Communications Specialist presso City of Tuscaloosa, AL

About the Department

The purpose of this classification is to coordinate and execute public information and digital communications activities for the City of Tuscaloosa to include website and social media outlets. This position works under the direction Executive Director of Strategic Communications and/or the assigned department head, and coordinates with other department heads, managers, supervisors, other employees and the community in the promotion of City activities and programs. 

Position Duties

The following duties are normal for this classification.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.  Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

Assists in development and design of communication materials for City events, including Arts and Entertainment events and others, as needed.  

Assists in the creative development and production of City publications, such as reports and newsletters, as needed.  

Performs related administrative tasks; develops and prepares promotional materials; copies and distributes materials; develops distribution plans; researches materials and vendors.  

Communicates with City departments to coordinate efforts in accordance with department and city goals.  

Develops and designs specialty designed print and electronic publications and other promotional items.  

Designs and develops publication materials including advertisements, newsletters, brochures and other promotional items through various computer programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite, on strict deadlines.  

Provides updates for web content on Tuscaloosa.com, as needed; coordinates with City webmaster to update site on an as-needed basis.  

Remains current in social media trends; assists in publishing pertinent and accurate information as it becomes available to appropriate social media outlets.  

Assists all City departments in development by providing statistical information and visual aids.  

Build and execute social media strategy through competitive research, platform determination, benchmarking, messaging and target audience identification.  

Generate, edit, publish and share daily content (including original text, images, video or HTML) that builds meaningful connections and encourages community members to participate in City programs and activities.  

Optimize city pages within each platform to increase the visibility of the City's social content.  

Moderate all user-generated content in line with City policy.  

Create editorial calendars; set up scheduled posts using post management software/platforms.  

Continuously improve by capturing and analyzing appropriate social data/metrics, insights and best practices, and then acting on the information.  

Collaborate with other departments to manage online reputation, identify key players and coordinate actions.  

Remain current in social media trends; publish pertinent and accurate information as it becomes available to appropriate social media outlets.  

Provides updates for web content on Tuscaloosa.com as needed through the City's content management system; coordinates with the city's web team to update site on an as-needed basis.  

Develop and implement web content strategies using web design best practices.  

Collaborate often with other departments to manage published web content, including departmental content on the City's website.  

Writes news releases, online and print articles, feature stories, advertising copy and other materials. 

Recommends policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the City. 

Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in day-to-day activities.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner. 

Must meet regular attendance requirements. 

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, coworkers, managers and citizens. 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, or related field; prefer experience in government relations, public communications and digital communications that is supplemented by experience in visual communications such as graphic and web design, making presentations, and/or working with the public as related; extreme proficiency in graphic design using Adobe Creative Cloud and proficiency in AP style; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
 

Other Qualifications

The following requirements are normal for this classification.  Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computer, printer, typewriter, copy and facsimile machines, and telephone.  Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for light work.
 
DATA COMPREHENSION:  Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things that may include reports, forms, procedural manuals, and training manuals.
 
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION:  Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange administrative and educational information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with the general public.
 
LANGUAGE ABILITY:  Requires ability to read a variety of educational and administrative documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.  Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and a well-modulated voice.
 
INTELLIGENCE:  Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex personnel related principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
 
VERBAL APTITUDE:  Requires the ability to record and deliver information, such as in a public speaking situation, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.
 
NUMERICAL APTITUDE:  Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and interpret statistical data.
 
FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE:  Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment that may include computers/office equipment and standard measuring and recording devices.
 
MOTOR COORDINATION:  Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment.
 
MANUAL DEXTERITY:  Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, automated office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting motion or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have average levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
 
COLOR DIFFERENTIATION:  May require the ability to discern color.
 
INTERPERSONAL TEMPERMENT:  Requires the ability to deal with and relate to people beyond giving and receiving instructions.  Must be able to adapt to and perform under moderate stress when confronted with an emergency.
 
PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION:  Requires the ability to talk, express, or exchange ideas by means of spoken words and/or hear and perceive nature of sounds by ear.