Communications Coordinator

The Town of Ashland seeks a Communications Coordinator, who will play a central role in promoting the Town of Ashland’s initiatives, events, and public services by developing effective communication strategies, coordinating marketing efforts, and fostering strong community partnerships. This position works collaboratively across departments to ensure timely, engaging, and consistent messaging that reflects the Town’s mission, enhances civic engagement, and builds strong relationships with residents, stakeholders, and local organizations

Statement of Duties:

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for assisting the town with communications with and to the general public, using a variety of mediums including but not limited to social media and print formats. The incumbent is responsible for marketing and of all programming of community and cultural events throughout town. The Community Outreach Coordinator will create and enhance opportunities for participatory, collaborative, and meaningful community engagement.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Collaborate with other Town departments to develop marketing materials for community events and initiatives.

• Market and advertise Town events using multiple platforms, including social media, website updates, print media, email campaigns, and other outreach tools.

• Lead efforts to maintain fresh, accurate, and up-to-date content on the Town's website and social media platforms in collaboration with departments and committees.

• Work with the public safety departments on emergency communication and time-sensitive public notifications.

• Develop and implement tools for internal communication to ensure staff are informed of relevant news, events, and initiatives.

• Proactively gather information about Town operations and services to prepare informative, accessible communication materials for the public.

• Assist Town departments in promoting Ashland as a destination for residents, visitors, and businesses through strategic outreach and marketing.

• Support the development of new and innovative programs and community events in partnership with nonprofits, businesses, and local community groups.

• Plan and implement informational programs that promote transparency and civic engagement.

• Assist with public presentations, reports, and communications in collaboration with the all departments as needed.

• Ensure brand consistency and professional standards across all Town communications, including presentations, printed materials, digital content, and signage.

• Represent the Town in meetings and community functions to build partnerships and increase visibility of Town initiatives.

• Stay current with trends in public communication and outreach; recommend improvements to the Town’s communication strategies, tools, and policies.

• Other tasks or duties may be assigned by the Town Manager or their designee.

Key Qualifications & Competencies:

Communication & Content Creation

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Strong storytelling, copywriting, and editing abilities

• Experience developing content for newsletters, press releases, blogs, and social media

Digital & Media Skills

• Proficiency with social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, LinkedIn)

• Familiarity with email marketing tools (e.g., Constant Contact), website CMS (e.g., Civic Plus), and basic analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)

• Basic graphic design or video editing skills (e.g., Canva and CapCut) a plus

• Experience with media relations and press outreach is desirable

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

• Ability to align communications with organizational goals and community needs

• Strong analytical skills to evaluate outreach performance and adapt strategies accordingly

• Creative thinker who can bring fresh ideas for public engagement and promotion

Organization & Project Management

• Strong time management and organizational skills

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail

• Experience coordinating projects across teams or departments

Community Engagement & Collaboration

• Strong interpersonal skills; able to build relationships with colleagues and public

• Experience working with nonprofits and community groups

• Comfortable representing the Town at public meetings and events

• Committed to fostering equity, inclusion, and civic participation

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Public Administration, or a related field

• 2+ years of experience in public communication, social media, marketing, community development, or a related area

• Experience working in local government or nonprofit sectors is a plus

• Bilingual or multilingual abilities are beneficial

Special Requirements: Must possess a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License

Salary Range: $60,000 - $65,000/year

Supervision Required:

The employee plans, prioritizes, and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard operating practices and previous training. The employee interprets instructions and/or adapts methods to resolve particular problems. Instructions for new assignments usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and department or Town priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor. Assigned work is generally reviewed only for adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with Town guidelines, municipal policy, or other requirements.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Confidentiality: The Communications Coordinator shall have frequent access to and knowledge of a variety of confidential information.

Accountability: Duties include responsibility for communication of municipal wide activities, plans, goals and objectives and also implementing a variety of events in town. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could result in adverse public relations and jeopardize perceived integrity of the Town.

Judgment: Work requires the employee to examine, analyze, and evaluate facts and circumstances surrounding situations or events and determine their appropriate communication. Guidelines include policies and practices; however, independent judgment is used to analyze or evaluate specific situations to determine appropriate actions.

Complexity: The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practices relating to a professional field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data; or determining the methods to accomplish the work in a timely and beneficial manner.

Work Environment: The work environment typically involves a municipal office setting as well as occasional exposure to outside elements when conducting research or attending events. The employee will be required to work beyond normal business hours, occasional nights and weekends when events are scheduled. The employee may be required to attend evening meetings, department sponsored planned events and in order to respond to non-planned or emergency events on a 24/7 basis.

Nature and Purpose of Public Contact: Employee has constant interaction with co-workers, the public and with groups and/or individuals who have conflicting opinions or objectives, diverse points of view or differences where deliberation is needed to skillfully coalesce information into a coherent message to be communicated on behalf of the Town. The employee is representing the Town and must refer to procedures or policies and, where perceptiveness is required, to analyze circumstances in order to act appropriately. Employee will also have interactions with the attendees at public events.

Occupational Risk: Duties generally do not present occupational risk to the employee.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Comprehensive technical and practical knowledge of the materials, methods and techniques relative to public communications and event planning; knowledge of state and municipal government organization; knowledge of laws and regulations regarding public information; understanding of specialized computer or technological applications including word processing, presentation software, desktop publishing, website management software, and the Internet, including common social media such as Facebook and Instagram, in support of communication of Town operations; knowledge and understanding of print and broadcast media practices and operations. Knowledge and experience creating and executing events.

Abilities: Ability to plan and implement a communications strategy that establishes and maintains effective communications with the community; the ability to deal with employees and stakeholders tactfully and effectively; the ability to maintain effective public relations; ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form including the use of technology to make effective public presentations; the ability to understand the relationship between human, financial, and material resources to achieve the correct balance so that the Town may represent itself to the community in an efficient and effective manner.

Skills: The ideal person will be self-sufficient and self-motivated, have excellent people and communication skills, knowledge of Microsoft products and experience with social media platforms to include Facebook, Instagram, Linked In and Tik Tok. The ideal candidate will also have experience working with Canva, CapCut and Constant Contact. They should have effective communication and technology skills; creativity, innovation and judgment relating to the development and implementation of short and long-term planning in accordance with Town goals and objectives. Strong organizational skills are required to manage this role.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here 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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Demands: Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, kneeling, twisting, reaching with hands and arms, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects weighing 40lbs or less

Motor Skills: Position requires the application of basic motor skills for activities including but not limited to operating a personal computer, office equipment, word processing, pushing, pulling, or lifting office equipment, and the sorting of papers.

Visual Demands: Position requires the employee to constantly read documents, computer screens, and reports for understanding and analytical purposes. The employee is rarely required to determine color differences.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

During the interview process, candidates may be asked to submit a writing sample and an example of a marketing advertisement using Canva.

The Town of Ashland is an AA/EEO Employer