<p>Description</p> <p>This position develops, coordinates, administers, and provides oversight for a sustained media and communications program specifically tailored to support the Mayor and City Council. The position is designed to elevate the City of Columbia's image as an attractive place to build a career, enhance communication efforts to aid in employee recruitment and retention, and improve the dissemination of vital information to both internal and external audiences. This position also plays a key role in executing strategic public relations and marketing campaigns, including advertising initiatives and social media engagement. The incumbent works within a general outline of duties and responsibilities and develops work methods and sequences under general supervision.</p> <p>The work is considered sedentary in nature and involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, fingering, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking.</p> <p>Work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and is dynamic requiring sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.</p> <p>Essential Job Functions</p> <ul> <li>Coordinates activities designated by the Mayor and City Council as needed. Such as composing and distributing marketing content, communications, presentations, and press releases to disseminate information relevant to the community and to facilitate a positive image of the City; </li><li>Assists the Mayor and City Council as needed, in leading citywide thought leadership and storytelling to share best practices, knowledge, experiences, and success stories; </li><li>Oversees and/or participates in the production of promotional materials, from design through distribution; </li><li>Writes news, articles, and content for magazines, social media, digital distribution, and various other publications; </li><li>Coordinates and oversees social media and strategies for the Mayor and City Council. Establishes, reviews, and reports on social media use and the effectiveness of strategies with the goals of increasing the Mayor and City Council's online presence and exposure and social media influence; </li><li>Establishes and maintains close working relationships with local advertising groups and marketing agencies to promote regular, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of relevant information, training, resources, services, events, and programs; coordinates with the City's departments as needed, and local media outlets to disseminate information and to suggest coverage by the media of certain topics or at specific events or programs; </li><li>Responds to media requests and inquiries in a timely manner; </li><li>Plans, coordinates, promotes, and executes special events, employee engagement, programs, projects, and targeted marketing initiatives which may also include soliciting sponsorships and securing grant funds; </li><li>Provides professional and technical assistance, as needed, for media relations and communications strategies; </li><li>Gathers and maintains relevant, up-to-date departmental/citywide information and statistics and uses this information to assist with responses to media outlets; </li><li>Pitches positive stories to media outlets regarding City's operations, projects and strategic initiatives; </li><li>Attends training, meetings, seminars, and/or workshops to enhance job knowledge and skills; </li><li>Attends City, community, and committee meetings as needed; prepares for and gives presentations when required; project management; </li><li>Performs general administrative/clerical work as required, including preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, attending meetings, etc.; </li><li>Has availability to work flexible hours, as needed, to include evening evenings, weekends, and holidays; and </li><li>Performs other related duties as assigned. </li></ul> <p>Qualifications</p> <p>MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree required (Master's degree preferred) in business, public administration, public affairs, management/leadership, marketing, communications, public relations or closely related field; </li><li>Five (5) years of relevant prior experience; </li><li>Work experience in public information, marketing, communications, or public relations; </li><li>Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License. </li></ul> <p>Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities</p> <ul> <li>Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs; </li><li>Advanced understanding of principles and practices of public relations, marketing, advertising, and technology; </li><li>Strong problem solving and decision-making skills and exhibits sound judgement; </li><li>Able to effectively convey information, thoughts and ideas in strong verbal and written communication form to all levels of the organization; </li><li>Innovative thinker, with proven track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output; </li><li>Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; </li><li>Ability to coordinate or determine time, place or sequence of operations or activities based on analysis of data or information and may implement and report on operations and activities; </li><li>Ability to provide information, guidance or assistance to people of all backgrounds to directly facilitate task accomplishment; may give directions or assignments to others as directed; </li><li>Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner; </li><li>Ability to perform coordinating work involving guidelines and rules, with constant problem-solving; </li><li>Ability to read journals, manuals and professional publications; speaking informally to groups of co-workers, staff in other organizational agencies, the general public, people in other organizations; presenting training; composing original reports, training and other written materials using proper language, punctuation, grammar and style; </li><li>Ability to perform specialized technical and professional work requiring general understanding of operating policies and procedures and their application to problems not previously encountered; application of specialized technical or professional principles and practices or the use of a wide range of administrative methods in the solution of problems; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results and occasional exposure to unusual pressure; and </li><li>Ability to guide others, requiring frequent decisions affecting co-workers and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but with many variations from the routine. </li></ul> <p>The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.</p> <p>Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.</p> <p>To learn more details, visit our benefits page at:</p> <p>https://hr.columbiasc.gov/benefits/</p> <p>01</p> <p>Do you have a valid Driver's License?</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>02</p> <p>Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?</p> <ul> <li>High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED) </li><li>Some college </li><li>Associate degree </li><li>Bachelor's degree </li><li>Master's degree </li><li>Professional degree </li><li>Doctorate degree </li></ul> <p>03</p> <p>What is your major / area of study?</p> <p>04</p> <p>Do you have previous work experience in public information, marketing, communications, and/or public relations?</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>05</p> <p>How many years of relevant experience do you have?</p> <ul> <li>Over 1 year but less than 2 years of experience </li><li>Over 2 years but less than 3 years of experience </li><li>Over 3 years but less than 5 years of experience </li><li>Over 5 years but less than 7 years of experience </li><li>Over 7 years but less than 10 years of experience </li><li>Over 10 years of experience </li></ul> <p>Required Question</p> <p>Employer City of Columbia</p> <p>Address</p> <p>Columbia, South Carolina, 29217-0147</p> <p>Phone 803-545-3010</p> <p>Website https://www.columbiasc.gov</p>