Communications Manager

Overview

The City of Gresham is seeking a dedicated and inventive Communications Manager to shape and lead our public outreach and engagement strategies. This is a critical role where you will manage the City's communications projects and strategies, ensuring transparency and connection between the municipal government and the public. If you thrive on challenging, fast-paced, and rewarding work, we invite you to join a team that goes 'one step beyond' in service to our residents.

As Oregon's fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve and go 'one step beyond' to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

Why Join Gresham?

When you build the future with us, you’ll find a supportive, inclusive, and equitable working environment.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package is Designed for Your Well-being:

• Competitive Compensation: An equitable base salary within the posted range.
• Robust Health Coverage: Multiple options for Medical/Vision (including Kaiser HMO and a City Core Plan) and Dental coverage.
• Secure Your Future: Participation in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, Life/AD&D, and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• Mental & Physical Wellness: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Canopy and Teladoc virtual healthcare.

Position Description

What you will get to do:

Your primary purpose will be to manage the City’s communications to inform the media and the public about Gresham issues, vision, goals, and activities. You will be the architect of our message, managing a team of professionals to ensure effective internal and external outreach across multiple platforms and formats.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic Leadership: Plan, organize, manage, and administer comprehensive communications programs.
• Team Management: Oversee and coach the Communications staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Media Relations: Act as a key liaison to the media, managing inquiries and developing responses to ensure accurate public information.
• Content & Channel Strategy: Direct the creation and distribution of high-quality content across digital, print, and social media channels.
• Crisis Communications: Develop and execute strategies to effectively communicate during time-sensitive, complex, or critical events.

We are seeking a candidate who embodies the City’s values of being collaborative, practical, inventive, nimble, and equitable.

• Experience: Proven experience in communications management, public relations, or a related field, preferably within a governmental or large public agency setting.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success in managing staff and complex communications projects.
• Strategic Vision: The ability to develop and implement communications plans that align with organizational goals.
• Commitment to Equity: A dedication to actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints and cultural perspectives, ensuring our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes.

• Leads a team of 5 professionals
• Serves as the City’s lead spokesperson for general communications; serves as the media liaison and responds to press calls on breaking stories, news features and public information campaigns; provides timely and accurate communications of information related to organizational business.
• Serves as the backup Public information officer for public safety related events, and support to Mayor and City council and coordinates with the Public Information Officer to ensure message consistency and coordination.
• Reports to the Assistant City Manager

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and collective bargaining agreements affecting City policies and operations
• City government administration, organization, functions, and services
• Practices, principles, procedures, regulations, standards, and techniques as they relate to assigned operations
• Supervisory principles and practices
• Budget development and fiscal management principles and practices
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff
• Techniques for effectively representing the City with government agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations
• Communication principles, practices, and techniques
• Modern office practices and methods, computer equipment, hardware and software applications

• Exercise discretion in confidential and sensitive matters
• Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, assess consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations
• Influence and gain cooperation when there are competing or conflicting priorities; conduct effective negotiations and represent the City
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls
• Oversee a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external contacts
• Operate office equipment and technology tools including personal computers, laptop computers and printers, and presentation equipment
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; present information, proposals, and recommendations clearly and persuasively

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration or other related field
• Three (3) to six (6) years of professional experience in communications, public information/relations programs or related work to include managing a team.

Selection Process

To apply for this position, click 'Apply' at the top of this job posting.

Required application materials:

• Complete online application (Do not type 'see resume' in any fields or leave work experience fields blank in the application template.)
• Answers to supplemental questions

The City of Gresham offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education verified in your application. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Oregon Equal Pay.

If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability, please provide your request in writing to HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov, or by phone to 503-618-2729, upon submitting the required application documents.

A review of application materials including your response to supplemental questions submitted will determine which candidates will be invited to an interview.

Communication with candidates will be done primarily through e-mail. Sometimes these messages may land in a spam or junk mail folder. We encourage you to monitor your inbox as well as the inbox within the governmentjobs.com portal for important updates related to this process.

Veteran's Preference

The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with state law. Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veteran's preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

Our Commitment

The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, Oregon, or local law.

Please direct questions about this position to 503-618-2729 or HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov.

If you need assistance with the online application, please contact NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.