clear, relatable messages; drives a trend-aware, modern approach to storytelling that makes government easier to understand and more engaging for the community.
• Identify opportunities where the City can meaningfully participate in local culture through storytelling, community voices, creative partnerships, and trend-driven content.
• Provides oversight of all Communications functions for the City; establishes and maintains City-wide communications procedures.
• Develop bold, memorable ideas that bring City programs to life in fresh and engaging ways across all communication channels.
• Lead campaigns from idea to launch — including creative direction, production, partnerships, public messaging, delegating and performance tracking.
• Coach and collaborate with departments to ensure messaging is aligned, accessible, and easy for residents to understand.
• Identify opportunities to modernize communications tools, processes, and workflows; champion new approaches and lead smooth implementation. Explore new tools, reimagine systems, and lead the implementation of improvements that make communication faster and engaging.
• Develops and evaluates budget requests, monitors budget expenditures, and makes adjustments as necessary; reports budget information; assists with communications requests for proposals from various vendors who assist with communications functions and engagements.
• Lead a high-performing communications team, guide messaging across channels including the City website, social media, video, and public events.
• Track and measure the impact of campaigns; evolve messaging based on what connects with the community.
• Advises the Mayor, City Council and top management staff on communications strategies, policies, procedures, and issues.
• Connect communications strategies to the City Council’s Strategic Plan, ensuring storytelling and transparency support community priorities.
• Develop clear, proactive strategies for emerging issues, helping the organization respond with accuracy and speed.
• Oversees the coordination of design, production, and distribution of city publications to heighten awareness of city services, programs and initiatives ensuring all materials follow city branding and key messaging.
• Assists other departments with communications strategies. In an emergency, serves in Emergency Operations Center and provides emergency message support.
• Manages and coordinates cable access channel content, including public service announcement notices and promotional videos.
• Serves on county-wide communications teams to assist with Travis and Williamson County regional communications efforts.
• Attends, represents, and/or coordinates with the CM/ACM at community functions, open house, and community meetings, civic organizations, and governmental groups; prepares and presents presentations regarding city programs.
• Works with CM/ACMs, staff, and City Council on communication strategies such as coordinating plans, and writing columns, letters, and speeches, and communication programs.
• Attends conferences, training, and other meetings to stay current with successful practices in communications, engagement and learning new skills.
• Remains accessible via personal cell phone to address job-related issues or emergencies using City applications.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Job Qualifications

Formal Education: Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, or a related field.
Relatable Work Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Communications, marketing or related field. Five (5) years of experience in a writing-intensive position. Five (5) years of supervisory experience or team-lead experience, with demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and elevate creative teams. Demonstrated experience in working with print, broadcast, digital and social media outlets.
A track record of building communications that drive attention, understanding, and community impact. Experience leading a communications department, brand, or marketing function that required fast turnarounds and audience-first storytelling.
Training, Licenses, and Certifications: None required.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in communications, marketing, or a similar field. Experience in government or a related function. Certified Public Communicator. 

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, applicants are permitted to substitute two years of related full-time experience for one year of higher education or one year of related higher education for two years of experience in order to meet the minimum requirements of the job. One year of full-time experience is defined as 30 or more hours worked per week for 12 months. One year of higher education is defined as 30 credit hours completed at an accredited college or university.
 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed & Environmental Factors and Other Physical Requirements

Ability to blend creative thinking with public-sector responsibility: delivering clear, accessible, resident-focused communications while embracing new ideas, tools, and trends.
Management abilities include planning, organizing, and budgeting, problem analysis and decision-making, leadership, adaptability/flexibility, stress tolerance, time management, and interpersonal sensitivity. Knowledge of applicable state, city and federal regulations/guidelines pertaining to areas of responsibility and overall city operations.
Strong cultural awareness and intuition, knows what will resonate with the community
Knowledge of public opinion research techniques and various methods of application in governmental issues
Deep understanding of how to communicate across traditional media, digital channels, and social platforms.
Knowledge of Public Information Act, its application and compliance requirements.
Skill in utilizing a personal computer, associated software programs, including Windows/Microsoft Office applications.
Skill of word processing, spreadsheet, website development, and data inquiry software.
Ability to establish and maintain professionally effective working relationships with external public/vendors, internal management and non-management employees, and City and other government officials.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, as well as strong time and task management skills.
Ability to develop, implement, and administer goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient services for the City.
Subject to sitting and standing to perform essential functions in an office environment, occasional outdoor work.
Visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate office equipment
Regularly scheduled for 5-day, 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday; overtime occasionally required; On-call for Pflugerville Police Department.