Director of Communications & Public Engagement

Director Of Communications And Public Engagement

The City of Lynchburg is seeking a visionary and forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Director of Communications and Public Engagement. The next Director will inherit a team of dedicated communications professionals who serve a vibrant and thriving City. The person filling this role will be an ambassador and advocate for City government, will thrive on the opportunity to connect with the community we serve, and will lead our City's communications efforts into the City's future.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit an application, including completed supplemental questions, cover letter, and resume with three (3) professional references and two (2) personal references. Applications will be accepted through June 16, 2026.
Essential Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
Provides leadership and strategic direction for determining priorities, goals and objectives to ensure City communications are current, accurate, effective, and timely; ensures appropriate dissemination of information from all City departments and services.
Responsible for oversight of the City's Citizens First Customer Service Center, City government television programming, public relations and special events, and community engagement efforts, ensuring effective communication and promotion of City services, initiatives, and priorities through print, internet, social media, and other communication channels.
Plans, organizes, and coordinates complex communications, public engagement, and special event initiatives; collaborates with City departments, City leadership, community members, elected and appointed officials, and the media to support major City initiatives, promote public awareness, and foster community engagement.
Prepares speeches, talking points, proclamations and subject matter briefs for City Council and City Manager as necessary.
Develops and evaluates policies and procedures to effectively carry out departmental operations; promotes staff collaboration, innovation and critical thinking in developing solutions and approaches to departmental issues.
Serves as the organization's Public Information Officer during emergencies and coordinates the dissemination of emergency messages through the City's emergency notification system. Oversees the operation of the Joint Information Center (JIC) during emergencies.
Responsible for overall management of the department; including budget research, development, preparation and budget monitoring to ensure cost effectiveness. Ensures that purchasing and financial transactions are properly conducted in accordance with City administrative policies and procedures.
Develops proposals and reports and presents recommendations to City management, City Council and to other groups.
Continually evaluates and manages the City's brand position.
Leads city-wide communications and reviews other department's initiatives as needed.
Collaborates with other organizations and agencies to serve the best interests of the City of Lynchburg.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
May be required to be on-call and to work non-standard hours including occasional weekends.
Other duties to provide directly or indirectly services to citizens as may be assigned.
When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Directly supervises two management-level employees and provides overall leadership and indirect supervision for a department of fourteen (14) full-time employees within the Communications and Public Engagement Department, including Customer Service Center and Broadcast Services operations. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Minimum Education And Experience Required

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Communications or related field
10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of these specific requirements
Additional Requirements

Possession of valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and acceptable driving record according to City criteria. View Driving Criteria here.
Relevant background checks must be completed satisfactorily.
Residency within the City of Lynchburg limits preferred.
Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.
The City offers an array of benefits combined with direct salary/wages in order to establish a total compensation package that supports the City's goals of attracting, rewarding, and retaining employees who are both representatives of the community and are also able to deliver exceptional services.
Employees in full-time positions are eligible for the following benefits:
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS); the City's contribution is based on a rate determined bi-annually by the VRS Board and employees pay 5% of base pay (pre-tax) towards their VRS benefit
Life insurance at no cost to the employee
Optional benefits such as 457 deferred compensation, Roth IRA, flexible spending accounts, etc.
Eligibility for parental leave and tuition assistance
Paid Time Off
Employees in hourly and part-time positions may be eligible for benefits depending on the position
Employees of the City of Lynchburg may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for federal student loans
Additional information about City benefits can be found on our website and in the Employment Policies & Procedures