Director of Public Affairs
Job Classification: Chief Public Affairs & Community Engagement Officer
Location: City of Culver City, CA
Salary: Up to $205,691 - $249,995 DOE/DOQ
The City of Culver City, CA is looking for an experienced and innovative communications and public affairs leader to serve as its first ever Director of Public Affairs. The position is created to advance priority‑based budgeting, civic assemblies, community conversations and other initiatives designed to strengthen transparency, public trust, and meaningful community engagement. The Director will lead citywide communications, public affairs, media relations, branding, and community engagement while serving as a trusted advisor to the City Manager, executive leadership team and City Council.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide executive‑level communications counsel to the City Manager, executive leadership team and City Council.
- Lead citywide communications, public affairs, media relations and community engagement strategies.
- Support innovative public engagement initiatives, including community conversations, civic assemblies and priority‑based budgeting efforts.
- Develop communication strategies that strengthen public understanding of City priorities, services, programs and investments.
- Establish consistent messaging, branding and communication standards across the organization.
- Lead and develop a growing communications team while fostering collaboration across all City departments.
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience & Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Political Science or a related field. Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs or media relations, including at least three (3) years in a leadership or management capacity.
- Licensure: Valid California Class C driver’s license at time of appointment and throughout employment.
- Highly Desired: Experience advising executive leadership and elected officials; public sector or government communications experience preferred.
Salary and Benefits
Annual salary: Up to $205,691 - $249,995 DOE/DOQ
- Retirement: CA Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, coordinated with Social Security.
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance: Choice of CalPERS medical plans for employees and eligible dependents. Hospital‑Medi‑Choice (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) available. City provides up to $2,131 per month toward health benefits for the 2026 plan year.
- Retirement Health Savings Plan
- Management Education Incentive: $4,800 per fiscal year for a master’s degree or higher from an accredited organization.
- Life Insurance: $250,000 with additional accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
- Disability Insurance: Short‑ and long‑term disability insurance provided by the City.
- Physical Well‑Being Allowance: $750 each fiscal year.
- Phone Allowance: $60 per pay period.
- Vacation: 80 hours annually for the first four years, increasing with years of service.
- Floating Holiday Leave: 57 hours of paid floating holiday leave each fiscal year.
- Administrative Leave: 126 hours per year.
- Sick Leave: Four (4.0) hour accrual per pay period up to 104.0 hours annually.
- Holidays: Eight designated holidays per year.
- Transportation Allowance: $375 per month.
- Deferred Compensation: City contributes $160 per pay period for mandatory employee contribution of $76.25 in the 401(a) Plan; a voluntary 457 plan is also available.
- Other: Optional Flexible Spending Account (FSA), flexible/hybrid work schedule available.
Application Process
The City is seeking to fill this position expeditiously and will begin evaluating applications immediately as they are submitted. Strong candidates will be invited to participate in the interview process as applications are received; the recruitment may close without notice once a suitable candidate has been selected.
Apply by submitting your resume and cover letter at
Questions
Place questions to the recruiter, Sam Sackman, at or 408‑605‑0790.
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