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Deputy Chief Communications Officer

Employer
City of Fargo
Location
Fargo, North Dakota
Salary
$92,518.40 - $113,505.60 Annually

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Job Details

Under the administrative direction of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), the Deputy Chief Communications Officer serves as a senior communications professional providing departmental leadership and managerial/mentoring oversight of the Communications & Governmental Affairs Team. This position supports and leads efforts to establish goals and objectives within policy directives set forth by the City Commission and City Administration. 

Utilizing independent judgement, the incumbent assists the CCO in all elements of the Communications & Governmental Affairs program of projects, including curating the City's website, social media platforms, media relations, internal communications and collaborating to lead crisis communications efforts. 

The position interfaces regularly with several senior staff members within the organization as well as local, state and federal governmental personnel.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Deputy Chief Communications Officer directly or indirectly manages the performance of members of the Communications & Governmental Affairs Team, including guiding work by developing, recommending and implementing procedures to accomplish departmental objectives. This position assists the CCO in leading the City's community engagement strategies and public information efforts and plays a vital role in managing/overseeing the departmental budget. 

The incumbent acts as the department head in the absence of the CCO and thereby provides direction to facilitate operational planning, delivery and outcomes for programs. The Deputy Chief Communications Officer is responsible for assisting in the oversight of all Citywide communications programs, which are a dynamic convergence of print, video, online, broadcast and social media.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. COMMUNICATION VISIONING – Assists the CCO to develop and manage The City of Fargo’s media and community relations strategies.
    1. Partners with the CCO to manage departmental operations as well as to assist in the creation and implementation of a strategic, multi-faceted communications program designed to build and strengthen the organization's brand reputation;
    2. Directly oversees the Community Engagement and Public Information divisions of the department and its team members;
    3. Identifies opportunities to support organizational initiatives and develop communication plans to promote and publicize them;
    4. Provides input and guidance on organizational and political issues, challenges and opportunities;
    5. Delivers quality control for communications programs;
    6. Helps to build and foster collaborative relationships with other departments within the organization, in addition to maintaining an effective and harmonious team environment;
    7. Works closely with senior leaders on public affairs/relations, internal communications, marketing and crisis communications.
  2. CITIZEN OUTREACH STRATEGIZING – Working in tandem with the CCO, guides consistent messaging articulating the City’s vision, mission and goals.
    1. Responsible for the coordination of the City's efforts to develop and disseminate information for the purpose of enhancing resident and employee understanding of City objectives, issues, decisions and challenges;
    2. Brings an entrepreneurial approach to fostering a cutting-edge program that surpasses local government norms and standards;
    3. Seeks to increase resident engagement and offer meaningful opportunities for feedback about City services and operations; 
    4. Oversees the writing of press releases and news articles to communicate City events and issues; 
    5. Leads efforts to develop and manage City website content and coordinate all City social media outlets and departmental channels; 
    6. Manages Citywide media relations initiatives;
    7. Coordinates the communications support of special activities, including logistically leading the production of special events for City departments. 
  3. SOCIAL CONTENT CREATING – Operationally oversees the creation and use of social applications for the City and its departments.
    1. Oversees operational efficiencies of the City’s public-facing citizen reporting online application, FargoOne, in addition to tools which optimize web operations, social media content and media monitoring;
    2. Leads efforts to maintain and strengthen vibrant and successful social media editorial content calendars;
    3. Explores and implements new and innovative methods of communicating information; 
    4. Anticipates public perception of decisions and programs, proactively recommends appropriate plans and actions so citizens correctly understand purpose and intent, and executes plans at a professional level;
    5. Packages and delivers compelling stories in support of City initiatives and programs via social media and social strategizing;
    6. Coordinates with City departments to ensure consistent positioning and messaging across the City's social media platforms;
    7. Monitors social media outlets for emergent issues and responds accordingly;
    8. Ensures and oversees archiving of all social media data.
  4. MEDIA RELATIONSHIP FOSTERING – Assists team-wide efforts in transforming organizational initiatives into successful media coverage.
    1. Develops and implements media and communications strategies across the City’s various departments;
    2. Oversees dissemination efforts of authoring news releases and media advisories;
    3. Advises departments on media relations and provides media training;
    4. Proactively develops and manages relationships with key local, regional and national members of the media;
    5. Sustains awareness and proficiency in current trends, technology, editorial policy and communications practices;
    6. Maintains media contact lists using a media database, records media interactions and tracks press coverage;
    7. Assists the CCO to lead and unify complex problem solving across/among City departments;
    8. Bolsters the CCO’s efforts to provide unified responses to open records requests among departments and legal counsel, including administration of software platforms and data query efforts;
    9. Assists the CCO in generating fact sheets, talking points and speeches on municipal and legislative topics.
  5. WEBSITE PROGRAMMING – Ensures the City maintains vivid web content across all platforms. 
    1. Responsible for driving the team’s efforts in developing website content;
    2. Helps to advise departments on development and use of webpages and applications; 
    3. Ensures the website maintains a streamlined appearance including text, images and page layout; 
    4. Collaborates with the City’s Information Services Department on the website content management system, functionality, improvement efforts, training and troubleshooting;
    5. Ensures ADA guidelines and usability standards are met; 
    6. Assists in developing key performance indicators and measures the success of digital campaigns through web analytic tools.
  6. BRAND CONCEPTUALIZING – Assists the CCO in the management and execution of brand standards for the City across all platforms.
    1. Reviews and evaluates departmental and organizational work products, methods and procedures;
    2. Devises program guidelines and policies, while overseeing continuous implementation processes to build a strong City brand;
    3. Assists the CCO in solicitation of bids for consultant services, advises in the selection of consultants and monitors consultant contracts for communications-related services;
    4. Builds relationships with professional colleagues;
    5. Serves as an ambassador to partner organizations through initiatives and jointly-sponsored communication campaigns and programs to advance City efforts;
    6. Partners with the public, consultants and partners for collaborative communication and brand efforts. 
  7. EMERGENCY RESPONDING – Works with the CCO to maintain the City’s crisis communication plan and assists in directing communications efforts across departments during City emergencies. 
    1. Provides leadership to the event/incident PIO team;
    2. Serves as a key support to the City Leadership Team during crisis management when responding to emergencies, including coordinating communications efforts with key external stakeholders;
    3. Functions as a vital member (and lead) of The Fargo Police Department On-Call PIO Team;
    4. Develops messaging and outreach plans for consumption by the public and members of the media; 
    5. Schedules briefings and monitors messaging. 
  8. TEAM LEADING – Using independent judgment provides supervision and leadership to department personnel under the span of control. 
    1. Makes decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, lay off, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under the span of control; 
    2. Establishes functional policies and makes tactical decisions with top managerial guidance;
    3. Sets goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance; 
    4. Conducts ongoing feedback, coaching, mentoring and timely formal reviews of performance for assigned employees; 
    5. Provides training and work direction, ensuring the employee knows and follows department and City rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss; ensures that each employee: 
      1. Knows and follows department and City rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss; 
      2. Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work; 
      3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed, makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner;
    6. Plans the work schedule to meet department demands and to limit overtime costs to reasonable and necessary levels; 
    7. Assesses staff development needs and directs the provision of staff training; 
    8. Participates in decisions regarding the content of jobs and the number of staff within the functional areas under the span of control. 
  9. DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETING – Assists the CCO in managing the departmental budget, while making recommendations for improvement.
    1. Using independent judgment, assists in developing department operating budget for the next cycle; 
    2. Works to analyze past expenditures, expected needs, future cost projections and sources of funding in order to develop detailed budgets; 
    3. Reviews year-to-date spending reports and monitors performance against plan during the entire budget cycle, making or recommending adjustments as necessary to achieve a desired balance at the end of the cycle; 
    4. Works to ensure the most cost effective alternatives are identified when planning expenditures;
    5. Prepares requests for annual funding and presents requests to decision makers for approval.
  10. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING – Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions. 
    1. Communications include responsibility for maintaining relationships that are key to the function of the City; 
    2. Plans and carries out communications at a level that can impact the morale and performance of a major work unit; 
    3. Serves a principal role in guiding or executing public communications affecting the public reputation of the City with the broad base of all of its constituents.
  11. ADAPTING – Performs other duties and activities as assigned.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The job requires a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, business administration or a closely related field with a minimum of 8 years of experience in public and/or media relations. A valid driver’s license is also required.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced communications professional with a track record of collaboration, communication, coordination and organization. This visionary leader must have proven strategic planning, decision making, analyzing and problem-solving skills; excellent written, verbal, social media and website content communication skills; demonstrated public relations, community, strategic and media communications success in a complex and dynamic environment; and exceptional collaborative and interpersonal skills.

