Communications and Community Engagement Specialist

Salary :

$54,000.00 - $61,000.00 Annually
Location :

211 Walnut Street, Neenah, WI
Job Type:

Full Time
Job Number:

CCS2026
Department:

Dept. of Legal & Administrative Services
Opening Date:

05/05/2026

The City of Neenah is seeking a highly-motivated and professionally-skilled communicator to work in the Mayor's office.

Communications and Community Engagement Specialist

Position Summary

The Communications and Community Engagement Specialist serves as the lead communications staff member for the Mayor's Office and plays a key role in strengthening communication between the City of Neenah and the public. This position is responsible for creating, managing, and growing the City's communications strategy across digital platforms, including the city website, social media, video, and digital publications.

This position works closely with the Mayor and City departments to tell the story of Neenah, strengthen public trust through clear and engaging communication, and build a modern communications system that connects residents to their local government. The position also provides limited front-office and administrative support within the Mayor's Office as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. City Communications and Storytelling
Develop, write, edit, and publish content for the city website, social media platforms, newsletters, video updates, and other digital communications
Lead the City's storytelling efforts by highlighting projects, services, events, staff, and initiatives that reflect the work and values of the City of Neenah
Create clear, accurate, and engaging public-facing communication that is accessible to residents
Translate complex city information into plain language for the public
Produce and publish a digital city newsletter at least quarterly
Identify opportunities to proactively share information and strengthen public understanding of city operations and priorities
2. Social Media and Digital Content Management

Manage the City's primary website and official social media accounts
Create and edit digital content, including graphics, photos, short-form videos, and written posts for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok
Coordinate with departments that maintain their own social media presence and elevate department content through citywide communication channels
Develop platform-specific strategies to improve reach, engagement, and consistency across the City's digital presence
Monitor digital engagement and recommend improvements to communication efforts over time
3. Mayoral Communications and Support

Work closely with the Mayor to develop and implement a communication system for the City
Assist with drafting speeches, remarks, talking points, public messages, and official correspondence
Help communicate the Mayor's priorities in a professional, community-focused, and non-political manner
Support outreach efforts that improve visibility, accessibility, and public engagement
Assist in coordinating communication related to public appearances, city events, and community engagement opportunities
4. Communication Planning and Coordination

Develop and help implement a citywide communication plan that can grow and expand over time
Coordinate with department heads and staff to gather information, identify communication needs, and maintain message consistency
Support communication during major city projects, events, public notices, and service updates
Help strengthen internal communication habits that support better external communication
5. Front Office and Administrative Support

Provide limited administrative support within the Mayor's Office
Assist with welcoming and directing residents or visitors who come to City Hall seeking the Mayor or Mayor's Office
Help maintain a professional, organized, and responsive front-office environment
Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the Mayor's Office and city communication efforts
Minimum Qualifications

Associate degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, digital media, public administration, or a related field required
Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred
Equivalent relevant experience in communications, media, marketing, community engagement, or related work may be considered in lieu of some educational requirements
Three years of relevant professional experience preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Ability to create clear, accurate, and engaging content for a variety of audiences
Experience managing websites and social media accounts for an organization or public-facing entity
Experience editing video and creating digital content for web and social media platforms
Ability to tell stories visually and in writing in a way that connects with the community
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain professionalism
Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with regular interaction with residents, elected officials, department heads, and staff
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive matters appropriately
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common communications, design, video, and social media tools
Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in local government, public sector communications, media relations, and / or community engagement
Experience with website content management systems
Experience with graphic design, photography, and short-form video production
Experience building communication plans and content calendars
Familiarity with public-facing communication in a governmental or service-oriented setting
Core Competencies

Strategic Communication
Storytelling and Content Creation
Public Engagement
Digital Media Management
Initiative and Problem Solving
Professional Judgment and Discretion
Organization and Follow-Through
Relationship Building and Collaboration
Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with frequent interaction with residents, elected officials, department heads, and City staff. The position works in a shared office environment that may be active and occasionally fast-paced. Some evening and weekend hours may be required to support meetings, community events, and city communication needs.

