External Communications Manager
IABC Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Position Description The Flood Control District has the mission to reduce the risk of flooding in Harris County, the third-most-populated county in the United States, with a population in excess of 4.7 million, including the City of Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city. The Flood Control District has jurisdiction over the primary stormwater facilities in the county, which consist of approximately 1,500 channels totaling nearly 2,500 miles in length, as well as more than 60 regional stormwater detention basins totaling more than 10,000 acres, and several wetlands mitigation banks, including Greens Bayou.
The Harris County Flood Control District is seeking qualified candidates for the position of External Communications Manager, who will be responsible for developing and implementing external communication strategies and initiatives for the District in support of its overall mission, and for managing contract staff related to these functions.
Essential Functions & Duties:
Community Outreach & Public Engagement
Develop and implement community outreach strategies to further the District’s mission and reputation and to promote public/media education and awareness of flooding risks, improvements, and projects.
Assist with updates to standard external communication procedures and public engagement plans for implementation before, during, and after flood events.
External Communications & Media Relations
Develop and implement strategic efforts for a broad range of external communications, including District-issued new releases, presentations, and scripts, writing content for the website, media inquiries, social media, etc.
Serve as primary contact for media requests, develop and/or update key messages on District activities and projects for public queries and media interviews.
Serve as point of contact for rapid response and reactive media inquiries, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders and spokespersons.
Manage the District’s media efforts and programs, including strategy, content development, promotion, guidelines, and other relevant efforts to maximize positive press.
Assist with setting communications protocols on media relations, social media, etc., and provide strategic oversight of all communications efforts related to the District and its work, including media relations, social media, digital platforms, internal communications, public affairs/outreach, and others.
Emergency & Rapid Response
Mobilize as an integral part of the District’s communications team during emergency response events, which may include extended periods of on-site mobilization.
Leadership, Coordination & Oversight
Conduct ongoing briefings with Communications Division Director to share feedback, updates, issues, challenges, and results, to identify and pursue proactive media opportunities and external communication initiatives.
Oversee contract staff on proactive media outreach, including planning, maintaining outreach list, and briefings with key reporters.
Additional Responsibilities and Duties
Attend and facilitate meetings with coordinating departments, public officials, vendors, and agencies, as directed.
Responsible for supporting media training of internal staff, as appropriate.
Assume additional responsibilities as required, adapting to the District's evolving demands, responsibilities, needs, and objectives.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or emailADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net .
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements Education and Experience:
Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, preferably in communications or public relations.
Requires ten (10) years of progressively responsible, verifiable professional experience in communications, public relations, public advocacy, or a similar field.
Strong background in writing and content development.
Experience in executing and implementing complex, high-profile projects in a fast-paced environment.
Licensure:
Valid Class "C" Texas Driver’s License
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent communication skills, including writing, presentation, and grammar.
Understanding and experience serving in incident command/emergency operations center activations.
Fluent in Associated Press (AP) style.
Working knowledge of government agencies and their governing bodies.
Bilingual skills in English/Spanish are a plus.
Communicate important organizational and project updates to peers and managers clearly and proactively.
Communicate through superior written, oral, and presentation skills and constructively edit others' work.
Ability to manage a crisis event and remain composed to ensure adequate communications strategies and messaging are implemented.
Understand and operate, within and in support of District policy, goals, objectives, and limitations.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet changing and multiple deadlines, prioritize, and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Manage and organize projects and initiatives with strong attention to detail and excellent work products.
Work independently with limited supervision, relative autonomy, and general review, under pressure and public scrutiny.
Exercise good judgment, be self-motivated, take initiative, be flexible, adapt well to change, and manage risk and uncertainty with poise.
Make independent judgments that could have a significant impact on employees and/or the organization.
Manage and lead a team within an office environment.
Read/comprehend written materials, e.g., policies, procedures, operating instructions, and safety notices.
Solve simple mathematical problems that may be required in normal work situations.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but
ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences Experience serving as an on-the-record spokesperson preferred.
General Information Position Type:
Regular Full-Time
Hours:
40 hours per week
To be discussed at the interview
Location:
9900 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77092
Physical Demands & Environmental Exposure:
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
Frequent sorting, filing, shelving, and handling of documents, books, files, file drawers, and related materials and equipment required for clerical operations.
Frequent driving of a vehicle with automatic controls, standing and walking; prolonged sitting for extended periods of time.
Occasional stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying items up to 15 pounds, ascending/descending stairs.
Work is generally performed indoors in a normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, air conditioning, and noise levels.
When at field locations, may be exposed to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind, dust, wildlife, and flying/walking insects.
