Communications Specialist - SPD

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Department:
Office of the Chief of Police

Employee Type:
Probationary

Time Type:
Full time

Salary Range:
$31.0632 - $39.6056 Hourly / $64,611.46 - $82,379.65 Annually

Job Posting Period:
January 10, 2025 - February 01, 2025 12:00 A.M.

Job Description:

Overview

The Communications Specialist will assist the Communications unit in promoting transparency, community engagement, and public safety by acting as a key media liaison, producing high-quality content for social media, press releases, annual report, and managing real-time communication during critical incidents. This role requires on-call availability to respond to critical incidents and emergencies. The Communications Specialist supports all aspects of the department's public-facing communication efforts, ensuring timely and accurate information is shared with the public.

Essential Functions

• Assists the Communications unit with meeting the City's communications, public information, community outreach and marketing objectives.
  
• Assists in the development of communications plans to support both short- and long-range organizational objectives.
  
• Gathers information, writes news releases and disseminates news releases to media outlets and residents, posts news releases to website and social media.
  
• Responds to requests for information from the media via a variety of methods including email, phone calls, text messages, and social media.
  
• Responds to critical incidents and assists with in-person media management, ensuring the safety and accuracy of shared information.
  
• Proactively pitches news stories to media outlets.
  
• Cultivates strong working relationships with local media representatives.
  
• Reviews news stories for content accuracy.
  
• Assists with media relations efforts in emergency situations.
  
• On call to respond to media inquiries and unexpected situations that require community outreach.
  
• Prepares staff members for media interviews and provides interviews.
  
• Coordinates news conferences including recording and posting to social media channels.
  
• Assists with the production of a weekly multi-media newsletter.
  
• Develops, or assists in the development of, communication materials across multiple departments.
  
• Develops content (including photos, videos, infographics) and administers social media platforms to engage residents and disseminate information about City activities and programs.
  
• Generates digital and print graphics for public information, social media and marketing efforts.
  
• Generates still photos and coordinates archives.
  
• Works with the Communications to coordinate public communications during emergencies, such as severe weather or public safety incidents.
  
• Serve as a point of contact for media inquiries, ensuring prompt, accurate, and consistent responses.
  
• Develop, write, and disseminate news releases, social media posts, and other communication materials on police activities, incidents, and public safety information.
  
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with local, regional, and national media representatives.
  
• Prepares and delivers crisis communication plans and public information briefings during emergencies.
  
• Supports community engagement efforts, including attending public meetings, events, and other outreach activities.
  
• Maintains records of media interactions and monitor coverage, ensuring accurate public perception of the department's activities.
  
• On-call 24/7 to assist with media inquiries, critical incidents, and emergency response situations.
  
• Depending upon assignment, may respond in person to incidents, riding along with officers during calls for service and wearing necessary protective gear when required.
  
• Responds to emergency and critical incident situations as part of the on-call team, providing real-time updates to the public and media.
  
• Assists in managing social media platforms, creating content, and posting updates during critical incidents.
  
• Monitors and manages the department's social media platforms, creating content, ensuring timely and appropriate content is posted to engage and inform the community.
  
• Supports the Communications unit in developing a cohesive and engaging online presence for the city.
  
• Collaborates with internal departments and community partners to ensure clear and accurate messaging, particularly during crises or major events.
  
• Supports the Communications unit with developing communication strategies for special events, public safety campaigns, and other outreach initiatives.
  
• Monitors local, state, and national media for coverage related to the city and assist in preparing reports on media trends.
  
• Depending upon assignment, may be exposed to sensitive and sometimes graphic information, requiring emotional resilience and a high level of confidentiality.
  
• Frequently works beyond regular hours to assist in emergency communications and high-profile incidents, ensuring timely public updates.
  
• The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, public relations, journalism or other related field,
  
• Two (2) years experience working in journalism and/or government or law enforcement communications with interaction with media outlets and social media platforms,
  
• Or the equivalent combination of education and experience which will provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed.
  

Job Based Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
  
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, multitask, and respond effectively in high-stress situations such as natural disasters, critical incidents, and public safety crises.
  
• Experience in building and maintaining positive relationships with the media, ensuring proactive and transparent communication on behalf of the police department.
  
• Knowledge of the Associated Press Stylebook.
  
• Ability to produce and edit high quality video content from conception to posting on social media platforms.
  
• Ability to keep records and prepare reports.
  
• Ability to distill complex information under strict deadlines and write in a clear, concise manner.
  
• Proficient in digital communication platforms, including social media management tools, content management systems, and media monitoring software.
  
• Comfortable delivering briefings, interviews, and presentations to media, community groups, and public forums.
  
• Ability to handle fast-paced, unpredictable work environments, particularly in crisis situations, which often involve evening, weekend, or holiday hours.
  
• Strong collaborative skills to work with other members of the Public Information Office, department leadership, internal and external stakeholders.
  
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and commitment to ethical communication, particularly in handling sensitive information.
  

Responsibility

Under the direction and responsible to the Senior Communications Manager or designated representative. No supervision exercised.

Physical Requirements

The work requires periodic physical exertion, involving lifting and/or transporting up to 20 pounds frequently, and 50 pounds occasionally, usually when transporting or lifting cameras and other audio and/or video and related equipment. The work also occasionally entails potential safety hazards and environmental conditions. Accordingly, appropriate precautions must be understood and observed to avoid injury. Visual acuity is required for preparing, reviewing, checking and maintaining video, computer and written files, and for reviewing documents and other data. Incumbent is required to have sufficient hearing ability to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Manual dexterity to operate audio-video, standard office computer and other equipment is required. Work locations can vary and include extended periods of time outdoors at different scenes, major events, or emergency situations.

Public Contact

Contacts are an essential component of this position. The incumbent interacts frequently with officials and employees of other City Departments and other City, County, State and Federal agencies. Contacts are for the purpose of obtaining and furnishing information, providing interpretations and explanations, facilitating resident participation, responding to questions, conveying the City's message and similar purposes.

Retirement Benefit

The City of Sarasota made the transition to become a Florida Retirement System (FRS) employer effective December 1, 2021. To learn more about what this benefit may mean for you, please visit MyFrs.com. Please note that if you are hired to work for the City of Sarasota as an FRS employer, you will be asked to complete a form to certify your FRS status, as there may be an impact to any FRS benefit you are already receiving.

I f you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Jake Brown our ADA Coordinator. Jake can be reached via email at Jake.Brown@sarasotafl.gov or via phone at 941-263-6299.

F or questions pertaining to general employment or job application status, please call 941-263-6476, or email HR@sarasotafl.gov

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• City of Sarasota

• (941) 263-6316

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