The purpose of this position is to serve as the City’s official spokesperson for the City’s external communications, under the direction of the City Manager or designee. Employees in this classification are responsible for supporting the City’s strategic goals by creating, reviewing, and managing external communications, responding to media requests, and coordinating emergency communications by partnering with the City’s Emergency Response Departments (i.e., Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works Department). All coordination of communications, with the exception of those related to emergencies, shall be conducted through this position. Position is responsible for executing effective programs to inform and educate the public and news media about information regarding the City of Lauderhill.The following knowledge, skills, and abilities, as outlined herein, are intended to be representative of the type of tasks performed within this position. They are not listed in any order of importance. The omission of specific statements of the duties or functions does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this description. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Functions as an official spokesperson for the agency in external communications with the media regarding operations, programs and/or events as directed by the City Manager or designee; serves as main point of contact for news media in both emergency and non-emergency situations, except for police and fire activities.

Maintains contact with the media; coordinates interviews with the City officials; supports Emergency Management Personnel in maintaining an effective crisis communications plan; coordinates news coverage at incidents and other agency events.

Develops, implements procedures for, and responds to media and general public requests for information, including responses to media outlets, citizen requests and other inquiries; manages the City’s newsletter and other formal communication avenues.

Ensures that external facing media is continuously update with City events and City Manager approved content.

Supports optimal visual design and City branding awareness by ensuring that all published content is clear, consistent, and represents the City in a professional manner.

Works with administration and various departments to prepare public statements, press releases, photos and supporting data for the news media; works collaboratively with departments to identify, develop, and approve published content to ensure singular branding.

Coordinates closely with departments to align messaging across programming and initiatives, promoting interdepartmental communication to ensure consistency and accuracy in all public communications.

Serves as the liaison to various agencies to help promote the city and its community stakeholders.

Writes, shoots, produces, edits, and strategizes City videos for re-broadcast on the City’s local station, social media and City website.

Provides support to the Emergency Manager during crisis and emergency situations.

Identifies potential negative or crisis situation and advises City administration of methods for mitigating issues.

Adapts to daily priorities as needed by the City; ensures responsive communications thru variety of channels that are adapted to evolving needs.

Responds to media requests for interviews; arranges and coordinates news conferences; conducts inter-agency interviews in compiling information.

Researches, assembles, edits, and presents news materials through written media and oral communications.

Compiles Department records/information requested under Public Documents Law, Chapter 119.

Performs essential functions under stressful situations including disasters and incidents; supports immediate needs of the City as they occur after normal working hours and/or over weekends.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution, in journalism, marketing, communications, public administration, or closely related field; AND
Four (4) years of experience with progressive communications and/or public relations responsibility preferably within a governmental or public sector organization; AND
Two (2) years of experience leading and managing a team, including scheduling meetings, assigning tasks, and providing regular reports; AND
Two (2) years of experience implementing communication strategies and addressing and resolving issues related to press releases, media requests, and public updates; AND
Valid State of Florida Driver’s License.

If no applicants meet the minimum qualifications, an equivalent combination of education, training, experience, and preferred qualifications may be considered.

Supplemental Questions

Please be sure to answer all supplemental questions thoroughly and completely. Please note that if you do not answer all the questions in its entirety, your application may not be further considered in the hiring process. If you have any difficulty understanding or completing the supplemental questions, please feel free to contact the Human Resources Department at 954-730-3090.

Please be advised: Proof of education level is required (copy of High School Diploma/GED or College Degree/transcript needs to be uploaded in PDF format to application). Any required licenses and or certifications for the position you are applying for must be submitted as well. If required documentation is not provided, the application will be incomplete and will not continue in the hiring process.

The City of Lauderhill, Florida, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S. C. 12101 et. seq.), the City of Lauderhill will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Veteran's Preference

Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such servicemembers and veterans, receive preference and priority, and that certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in the employment by the state and its political subdivisions and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled.

You may waive a postsecondary educational requirement for a position of employment (except if the position is exempt under the statute e.g., temporary employees, members of boards and commissions, positions that require an employee to be a member of the Florida Bar), for a current member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard or a veteran who has been honorably discharged if the person is otherwise qualified for the position.

Applicant Screening

Due to the volume of applications the City receives, every applicant meeting the minimum qualifications cannot be guaranteed an interview. Applicants are selected for an interview based on education and work experience most closely matching the requirements of the position and may undergo additional selection and screening processes which may include an evaluation of training and experience, and written, oral and performance-based testing.

Drug and alcohol testing is conducted based upon City policy, Federal, State and Local requirements. The City of Lauderhill is an E-Verify employer.

Schedule Requirements: The ability to work a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the City, including ability to work evenings and weekends on a regular basis to attend meetings, community events, and other assigned functions. Occasional holidays and extended hours may also be required based on operational needs. The ability to adjust work hours and maintain reliability during non-traditional work times.

Driving Requirements: The ability to drive and operate a personal or City vehicle intermittently throughout the work day or work week.

Physical Requirements: Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds), for 37.5-40 hours per work week, including nights and weekends.

Motor Coordination: The ability to coordinate eyes, hands, and feet to utilize and operate office tools, equipment, and machinery; and to handle, sort, and organize documentation.

Sensory Requirements: The ability to perceive and differentiate audio and/or visual cues or signals; and to perceive and differentiate depths, and/or textures.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: The ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape; and to visually read various information.

Color Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between colors or shades of color.

Communication: The ability to effectively communicate with City employees, stakeholders, and the general public verbally and in writing to deliver and explain information in a variety of technical and/or professional languages, and to prepare written correspondence, documents, reports, and analyses using proper format, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Functional Reasoning: The ability to apply principles of rational systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: The ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, measurable, verifiable, or subjective criteria.

Data Conception: The ability to coordinate, manage, strategize, and or correlate data and/or information; and to exercise discretion in determining actual or probable consequences, and in identifying solutions or alternatives.

Mathematical Aptitude: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate numbers, decimals, and percentages.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are performed with varied exposure to adverse environmental conditions (i.e. cold, heat, rain, sunlight, humidity, noise, dirt, odor, and/or fumes).

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Communications Administrator