Police Media & Communications Coordinator

Are you a creative communicator with a passion for public service? Join Leander PD and help shape our voice, connect with the community, and lead our media and digital outreach.

Essential Duties & Required Qualifications:

• Performs media relations duties for news releases and answer questions from media.
• Performs and coordinates public relations duties presentations, tours of the police facility, and requests for information from the public not related to open records.
• Coordinate as needed with the city public information employees.
• Conducts outreach to community groups by attending events, meeting, interacting with citizens in person and in writing.
• Maintain and update police department web site.
• Directs the operation, maintenance, content and updates of department social media accounts.
• Provides event coordination services, such as arranging facilities, contacting media, inviting all appropriate groups and individuals.
• Produces public service announcements and videos and photography for promotional use.
• Assists in the planning, development, and production of advertising, promotional campaigns, and strategies for distribution and placement of the material.
• Writes, plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and edits articles, newsletters or other publications.
• Maintains information for contacting media, associations and organizations.
• Responds to breaking news and critical incidents to advise on the communication of information to the public.
• Provide technical support and training to other department employees regarding social media communication.
• May assist the fire department and emergency management with communication during critical incidents and with special projects.
• Assists in researching issues and writing speeches and communications for the command staff and developing talking points for community engagement.
• Makes budget recommendations regarding public safety communication initiatives that may require fiscal resources.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, marketing, media studies, or communication.
• A minimum of two years of experience in mass communications, public relations, advertising, journalism, marketing or publicity.

Required Certificates and Licenses:

• Texas Class “C” Driver’s license or equivalent from any other US State.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience working for a city, state, or federal entity.
• Videography experience.
• Digital photography and photo editing experience
• Graphic design experience.
• Ability to speak Spanish
• Three years or more of experience in mass communications, public relations, advertising, journalism, marketing or publicity.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of public information, marketing, public relations, and media relations programs.
• Communicate effectively in all mediums.
• Formal and proper usage of the English language regarding verbal usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.

• Skill and ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects.

• Excellent customer service skills in emotionally or politically charged environments.

• Ability to write articles for publication.
• Knowledge of Associated Press and design and typographic principles.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
• Skill in researching issues including data analysis and problem solving.

• Municipal police administration and organization.
• City and departmental policies and procedures.
• All appropriate criminal laws, including city ordinances, appropriate administrative laws, and case law.
• Perform computer tasks effectively and maintain acceptable operational knowledge of standard software programs utilized by the department.
• Normal speech, normal or corrected vision, and normal or corrected hearing.

Physical Demands & Additional Information:

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 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.

Working environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; explosives; loud noises, risk of radiation and vibration in unpredictable and varying amounts at crime and emergency incident scenes. Minimal exposure to hazardous materials, body fluids, body decay odor, crimes at industrial sites with broken or moving equipment, or any illegal drug manufacture locations. Continued danger at a scene if a suspect returns to scene or at any emergency response scenario. Work environment may be uncomfortable: not able to sit down, temperature, insects, cramped spaces. Outdoor scenes could include very high temperatures without shade, animals, or extensive search locations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. 

The Leander Police Department is a modern, rapidly growing, mid-sized municipal police department representing the City of Leander, Texas. Leander is located just 25 miles north of Austin, Leander offers exceptional access to the capital's vibrant business scene, cultural diversity, and extensive amenities.

As a vital hub within one of the most economically dynamic regions in the United States, our city reaps the advantages of strong industries, excellent infrastructure, and a well-connected transportation network. This region is known for its economic vigor, encompassing a variety of sectors such as energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and finance, making it a fertile ground for business opportunities and expansion.

Our strategic location enhances logistical and transportation efficiencies. With proximity to major highways like State Highway 183 and Toll Road 183A, and the Union Pacific Railroad, businesses in Leander enjoy streamlined movement of goods and services. Nearby Austin-Bergstrom International Airport also offers easy access to global markets.

Education and workforce development are key priorities in Leander, bolstered by our close ties to esteemed institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University. This access to a talented and educated workforce enables businesses to thrive and innovate.