Communications Specialist (Temp)

DEFINITION
Under general supervision, the Communications Specialist develops and implements communications and marketing efforts of assigned programs and special events.  This position will coordinate Vista Fire Rescue's social media presence with the Communication team and Fire Administration by developing and creating content campaigns and encouraging resident participation in a variety of programs, services, processes, and events.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
The Communications Specialist will showcase Vista Fire Rescue's programs and public events through social media campaigns and will assist with engagement and event coordination. Incumbents are expected to resolve most problems confronted through the application of judgment and precedent, referring only those which involve the establishment of new procedures, or which involve solutions that are inconsistent with departmental procedures and policies to the manager.Develop and implement digital marketing strategies using organic and paid media that create awareness and encourage participation in various City functions, including Vista Fire Rescue programs and special events.
 
Serve as a digital storyteller for the City in creating organic and paid social media content that promotes programs, resources, services, and events for Vista Fire Rescue.   Produce creative and engaging content using video and photography (primary emphasis will be on utilizing social media video on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and any other relevant platforms).  Monitor social media channels, respond to questions and concerns, and bring issues that need to be addressed to the attention of the Communications Officer. Collaborate with Vista Fire Rescue and the Communications team to craft social media responses as needed.  Provide monthly reports on each channel’s growth, reach, and engagement.  Coordinate the monthly production of Vista Fire Rescue's email newsletter for external audiences in English and Spanish, including writing content, coordinating photos, and conducting online outreach.
 
Serve as photographer and videographer to create digital assets for use on social media, publications, websites, and other platforms. Collaborate with the Fire Administration team in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing a campaign promoting programs and events. Perform other related duties as assigned.KNOWLEDGE OF: 

• Principles, practices, and techniques of marketing, public relations, and communications;
• Methods and techniques of writing, advertising, graphic arts, audio-visual production, and photography; 
• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing public communications, cable broadcasting, and marketing;
• Political issues, community development issues, laws, and legislative developments of importance to the community and government agencies;
• Public information programs. 

SKILL IN:

• Social media content production, including video, photography, editing, and creative copywriting;
• Microsoft Office tools;
• Website design and management.

ABILITY TO: 

• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with clients, staff, management, elected officials, business representatives, consultants, and vendors.
• Use a variety of tools to create and maintain digital content including Photoshop and/or Lightroom, Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro, later.com, or other video editing software such as Lumafusion;
• Be self-motivated, have a creative mindset, and be detail-oriented;
• Design, coordinate, and implement effective digital marketing and storytelling, public relations, and communications programs;
• Analyze and determine effective strategies for communications ideas, messages, and events;
• Research, evaluate, write, and edit reports, studies, speeches, memos, correspondence, news releases, and other forms of communications;
• Prepare and present information in a clear, concise, and informative manner at public meetings or forums;
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in all oral and written communications;
• Narrate and present live information for various media platforms;
• Prepare regular and accurate activity and cost reports;
• Train, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the work of technical and administrative staff given particular projects;
• Oversee the work of vendors and consulting firms;
• Plan, coordinate, organize, and prioritize projects in order to meet program and division deadlines;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees, co-workers, and the general public;

QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of training, education, and experience which demonstrates an ability to perform the duties of the position. A typical combination would include completion of college coursework in a major such as public administration, communications, marketing, or journalism, bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or a closely related field, and increasingly responsible experience in communications, digital marketing, and social media production and management.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands or arms. The employee occasionally walks and stands and lifts and moves records and documents weighing 20 pounds or less.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands
While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data, information, and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret data and situations; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new skills or information; perform highly detailed work on multiple concurrent tasks; work under changing and intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions; and interact with City officials, media, citizen groups, employees, and others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee works under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet.


APPLICATION PROCEDURE:*Please note, all dates and/or timeframes are subject to change.

Salary : $27 - $33