Public Affairs and Communications Chief

Public Affairs and Communications Administrator

Under limited supervision serves as the County's principal advisor and administrator for public affairs, strategic communications, public information, media relations, crisis communications, digital communications, and community engagement activities for Gila County.
Develops, coordinates, and administers Countywide communications strategies and public information initiatives supporting the County Manager, Board of Supervisors, County departments, emergency operations, and County strategic priorities. Serves as the County's designated Public Information Officer (PIO) and oversees emergency and crisis communications in accordance with Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles.
Provides executive-level communications support involving strategic messaging, media coordination, public outreach, website administration, social media management, reputation management, and organizational transparency efforts.
Regularly assigns work to other employees and supervises related activities. Provides recommendations on managing employees who also report to other managers.
Develops, implements, administers, and evaluates Countywide public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, public information, digital communications, and community engagement initiatives supporting County leadership, departments, and organizational priorities. Provides executive communications guidance and strategic messaging recommendations to County leadership involving sensitive, controversial, or high-profile matters.
Serves as the County's designated Public Information Officer (PIO) during emergencies, disasters, incidents, and crisis situations. Coordinates emergency public information activities in accordance with Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Joint Information Center (JIC) principles. Develops and disseminates emergency notifications, public advisories, media briefings, and crisis communications materials.
Oversees County website content, social media platforms, digital communications systems, public messaging standards, branding consistency, accessibility compliance, and multimedia communications efforts. Monitors public sentiment, media coverage, and communications trends impacting County operations and reputation.
Coordinates media relations activities including press releases, interviews, public statements, executive messaging, speeches, presentations, talking points, and responses to public inquiries. Represents County Administration during meetings, public events, media engagements, and intergovernmental activities.
Assists departments with public outreach initiatives, communication planning, public education campaigns, strategic initiatives, and organizational transparency efforts. Researches and implements communication best practices, emerging technologies, and community engagement strategies.
Reviews, edits and provides recommendations on County-wide, Elected Office, department and project and team budgets. Participates in planning and administration of departmental and project-related communication budgets. Reviews, monitors, and administers expenditures associated with communication initiatives, public outreach efforts, digital platforms, emergency communications activities, contracted services, and media-related projects.
Provides project resource allocation and coordination involving organizational planning projects, public outreach initiatives, technology projects, emergency communications projects, process improvement projects, branding initiatives, digital modernization efforts, and strategic communications campaigns. Initiates, communicates, reviews, and evaluates communication strategies and public engagement activities supporting County operational priorities and strategic objectives.
Conducts presentations, participates in meetings, moderates gatherings, trains colleagues, responds to public inquiries, coordinates media interviews, explains County procedures and policies, negotiates diplomatically, and speaks publicly on behalf of the County. This position routinely communicates with Elected Officials, County leadership, Department Directors, media representatives, regulatory agencies, community organizations, partner agencies, and members of the public during both routine operations and emergency situations.
Creates or edits documents, internal memos, emails, press releases, emergency notifications, public advisories, executive communications, speeches, talking points, social media content, website materials, reports, procedures, public information materials, presentations, formal correspondence, policies, strategic communication plans, and community outreach materials.
Interacts extensively with employees, customers, the general public, vendors, regulatory bodies, and other groups, and/or individuals and Institutions over the telephone, by email, and/or in person. This position also interacts extensively with Elected Officials, media representatives, partner organizations, community stakeholders over the telephone, electronically, and/or in person.
Continuously (More than 70% but less than 85% in a year).
Bachelor's degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Political Science, Marketing, Emergency Management, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Master's Degree preferred.
Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in public affairs, communications, public information, media relations, emergency communications, government relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or related field; including experience involving executive-level communications responsibilities, crisis communications, and public-facing operations. Government or emergency management experience preferred.
ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, and ICS-800 certifications required within six (6) months of hire. Public Information Officer (PIO) training preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
Communications and media relations; crisis communications; public administration; emergency management principles; Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and statutes; digital communications systems; social media administration; website management; public engagement strategies; branding and marketing principles; strategic planning; and public sector operations.
Strong leadership and interpersonal communication skills; public speaking and presentation skills; analytical writing skills; media coordination skills; crisis communication abilities; strategic planning abilities; assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands; interpreting laws, policies, and regulations; effectively communicating in written and verbal forms; interacting professionally with individuals of varying social, economic, political, and cultural backgrounds; maintaining composure in stressful situations; and preparing clear, comprehensive, and accurate reports and communications materials.
Generate fluent and useful ideas; solve problems using deductive reasoning; maintain calm demeanor during emergencies and stressful situations; communicate effectively under pressure; assess communications risks and organizational impacts; analyze information and make logical recommendations; develop and implement strategic communication initiatives; respond to sensitive citizen concerns and media inquiries; maintain confidentiality; and represent the County professionally in public settings.
Occasionally stands to present or to attend to customers. Routinely sits to operate special equipment; regularly sits to write and edit reports. Regularly lifts under 10 lbs. of work related materials or equipment; rarely lifts up to 50 lbs. of work related materials or equipment. Requires dexterity for keyboard operation and special machines regularly. Incumbents in this position may be required to routinely walk; rarely bend.
Incumbents in this position constantly spend time in office environments. Occasionally perform work at public meetings, emergency operations centers, outdoor locations, incident scenes, community events, media events, and other County facilities.
Incumbents in this position may become exposed to emotional or distressed individuals during emergencies, public controversies, crisis situations, or stressful operational events.
Incumbents in this position are required to follow written safety procedures, emergency management protocols, and departmental policies relevant to the division or department.
Potential errors can have legal ramifications, loss of funding, loss or organization's credibility.