The Town’s first Community Relations Manager must be an exceptional strategist, adept communicator, expert collaborator, and superior project manager with the ability to build trust, inspire confidence, manage change, and work in partnership with key community stakeholders and Town staff to communicate on topics of community interest. The position facilitates strategic project communication strategies, supports with direct assistance in planning and developing public interactions, communications, events, and engagement strategies related to ongoing Town projects. The Community Relations Manager would also develop new and maintain existing relationships with the community. This new position reports to the Town Manager and supports departments across the organization by working directly with project managers.

Responsibilities

• Build key relationships with community stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and other public and private agencies in Orange County and the Triangle region.

• Collaborates with all Town departments to develop and improve connections within the community 

• Assists with gathering and analyzing data and statistics 

• Responds to community questions and concerns and provides information to Town staff, external agencies, organizations, and/or the community. 

• Assists in gathering information, preparing correspondence and other marketing communication materials
• Assists with strategic and integrated communications planning

• Coordinates the development and/or logistics related to presentations, reports, schedules, meetings, program processes, and procedures; assists with content development and communication material preparation and distribution.

• Reviews and recommends opportunities to enhance community education, program offerings and related marketing and community outreach.

• Identifies when organizational change is needed to achieve the Town’s goals

• Identifies, develops, implements, and maintains processes and practices that encourage, support and promote effective, comprehensive and meaningful citizen engagement.

• Maintains knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to Town operations to resolve issues, serves as staff support for various plan development, serves as facilitation for internal and external meetings

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

This work might include supervising and monitoring performance for regular or temporary employees.

Physical Demands

The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table, with intermittent field work, walking, standing and stooping.

Work Environment: 

Work is typically performed in an office or in the community with some negotiable hybrid work options. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge and Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal/written and oral communication skills. Disseminating information using a variety of channels including traditional methods and various existing and new social media channels.

• Proven ability to manage and lead programs
   
• Demonstrated experience working in a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment

• Demonstrated experience in setting and achieving challenging goals

• Independent judgment and initiative
   
   Strong diplomacy skills (able to successfully manage external and internal relationships and effectively liaise with colleagues at all levels) and a customer service-oriented attitude

• Coalition building and collaboration skills

• The sociological and psychological aspects of organizations, community life, human relationships, group dynamics, and community organizations 
• Individual and group behavior and of effective ways to work with people on all levels
• Concepts, national trends, and current issues related to the field of community relations
• Suggests and facilitates new programs that engage, support, and educate Town staff on community relations issues
• Organizational and fiscal management skills for transparency and accountability
• Providing leadership, guidance, and support in the delivery of equity policy and initiatives in conjunction with internal and external partners

Ability to:

• Model the Town values of RESPECT
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse community groups, special interest groups, management, and public officials. 
• Implement and achieve solutions that are grounded in performance metrics and measurable outcomes.
• Willingness to go into and engage the community on all levels.
• Lead community forums and discussions involving difficult community issues
• Analyze situations to pinpoint problems and assist with solving problems or identifying sources of obstacles.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines. 
• Conduct advanced research on organizational policies and procedures, best practices and innovative techniques.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Other Key Skills:

• A demonstrated commitment to and experience in community engagement and effective communication and engagement tools.
• Experience with public policy development and implementation.
• Be a proven inspiring and collaborative leader that is decisive yet flexible and authentic.
• Be a person of strength and resilience.
• Be patient, yet passionate.

Education: 

A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the duties. 

Experience: 

At least three years of progressively responsible experience in local government or an equivalent combination of experience and education to perform the job.