city seal

City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

city seal

Director, Chief Communications

FLSA: Executives/1 EEO Category: (10) Official/Adm
Class Code: 17420 Salary Grade: E00
Approved: October 24, 1997 Last Revised: September 11, 2017

Purpose:
  Under direction of the City Manager's office, direct the activities of the City's Public Information Office.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
1.  Plans, directs, and coordinates the development and communication of information designed to keep the public informed of the City's activities.
2.  Organizes and facilitates media events, press conferences and related special events.
3.  Assists news media with information about meetings, city decisions, policies and other city issues of interest to the news media.
4.  Attends meetings of the City Manager’s Office and City Council, and other city related meetings.
5.  Plans, manages and provides support for pre-Council and Council Chamber audio-visual systems and room set-up.
6.  Plans and directs the development and communication of information to keep the public and city employees informed of overall City accomplishments.
7.  Represents the city at community projects and public, social, and business gatherings.
8.  Conducts and activates on-going crisis communications planning.
9.  Directs the activities of audio/video production and broadcasting.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
Knowledge of management practices and principles.
Knowledge of production communication principles and methods.
Knowledge of art and photographic layouts for publication.
Knowledge of local organizations and groups relevant to area events and promotions.
Knowledge of report preparation.
Knowledge of journalistic writing and editing techniques.
Knowledge of marketing and promotion of events.
Knowledge of information program development.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the media, the public, and city employees.
Skill in writing articles of interest to both City employees and segment of the general population.
Skill in coordinating and assembling information for distribution.
Skill in interpreting, organizing, executing and coordinating assignments, projects and programs.
Skill in collecting, analyzing and interpreting applicable research data.
Skill in effective oral and written communication.
Skill in planning and conceptualizing of media services.
Minimum Qualifications:
  Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Communication, Journalism, Public Information or related field, plus six (6) years experience in public information activities, two (2) years of which were in a supervisory or management capacity.

Experience may substitute for education with a maximum substitution of two (2)years.

Masters degree may substitute for one year of the required non-supervisory work experience.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
  None.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.