Under administrative direction, directs, manages, supervises, and coordinates the activities and operations of the City's Strategic Communications Program; identifies key issues that the City's long-term strategic communication efforts should focus on; develops the City's overall strategic communications approach; coordinates assigned activities with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies; serves as the City's spokesperson in highly sensitive, complex or emergency situations; and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Assume management responsibility for the City's Strategic Communications Program; manage and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned operations; recommend and administer policies and procedures.

Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend, within policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.

Facilitate meetings with staff and upper management to identify key issues the City's long term strategic communication should focus on including strategic communications related to growth, traffic, annexations, and other areas; work with staff, upper management, and the City Council to develop consensus and consistency on communications plans.

Design, plan, and implement strategies and communication plan including key messages and themes for communication.

Develop and manage City's media relations program.

Establish new and innovative community outreach efforts; approach media, community partners, and others to customize information to their needs; oversee the Reno television program including quarterly Best of Reno program; coordinate events and activities designed to promote the City of Reno.

Identify partnership opportunities between the City and other organizations; facilitate contact between community organizations and City Hall to advance partnerships.

Coordinate the placement of print and broadcast advertisements to positively reflect the City of Reno such as those related to quality-of-life issues and services.

Ensure Reno Connect is available for major quality of life issues including river management, annexation, downtown redevelopment, sustainable growth, and related items.

Promote and support information sharing and coordination among the City departments working on communications strategies.

Coordinate with the Community Relations Department to ensure consistency in message; coordinate plan implementation.

Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of strategic communications and community relations.

Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.

Provide responsible staff assistance to the City Manager; conduct a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommend modifications to Strategic Communications programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.

Perform related duties as required.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a local government strategic communications program.
Operations, services, and activities of a municipality.
Current social, political, and economic trends and operating problems of municipal government.
Principles and practices of program development and administration.
Project management principles and practices.
Principles, procedures, and practices of mass communications and public relations and their relationship to local government.
Operations, services, and activities of a public information and strategic communications program.
Principles and practices of copy writing, editing, video production, news gathering, and journalism.
Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
Principles of contract negotiations and administration.
Public speaking and presentation principles and techniques.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and, regulations.
Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and report presentations.
Advanced principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Ability to:
Oversee and manage the City's Strategic Communications Program.
Participate in the development and administration of program goals, objectives, and procedures.
Design, develop, implement, and guide the City's strategic communications process.
Effectively represent the City's objectives, policies, and procedures.
Elicit community and organizational support for City operations and programs.
Prepare presentations and other materials for print and electronic media; write, edit and format articles. Establish and maintain strong relationships with print and electronic media members.
Edit and organize information into an appropriate format for presentation.
Appear before special interest and civic groups to present materials dealing with City activities.
Serve as public relations liaison for the City with the news media, the general public, and other government agencies.
Analyze and define problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Identify and respond to sensitive community, organizational, and City Council issues, concerns, and needs.
Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
Prepare clear and concise reports, professional correspondence, and presentations.
Handle multiple demands and priorities simultaneously.
Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
Negotiate and resolve complex issues.
Deal constructively with conflict and developing consensus.
Make effective public presentations; effectively present information to the City Council, top management, public groups, and/or television audiences.
Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.
Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.
Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:
A Bachelor's from an accredited college or university with major course work in journalism, communications, or a related field.

Experience:
Five years of progressively responsible communications program experience including significant experience in preparing and disseminating information through television, radio, newspapers, or magazine publications.

License or Certificate:
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some travel to different sites and locations; extensive public contact; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Mid-Management
B33
Last Update: 9/2018
(Formerly Public Information Program Manager)
JD 11/2018