ADA / EOE

The City of Neenah is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process.

Compensation and Benefits:

Full time (37.5 hours / week) Typical schedule is 8.5 hours per day (7.5 hours of work with one-hour unpaid lunch). Summer hours involve longer days M-Th with a half day on Friday.
Expected hiring range is $54,000 to $61,000 annual. Position is non-exempt.
Paid vacation, sick, and holiday pay
Health, dental and vision insurance with WRS participation
FREE care for employees and eligible dependents at City of Neenah Employee Clinic (provided by ThedaCare at Work)
How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, please apply via our online application at:

Applications must include both a cover letter and resume to be considered.
Applications must include a work sample. This can include a social media post, newsletter, graphic, website page, or similar.
Position will remain open until filled, so candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

The City of Neenah is committed to providing everyone with fair and equal treatment. If you share this same desire, are seeking a meaningful career in public service, and want the opportunity to make a difference in your community, we invite you to consider a career with us. We are committed to the principles of equity and inclusion and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas.
The City of Neenah offers the following benefits to employees classified as Full-Time or Permanent Part-Time working 30 hours or more per week.

Employee Health Clinic
Benefit eligible employees (Those working 30 or more hours per week) have access to the City's employee clinic free of charge.

Dependents up to age 26 who are on the City's health plan may also use the employee clinic at no cost. Those dependents not on the City's health plan may access the clinic but are required to pay a $40 co-pay.

Medical
The City offers medical insurance through UMR. To better understand the network, you can visit umr.com and search for UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network.

Wellness Benefit
Covered employees and spouses who participate in their annual wellness screening receive up to $400 annually into a Health Reimbursement Account on a pre-tax basis. This benefit can be used for medical expenses such as deductibles and co-pays.

Flexible Spending Account Plan
Eligible employees may elect to participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) plan. The FSA plan allows employees to have payroll deducted pre-tax and kept in an account that the employee may use for certain medical, dental, or vision costs not covered by insurance, or for dependent care, or for independent health premiums.

Dental
The City uses Delta Dental as it's dental provider. Employees pay 10% of the overall premium.

This benefit includes a $1500 annual orthodontic allowance for each covered member on the plan.

Vision:
The City uses Delta as it's Vision provider. The Employee pays 100% of this premium.

Ancillary Benefits
The City offers ancillary benefits to offset health care costs. These benefits include Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity.

Each of the available benefits offer an additional wellness benefit.

Income Continuation Insurance
As a WRS eligible employee, we participate in Income Continuation Insurance through the State of Wisconsin. Employees who are disabled due to a personal medical event may receive monetary benefits similar to a short-term disability program. Some provisions apply.

Life Insurance
The City provides WRS eligible employees with basic life insurance in the amount of one times an employee's annual salary at no cost to them.

Employees may elect additional coverage for themselves and eligible dependents. Rates are based on age and salary as determined by the carrier.

Wisconsin Retirement System
The City of Neenah participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System. All eligible employees are automatically enrolled into the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). The City of Neenah pays the employer portion, and each eligible employee is responsible for the employee portion.

Employee Assistance Program
The City of Neenah has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This service is offered at no cost to its employees and their immediate family members to help deal with life's stresses. EAP consists of caring individuals who are certified counselors. They can also help by referring the employee to another resource if assistance is needed beyond the EAP.

Deferred Compensation
Deferred Compensation allows employees to set aside pre-tax earnings toward retirement. The amount deferred reduces year-end state and federal income tax base. All the earnings will accrue tax-free until such time as the assets are withdrawn, generally at retirement, termination, or other special circumstances. There is also an after-tax 457 Roth contribution option. The City does not contribute to these plans.

Time Away from Work
The City of Neenah offers several paid time off benefits to include: vacation, holidays, floating holidays, sick leave, funeral leave and jury duty leave.
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To be considered for this position, a cover letter, resume, and a work sample must be attached to this application. Have you attached all 3 documents?

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