Public Affairs and Communications Chief

Public Affairs and Communications Director

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.
Supervises other employees and manages 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.
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% but 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.