Communications Specialist

Under general supervision, performs a variety of professional communications duties focused on content development, storytelling, digital engagement, and channel management in support of First 5 Alameda County’s communications strategies. Coordinates and executes day-to-day communications products and projects across multiple platforms, with particular emphasis on written content, newsletters, social media, and digital storytelling. Develops clear, accessible, and equity-centered messaging that supports Agency initiatives, programs, and system-building work, and provides professional communications support to Agency leadership and staff.

• Content Development & Storytelling: Develop clear, engaging, and equity-centered content across platforms that translates complex policy and program work and elevates community voices in a consistent Agency voice.
• Social Media & Digital Communications: Manage and execute the Agency’s social media and digital presence, including content creation, scheduling, engagement, performance tracking, and basic website updates.
• Newsletters & Owned Channels: Plan, produce, and manage internal and external newsletters and owned content channels, ensuring coordinated, timely, and cohesive communications.
• Campaign & Project Execution: Collaborate with leadership and staff to plan and execute communications campaigns, advising on messaging, content framing, and channel strategy.
• Media, Publications & Technical Content: Draft press materials and support Agency publications, including reports, issue briefs, and annual reports, in collaboration with program, policy, and data teams.
• Design & Multimedia: Produce basic visual and multimedia content and coordinate with vendors to support digital storytelling and communications needs.
• Operations, Coordination & Oversight: Coordinate communications workflows, timelines, and vendors, providing quality control and technical direction as needed.
• Continuous Improvement: Monitor communications trends and recommend tools and strategies to strengthen Agency communications effectiveness.

Qualifications:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Additional experience and/or education can be substituted to meet typical qualifications. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience managing the full life cycle of communications programs and/or projects from conceptualization to execution and a bachelor’s degree with major coursework in journalism, public relations, communications, or a closely related field.

Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet college coursework/training standards.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques of a robust communications/public information program.
• Standard and accepted principles, techniques, and methods of preparing and disseminating public information and community relations materials.
• Standard and accepted methods and practices related to the preparation, publication, and distribution of press releases, media, and marketing materials and public service announcement.
• Best practices with website and content management.
• Techniques and methods for developing persuasive written and verbal communications.
• Research, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of programs, projects, and materials.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Attributes and characteristics of various styles of writing, such as Associated Press style, and the appropriate adaptation of communication style for targeted audience.
• Techniques and methods of data research, synthesis, organization, and interpretation.
• Record keeping and filing systems and methods.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Agency and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Agency staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Understand and use social media effectively with little supervision.
• Prepare clear and effective narrative, informational, and educational reports, correspondence, and other written material independently.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for assigned functional areas.
• Research, read, analyze, plan, evaluate, and summarize technical and complex information, materials, and data including, policies, regulations, legislation, statutes, codes, and documents.
• Effectively explain complex policies and objectives to technical and non-technical audiences, including but not exclusive of the process for making and influencing laws and regulations.
• Develop effective public and community outreach strategies and campaigns; work effectively with diverse groups of different ages and various socio-economic backgrounds; listen to and discuss problems and complaints tactfully.
• Speak publicly before large and small groups of individuals in a positive, inclusive, and motivational manner; make persuasive verbal presentations.
• Analyze situations and identify pertinent problems/issues; research and collect relevant information; evaluate realistic options; and recommend/implement appropriate course of action.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Perform arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations accurately.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Prepare clear and concise correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively use computer systems and software applications, including graphic design, photo and video editing and other systems and applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Observes and complies with all Agency and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Please note:

• We are working a hybrid in-office schedule and may return full-time at an undetermined date.
• All First 5 employees must live and work in California.
• The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $130,000 and as an independent government agency, the posted salary is the set salary range for this position. We cannot offer salaries above this posted range.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County believes every child in Alameda County should have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential. Through innovative programs and policy advocacy, we help provide children and their families access to resources that support their first five years of development.

Join our mission-driven team that in partnership with the community, supports a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves peak years of child development.

First 5 Alameda County Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package with health care options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. These benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage, $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Plan and more.

We also offer paid vacation, paid time off and sick time. We have 17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off.

Salary : $90,000 - $130,000