COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER (AT-WILL)
City of Torrance, Torrance, CA, United States
Overview
The City of Torrance is seeking innovative and strategic communications professionals for the position of Communications Manager in the City Manager’s Office and the Torrance Police Department. The City Manager’s Office provides executive leadership and administrative oversight for City operations, working with the Torrance City Council to implement policy direction and coordinate strategic initiatives. The Torrance Police Department delivers comprehensive law enforcement and public safety services through proactive policing, community partnerships, and specialized programs. These departments work together to ensure effective governance, responsive public safety services, and a strong commitment to serving the Torrance community.
Why Join the City of Torrance Meaningful Work: Help keep a vibrant community informed, connected, and prepared during everyday operations and critical situations. Leadership Opportunity: Lead a talented communications team and work with City leadership to shape messaging and community engagement. Innovation & Technology: Leverage modern communication tools, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies—including AI—to expand outreach and improve accessibility. Community Impact: Your work will support transparency, trust, and civic engagement for more than 140,000 residents and local businesses.
The Positions The City of Torrance seeks dynamic and strategic leaders to serve as Communications Managers. The Communications Managers will manage comprehensive internal and external communications programs in each department, ensuring timely, accurate, and transparent information for the community, media, and City leadership.
Communications Manager — City Manager’s Office The Communications Manager leads the planning, development, and implementation of citywide communication strategies and public engagement initiatives. They direct and manage the City’s Communications Division and oversee public communication functions, including social media, digital communications, public access television programming, and government cable operations. The Communications Manager also serves as the City’s Official Public Information Officer (PIO) and media spokesperson, coordinating media relations, emergency alerts, and crisis communications during incidents and high-profile events.
Communications Manager — Torrance Police Department The Communications Manager in the Torrance Police Department serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) who oversees the Department’s communication strategy, including media relations, social media, and public outreach. The PIO serves as the official spokesperson liaison for the Department and is responsible for providing accurate, timely, and transparent information to the public, media, and community stakeholders.
Additional Information For more information about the duties of the position, click here.
Monthly Salary Range $10,789 (Minimum) – $14,300 (Reference) – $16,444 (Maximum). Appointments are typically made between the minimum and reference point, depending on qualifications.
Education and Experience Any combination of education and experience that would have provided the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical pathway would be:
Five years of increasingly responsible experience in public agency communications, media production, public information, broadcast operations, or related fields, including two years in a supervisory or managerial role.
Licenses and Certificates Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver’s License. FEMA ICS/NIMS training (ICS-100, 200, 300; IS-700, 800) required or ability to obtain within 12 months. PIO or Crisis Communications certification preferred.
The ideal candidate The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator and collaborative leader with strong media relations experience and the ability to manage complex communications in a municipal environment. They will demonstrate sound judgment, political awareness, and the ability to deliver clear messaging across multiple platforms.
Successful candidates will possess the following:
Strong leadership and staff management skills;
Expertise serving as a media spokesperson or Public Information Officer;
Knowledge of crisis communication and emergency messaging practices;
The ability to work effectively with elected officials, City leadership, staff, the community, and the media;
A commitment to transparency, accessibility, and responsive public communication.
How to Apply Interested candidates must submit an online application at
www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs . First review of applications will be those received by Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received, recruitment may close at that date. Testing may include an Oral Interview weighted 100% tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Visit
www.TorranceCA.Gov
to find out more information about our community. Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date. If you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 prior to the test date. A background check is required and a thorough background investigation will be conducted for Police Department applicants, including job/personal references, arrest records, credit history, use of controlled substances, medical and psychological evaluations, drug screening, and a polygraph.
Legal and Equal Opportunity The City of Torrance Inclusion Statement: The City is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. The City does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. The City is committed to building collaborative teams from all backgrounds and experiences.
Notes The provisions of this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. The City of Torrance Conflict of Interest Code requires annual Financial Disclosure Statements. A background check is a condition of employment for all hires.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Why Join the City of Torrance Meaningful Work: Help keep a vibrant community informed, connected, and prepared during everyday operations and critical situations. Leadership Opportunity: Lead a talented communications team and work with City leadership to shape messaging and community engagement. Innovation & Technology: Leverage modern communication tools, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies—including AI—to expand outreach and improve accessibility. Community Impact: Your work will support transparency, trust, and civic engagement for more than 140,000 residents and local businesses.
The Positions The City of Torrance seeks dynamic and strategic leaders to serve as Communications Managers. The Communications Managers will manage comprehensive internal and external communications programs in each department, ensuring timely, accurate, and transparent information for the community, media, and City leadership.
Communications Manager — City Manager’s Office The Communications Manager leads the planning, development, and implementation of citywide communication strategies and public engagement initiatives. They direct and manage the City’s Communications Division and oversee public communication functions, including social media, digital communications, public access television programming, and government cable operations. The Communications Manager also serves as the City’s Official Public Information Officer (PIO) and media spokesperson, coordinating media relations, emergency alerts, and crisis communications during incidents and high-profile events.
Communications Manager — Torrance Police Department The Communications Manager in the Torrance Police Department serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) who oversees the Department’s communication strategy, including media relations, social media, and public outreach. The PIO serves as the official spokesperson liaison for the Department and is responsible for providing accurate, timely, and transparent information to the public, media, and community stakeholders.
Additional Information For more information about the duties of the position, click here.
Monthly Salary Range $10,789 (Minimum) – $14,300 (Reference) – $16,444 (Maximum). Appointments are typically made between the minimum and reference point, depending on qualifications.
Education and Experience Any combination of education and experience that would have provided the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical pathway would be:
Five years of increasingly responsible experience in public agency communications, media production, public information, broadcast operations, or related fields, including two years in a supervisory or managerial role.
Licenses and Certificates Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver’s License. FEMA ICS/NIMS training (ICS-100, 200, 300; IS-700, 800) required or ability to obtain within 12 months. PIO or Crisis Communications certification preferred.
The ideal candidate The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator and collaborative leader with strong media relations experience and the ability to manage complex communications in a municipal environment. They will demonstrate sound judgment, political awareness, and the ability to deliver clear messaging across multiple platforms.
Successful candidates will possess the following:
Strong leadership and staff management skills;
Expertise serving as a media spokesperson or Public Information Officer;
Knowledge of crisis communication and emergency messaging practices;
The ability to work effectively with elected officials, City leadership, staff, the community, and the media;
A commitment to transparency, accessibility, and responsive public communication.
How to Apply Interested candidates must submit an online application at
www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs . First review of applications will be those received by Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received, recruitment may close at that date. Testing may include an Oral Interview weighted 100% tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Visit
www.TorranceCA.Gov
to find out more information about our community. Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date. If you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 prior to the test date. A background check is required and a thorough background investigation will be conducted for Police Department applicants, including job/personal references, arrest records, credit history, use of controlled substances, medical and psychological evaluations, drug screening, and a polygraph.
Legal and Equal Opportunity The City of Torrance Inclusion Statement: The City is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. The City does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. The City is committed to building collaborative teams from all backgrounds and experiences.
Notes The provisions of this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. The City of Torrance Conflict of Interest Code requires annual Financial Disclosure Statements. A background check is a condition of employment for all hires.
#J-18808-Ljbffr