City of San Mateo
Communications Manager (20661344) B-118
City of San Mateo, San Mateo, California, United States, 94409
Overview
San Mateo is a city of more than 100,000 residents located in San Mateo County, California. The City supports a diverse community with a vibrant business and retail environment. You would be joining over 500 employees dedicated to serving the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and professional spirit. We seek someone who embodies our shared values of respect, creativity, inclusivity, transparency, and integrity in their words and actions.
Position
Communications Manager
– The City of San Mateo invites your application for this opportunity.
Why Join our City?
The City Manager’s Office provides leadership and support to ensure Council initiatives and programs are executed and high-quality service is delivered. Our program areas include Communications, Economic Development, Sustainability, Goal-setting, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Volunteerism. The Communications Manager will play a vital role in sharing information and engaging the community to contribute to city decisions.
What You’ll Do
The Communications Manager will hone and execute the City’s communication strategy to enhance community engagement, increase awareness of City activities, foster cross-departmental coordination, standardize media response procedures, improve the website user experience, and standardize training for new communications staff. You will work with our internal team to ensure current, high-quality communications products are available. The Communications Manager reports to the Assistant City Manager, may receive direction from the City Manager, has direct supervisory responsibilities, and will lead collaborative teams.
Some duties may include:
Lead the City’s social media efforts and cross-departmental social media team; develop and coordinate implementation of the City’s social media strategy, policies and presence; monitor the City’s online reputation.
Develop and implement an integrated strategic communication plan to advance the City’s brand identity and broaden awareness of its programs, priorities and accomplishments; ensure strategies align with the City’s strategic plan and vision.
Create and manage a decentralized communications team to support departments’ communications needs and the execution of the communications strategy.
Anticipate and identify challenges and emerging issues; collaborate with senior management to recognize opportunities and design strategies to address them.
Develop and oversee mechanisms to measure the success and continuously improve the quality of the City’s communications.
Oversee print communications (annual report, marketing collateral) and electronic communications (City website, social media, new media); manage relationships with vendors.
Serve as spokesperson and lead contact on media interactions; build press relationships for accurate coverage of City events and programs.
Prepare talking points, presentations, speeches and other supporting materials as needed.
Manage the City’s website, including content strategy, messaging, creative direction and analytics.
Collaborate with departments to plan public meetings, surveys and outreach to understand community views.
Perform related duties as assigned.
For a complete job description, please visit the City website.
Qualifications
Required:
Five years of professional communication experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, social media or a closely related field.
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
Highly desirable qualifications (not required): experience in a municipal setting, especially in leadership or with boards/councils; media relations; concise and clear writing; effective public speaking; sound judgment; ability to motivate teams.
What We Offer
Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits; CalPERS retirement eligibility; retirement health savings; deferred compensation; fitness classes, Employee Assistance Program, and credit union membership. This classification is represented by the San Mateo Management Association.
Special Instructions
Are You Ready? Apply. Submit an online application, resume, and video presentation to screen for Best Qualified at the provided link or to the Human Resources Department. Application deadline: October 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Examination Process
Applications will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may include an oral panel interview, a written exercise, or another practical demonstration of skill. An in-person panel interview is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Date posted: September 15, 2025
Important Notices
All responses will be conducted via the email address provided in your online application. The City reserves the right to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process. Prior to hire, candidates will undergo pre-employment checks. The City is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For accommodations in testing or recruitment process, contact the City at the provided email/phone details.
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San Mateo is a city of more than 100,000 residents located in San Mateo County, California. The City supports a diverse community with a vibrant business and retail environment. You would be joining over 500 employees dedicated to serving the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and professional spirit. We seek someone who embodies our shared values of respect, creativity, inclusivity, transparency, and integrity in their words and actions.
Position
Communications Manager
– The City of San Mateo invites your application for this opportunity.
Why Join our City?
The City Manager’s Office provides leadership and support to ensure Council initiatives and programs are executed and high-quality service is delivered. Our program areas include Communications, Economic Development, Sustainability, Goal-setting, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Volunteerism. The Communications Manager will play a vital role in sharing information and engaging the community to contribute to city decisions.
What You’ll Do
The Communications Manager will hone and execute the City’s communication strategy to enhance community engagement, increase awareness of City activities, foster cross-departmental coordination, standardize media response procedures, improve the website user experience, and standardize training for new communications staff. You will work with our internal team to ensure current, high-quality communications products are available. The Communications Manager reports to the Assistant City Manager, may receive direction from the City Manager, has direct supervisory responsibilities, and will lead collaborative teams.
Some duties may include:
Lead the City’s social media efforts and cross-departmental social media team; develop and coordinate implementation of the City’s social media strategy, policies and presence; monitor the City’s online reputation.
Develop and implement an integrated strategic communication plan to advance the City’s brand identity and broaden awareness of its programs, priorities and accomplishments; ensure strategies align with the City’s strategic plan and vision.
Create and manage a decentralized communications team to support departments’ communications needs and the execution of the communications strategy.
Anticipate and identify challenges and emerging issues; collaborate with senior management to recognize opportunities and design strategies to address them.
Develop and oversee mechanisms to measure the success and continuously improve the quality of the City’s communications.
Oversee print communications (annual report, marketing collateral) and electronic communications (City website, social media, new media); manage relationships with vendors.
Serve as spokesperson and lead contact on media interactions; build press relationships for accurate coverage of City events and programs.
Prepare talking points, presentations, speeches and other supporting materials as needed.
Manage the City’s website, including content strategy, messaging, creative direction and analytics.
Collaborate with departments to plan public meetings, surveys and outreach to understand community views.
Perform related duties as assigned.
For a complete job description, please visit the City website.
Qualifications
Required:
Five years of professional communication experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, social media or a closely related field.
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
Highly desirable qualifications (not required): experience in a municipal setting, especially in leadership or with boards/councils; media relations; concise and clear writing; effective public speaking; sound judgment; ability to motivate teams.
What We Offer
Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits; CalPERS retirement eligibility; retirement health savings; deferred compensation; fitness classes, Employee Assistance Program, and credit union membership. This classification is represented by the San Mateo Management Association.
Special Instructions
Are You Ready? Apply. Submit an online application, resume, and video presentation to screen for Best Qualified at the provided link or to the Human Resources Department. Application deadline: October 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Examination Process
Applications will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may include an oral panel interview, a written exercise, or another practical demonstration of skill. An in-person panel interview is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Date posted: September 15, 2025
Important Notices
All responses will be conducted via the email address provided in your online application. The City reserves the right to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process. Prior to hire, candidates will undergo pre-employment checks. The City is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For accommodations in testing or recruitment process, contact the City at the provided email/phone details.
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