Communications Specialist

All salaries posted are minimum starting rates.

Actual starting salary may be dependent on applicant qualifications and experience.

Description

Examples of Duties

Key Responsibilities:

• 
  Social Media Management & Strategy
  • Develop, implement, and monitor social media strategies to engage the community, promote municipal services, and inform the public about important initiatives, events, and emergencies.
  • Manage daily social media activities across multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, etc.), ensuring consistent messaging and branding.
  • Create social media posts that are engaging, accurate, and timely using best practices. Coordinate with department social media managers to ensure they use best practices and stay on brand.
  • Collaborate with the PIO to execute social media strategies during emergencies or incidents.
• Content Creation & Graphic Design
  • Design visually appealing content, including infographics, promotional materials, and digital assets for use across social media, websites, and other communication channels.
  • Use professional photography and video techniques to capture and document key events, municipal projects, and daily operations for social media and marketing purposes.
  • Coordinate with other departments on internal and external newsletters. Disseminate external newsletters using Constant Contact or other similar platforms.
• Social Media Analytics & Reporting
  • Track and analyze the performance of social media campaigns, adjusting strategies as necessary to increase engagement and reach.
  • Provide regular reports on key performance indicators (KPIs), insights, and trends to the PIO and other stakeholders.
  • Monitor social media platforms for community feedback, questions, and concerns, responding promptly or escalating to the appropriate staff.
• Website Content Management
  • Develop, write, and update engaging website content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with the brand voice. Edit existing content for style, grammar, and SEO optimization.
  • Oversee the daily management of website content, including uploading new pages, images, and videos, maintaining a user-friendly content structure, and ensuring that all content is up-to-date and accessible.
  • Implement SEO best practices to optimize website content for search engines, monitor website performance through analytics tools, and provide reports on content performance and user engagement for continuous improvement.
  • Coordinate with department content managers to ensure webpages are updated and are ADA compliant.
• Emergency Communications Support
  • Support the PIO in crisis communication efforts, particularly during emergency situations such as natural disasters, public safety threats, or urgent community issues.
  • Assist with the rapid development and dissemination of emergency communication messages via social media, websites, and other digital platforms.
  • Be available during evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to ensure effective communication during emergencies.
• Collaboration and Coordination
  • Work closely with other departments to ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels.
  • Assist in the creation of press releases, newsletters, and other communication materials as needed.
  • Maintain positive relationships with local media outlets on behalf of the PIO as needed.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Public Information Officer or other senior management.

Typical Qualifications

Qualifications:

• 
  Education:
  Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Graphic Design, Marketing, or a related field required.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in social media management, communications, graphic design, or a related field.
  • Proven ability to create engaging social media content and manage online communities.
  • Experience with social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social, etc.), graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite), and photography/videography equipment.
  • Experience in emergency communication or public safety communications is highly desirable.

Supplemental Information

• Skills:
  • Strong writing, editing, and communication skills with an ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences. Prefer candidate to possess excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a working knowledge of Associated Press Style.
  • Proficiency in social media post and ad creation and management on Facebook, Instagram, NextDoor, LinkedIn, X, and other patforms; and proficiency in social media analytics tools (e.g., Facebook Insights, Google Analytics, X Analytics) and the ability to interpret data to optimize campaigns.
  • Strong graphic design skills with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.) or other design tools.
  • Skilled in photography and videography with the ability to produce content for social media and other communications channels.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Ability to handle high-pressure situations and work outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, when necessary.
  • Knowledge of crisis communication best practices and emergency management protocols is a plus.
  • Ability to work citywide events, including late hours, evenings, and weekends.
  • Knowledge of new and emerging trends in communication media and technology.
  • Knowledge of city council-governed municipal entities, with a general understanding of ordinances and policies.
  • Skill in the use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
  • Ability to maintain high standards of confidentiality and professionalism conducive to representing City of Buda Administration.
    • Skill in using computers for data entry.
    • Skill in using computers for word processing and/or accounting purposes.
    • Skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
    • Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
    • Skill in use of computer programs for producing publications.
    • Skill in delivering public presentations.
    • Skill in working effectively and efficiently with limited supervision.
    • Skill in reading and comprehending city policies, budgets, goals, and programs.
    • Skill in reading and understanding a wide variety of media sources, professional development materials and communication.
    • Skill in writing and editing news releases, newsletters, website text, scripts, reports, advertisements, pamphlets, letters to the editor, and other forms of written communication; applies appropriate style guidelines.
    • Skill in editing/updating websites.
    • Ability to work remotely, upon approval.
    • Soft skills in communication, team player, flexible, problem solver, accepting feedback, possessing confidence and creative thinking.

• Occasional evening and weekend work required, particularly in emergency or time-sensitive situations or events.
• Must be available for on-call duties during emergencies, with flexibility to adjust schedules as needed.
• Some travel within the city may be required for events or emergency communications.

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry camera and lighting equipment, up to 25 lbs.