Director of Communications and Public Information

Director Of Communications And Public Information The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the class of Director of Communications and Public Information at the County Administrator's Office. The role of the Director of Communications and Public Information is to manage the County's communications with the public through press releases, social media, videos, live media and the County website. The Director of Communications and Public Information informs and engages the community and other stakeholders regarding County activities, services, and strategies. The Director of Communications and Public Information also functions as the County Spokesperson which requires knowledge of County programs and policies. As a member of the County Emergency Operations Center personnel, the Director of Communications and Public Information also acts in a lead capacity in disseminating information during an emergency.
The ideal candidate is an experienced, dedicated, innovative, and proactive media relations professional who possesses outstanding team-leading skills, high integrity, solid ethical standards, and can exercise appropriate independent judgment. The ideal candidate understands the dynamics of County government and is exceptional in the art of articulating messages to the community through all available outlets. The ideal candidate enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and is able to respond quickly and thoroughly to Yolo County's communications/information needs. The ideal candidate has strong public speaking and interpersonal communication skills. The ideal candidate is highly collaborative and successful at cultivating and maintaining effective working relationships with their teams, the community, media outlets, and other agencies. The ideal candidate leads by example and delivers outstanding customer service with compassion and empathy at all times. The ideal candidate has experience working in multilingual communities.
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of the highly visible County-wide communications and public information program that supports organizational priorities and engages internal and external audiences.
Serves as the County's advisor on media relations, public messaging and communication strategy and coaches County leaders and departments on media protocols and response practices.
Prepares, and directs the creation and dissemination of written, digital and multimedia materials including newsletters, reports, press releases, speeches, presentations and major publications.
Acts as the County's primary spokesperson and represents the organization with the media, community groups, partner agencies and the public.
Provides strategic oversight of the County's digital presence including social media, website content, branding and digital engagement to ensure accuracy, consistency and effective messaging.
Builds and maintains relationships with media outlets, community organizations and internal stakeholders and responds to complex and sensitive inquiries with professionalism and tact.
Leads and implements County public outreach efforts including briefings, workshops, events and major communication campaigns and directs emergency communication planning and participation in the Emergency Operations Center when needed.
Guides cross-departmental communication initiatives to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with County policies and priorities.
Develops and implements communication policies, procedures and standards that promote transparency and improve public understanding of County programs and services.
Designs, leads and implements internal communication strategies that inform and engage County employees and oversees employee communication tools and channels.
Monitors trends, issues, public sentiment and emerging topics and uses research, surveys and other assessments to advise County leadership and inform communication strategies.
Oversees the work of contractors and consultants supporting communication projects and manages related contracts and deliverables.
Evaluates emerging public issues, identifies potential impacts on County operations or public perception and recommends proactive strategies and policy adjustments.
Prepare and edit written material, including internal and external newsletters, brochures and other publications, that provides information to enhance the understanding, awareness, and support of the county operations and programs.
Responsible for the County's social media policy and creating maintaining the County-wide social media sites and presence.
Design, plan, implement content to support county outreach activities utilizing diverse platforms and communication tools.
Provides leadership and supervision to assigned staff, including assigning work, setting priorities, evaluating, offering guidance and feedback, and supporting professional development to ensure high-quality and timely delivery of communication services.
Design, plan, implement and participate in internal and external communications, programs to inform, train and motivate County employees; direct the dissemination of information to County employees.
Work with website support and design team to ensure accurate and up to date information on the County's website.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications: Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A master's degree is desirable. Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public information, communications, media relations, marketing, or a related field, including experience developing and managing comprehensive communication strategies. Experience leading a communications team or major communication initiatives is highly desirable. License: This classification requires incumbents to possess and maintain a valid California driver's license, Class C or higher, to carry out job related duties. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.