When at field locations, may be exposed to vibration and/or noise in excess of 85 decibels.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
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Position Description The Flood Control District has the mission to reduce the risk of flooding in Harris County, the third-most-populated county in the United States, with a population in excess of 4.7 million, including the City of Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city. The Flood Control District has jurisdiction over the primary stormwater facilities in the county, which consist of approximately 1,500 channels totaling nearly 2,500 miles in length, as well as more than 60 regional stormwater detention basins totaling more than 10,000 acres, and several wetlands mitigation banks, including Greens Bayou.
The Harris County Flood Control District is seeking qualified candidates for the position of External Communications Manager, who will be responsible for developing and implementing external communication strategies and initiatives for the District in support of its overall mission, and for managing contract staff related to these functions.
Essential Functions & Duties:
Community Outreach & Public Engagement
Develop and implement community outreach strategies to further the District’s mission and reputation and to promote public/media education and awareness of flooding risks, improvements, and projects.
Assist with updates to standard external communication procedures and public engagement plans for implementation before, during, and after flood events.
External Communications & Media Relations
Develop and implement strategic efforts for a broad range of external communications, including District-issued new releases, presentations, and scripts, writing content for the website, media inquiries, social media, etc.
Serve as primary contact for media requests, develop and/or update key messages on District activities and projects for public queries and media interviews.
Serve as point of contact for rapid response and reactive media inquiries, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders and spokespersons.
Manage the District’s media efforts and programs, including strategy, content development, promotion, guidelines, and other relevant efforts to maximize positive press.
Assist with setting communications protocols on media relations, social media, etc., and provide strategic oversight of all communications efforts related to the District and its work, including media relations, social media, digital platforms, internal communications, public affairs/outreach, and others.
Emergency & Rapid Response
Mobilize as an integral part of the District’s communications team during emergency response events, which may include extended periods of on-site mobilization.
Leadership, Coordination & Oversight
Conduct ongoing briefings with Communications Division Director to share feedback, updates, issues, challenges, and results, to identify and pursue proactive media opportunities and external communication initiatives.
Oversee contract staff on proactive media outreach, including planning, maintaining outreach list, and briefings with key reporters.
Additional Responsibilities and Duties
Attend and facilitate meetings with coordinating departments, public officials, vendors, and agencies, as directed.
Responsible for supporting media training of internal staff, as appropriate.
Assume additional responsibilities as required, adapting to the District's evolving demands, responsibilities, needs, and objectives.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or emailADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net .
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements Education and Experience:
Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, preferably in communications or public relations.
Requires ten (10) years of progressively responsible, verifiable professional experience in communications, public relations, public advocacy, or a similar field.
Strong background in writing and content development.
Experience in executing and implementing complex, high-profile projects in a fast-paced environment.
Licensure:
Valid Class "C" Texas Driver’s License
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent communication skills, including writing, presentation, and grammar.
Understanding and experience serving in incident command/emergency operations center activations.
Fluent in Associated Press (AP) style.
Working knowledge of government agencies and their governing bodies.
Bilingual skills in English/Spanish are a plus.
Communicate important organizational and project updates to peers and managers clearly and proactively.
Communicate through superior written, oral, and presentation skills and constructively edit others' work.
Ability to manage a crisis event and remain composed to ensure adequate communications strategies and messaging are implemented.
Understand and operate, within and in support of District policy, goals, objectives, and limitations.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet changing and multiple deadlines, prioritize, and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Manage and organize projects and initiatives with strong attention to detail and excellent work products.
Work independently with limited supervision, relative autonomy, and general review, under pressure and public scrutiny.
Exercise good judgment, be self-motivated, take initiative, be flexible, adapt well to change, and manage risk and uncertainty with poise.
Make independent judgments that could have a significant impact on employees and/or the organization.
Manage and lead a team within an office environment.
Read/comprehend written materials, e.g., policies, procedures, operating instructions, and safety notices.
Solve simple mathematical problems that may be required in normal work situations.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but
ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences Experience serving as an on-the-record spokesperson preferred.
General Information Position Type:
Regular Full-Time
Hours:
40 hours per week
To be discussed at the interview
Location:
9900 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77092
Physical Demands & Environmental Exposure:
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
Frequent sorting, filing, shelving, and handling of documents, books, files, file drawers, and related materials and equipment required for clerical operations.
Frequent driving of a vehicle with automatic controls, standing and walking; prolonged sitting for extended periods of time.
Occasional stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying items up to 15 pounds, ascending/descending stairs.
Work is generally performed indoors in a normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, air conditioning, and noise levels.
When at field locations, may be exposed to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind, dust, wildlife, and flying/walking insects.
When at field locations, may be exposed to vibration and/or noise in excess of 85 decibels.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
#J-18808-Ljbffr