Knowledge, skills and abilities should include:

  • Strong skills in interpersonal communication to facilitate high-level discussions with co-workers, supervisors, the general public and others to exchange or convey information, resolve disputes and receive work direction;
  • Exceptional understanding of local government and successful experience developing and implementing communications strategies;
  • Excellent visual and conceptual modern graphic design skills for both print and electronic media;
  • Knowledge of governmental administrative practices including budgeting, purchasing and policy formulation; 
  • A self-starter who is energized by a fast-paced environment that rewards innovation and continuous improvement;
  • Knowledge of human resource management practices such as training, discipline, delegation;
  • Ability to supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale; 
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms, and have strong public relations and media relations best practice skills; 
  • Ability to select competent personnel and to train them to perform their duties in an effective and efficient manner; 
  • The ability to multitask, with adherence to deadlines, under stressful or difficult situations;
  • Skills in developing and interpreting data with precise accuracy and attention to detail;
  • Project management experience;
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem resolution capabilities;
  • Fluency in computer applications used by the department, including the Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite and Content Management Systems (CMS).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Most work is performed in a normal office environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Daily work often involves moving between buildings and rooms. Occasional driving is required to attend meetings. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. There is regular attention to detail and deadlines. 

Fingering, grasping, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions. 

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. 

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. 

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.

Company

Vision

We to be an employer of choice through collaboration, engagement, and development in order to deliver an exceptional career experience for the people serving the great City of Fargo.

Values

We will respect each other and all stakeholders by delivering honest and empathetic customer service. We commit to develop and maintain a culture that values the health, safety, and equitable treatment of all stakeholders.

Company info
Website
Telephone
701-241-1321
Location
225 4th Street North
Fargo
ND
58102
United States

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