Senior Public Communications Officer



Senior Public Communications Officer

Salary

$83,970.66 - $130,154.52 Annually

Location

401 B Street, San Diego

Job Type

Full-Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Department

Public Affairs

Division

Outreach

Opening Date

04/05/2024

Closing Date

4/26/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Description

The Senior Public Communications Officer will lead public outreach strategies that promote SANDAG projects and initiatives throughout the San Diego region.  This position will actively educate and provide opportunities for the public to participate in SANDAG projects, programs, and services, with a focus on communities historically underserved and systemically marginalized. 


Overview of the Public Outreach team: 

The Public Outreach team promotes the projects, programs, policies, and services SANDAG plans, funds, and builds for the San Diego region. The Public Outreach team is dedicated to cultivating long standing, symbiotic relationships with the community, and creating a sense of belonging, inclusion, and representation across the regional planning process. By serving as community liaisons and advocates, the Public Outreach team ensures that the public is represented in SANDAG efforts through collaborative planning processes and implementation activities.


Job Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement outreach and engagement strategies for multiple projects or programs to increase public awareness and understanding of SANDAG activities in the San Diego region.
  • Coordinate public outreach efforts during all stages of projects or programs; including the preparation of clear and concise collateral, website copy, and presentations; answering sensitive questions relating to projects and programs; and addressing public comments or concerns.
  • Participate and closely coordinate with project teams to develop community outreach strategies and plans, with a focus on opportunities to increase awareness and incorporate community input on significant project milestones. 
  • Develop and monitor established strategic plans and goals, ensuring consistent messaging, and further refining outreach messaging and strategies during various progress points throughout the stages of a project, program, or campaign; ensure work products are completed at a consistent high-quality level and reflect SANDAG brand voice and messaging.
  • Manage consultant work on public outreach and related activities including adherence to scopes of work and budgets.
  • Plan and execute community events, including groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings, informational sessions, and online engagements.
  • Supervise, mentor, train, and support direct reports; evaluate work and provide feedback; manage work plans and workload of direct reports.

Typical Qualifications

  • A bachelor's degree with major course work in English, journalism, communications, or a related field. A combination of education and recent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Five years of recent public outreach or public information experience, including lead or supervisory experience.  Ability to write and converse in Spanish and familiarity with the San Diego region and its varied communities is preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and coordinating proactive and effective community involvement, stakeholder engagement and public outreach programs and activities; demonstrated success engaging the public using effective communication techniques and culturally responsive outreach and engagement strategies. 
  • Ability to research, organize, and design informational material for publication and presentation; demonstrated experience coordinating responses to stakeholder inquiries and ability to encourage community members to participate in meetings and respond to surveys. 
  • Experience working on multi-disciplinary project teams with project managers, project stakeholders, contractors, and communications staff; experience identifying ideas and concerns and incorporating them into planned actions and strategies. 
  • Experience coordinating projects through consultants; developing requests for proposals, scopes of work, budgets, schedules and consultant selection; experience coordinating with consultants to ensure that projects are completed on time, and within budget. 
  • Outstanding technical writing and editing skills; experience writing engaging and compelling communications for a variety of audiences and purposes with a passion for simplifying and making complex information more conversational.
  • Proven relationship-building and networking skills.
  • Experience supervising and evaluating the work of direct reports, including work plans and workloads; experience coaching, developing, and mentoring direct reports.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including:

  • Hybrid work options
  • 9/80 flexible work schedule
  • Pay-for-performance merit increases
  • Retirement - Defined Benefit Plan with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Retirement - 457 Defined Contribution Plan with Voya
  • Excellent health insurance options for employees and their eligible dependents
  • Free dental and vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents
  • Education Assistance of up to $5,250 a year for regular employees
  • Free transit pass for use throughout the San Diego region, bus, Rapid Express, Trolley, and COASTER
  • Paid time off including 12 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, generous paid time off (PTO) per year, depending on length of service

01
SANDAG employees are expected to live within the San Diego region and work in-person in our San Diego office; there are telework options available (Monday and Wednesday), as well as a 9/80 work schedule (every other Monday off). This is not a fully remote position. Are you able and willing to adhere to the onsite and work schedule described above?
  • Yes
  • No
02
Do you have a bachelor's degree with mayor course work in English, journalism, communications, or a related field?
  • Yes
  • No
03
Describe your professional experience in public outreach or public information.
04
Are you fluent in both Spanish and English?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
San Diego Association of Governments
Address
401 B Street, Suite 800

San Diego, California, 92101
Phone
6196991900