Communications Manager

Job Information

Exempt (additional compensation includes a uniform allowance); full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; full-benefits; partial teleworking schedule may be available in accordance with Division policies.

This professional position leads and oversees all communications for the Division of Water and Sewer Utilities, managing the creation and production of publications, marketing campaigns, signage, print collateral, and media and press relations. Serving as the Division's representative for routine, emergency, and emerging media inquiries, this role plays a key part in shaping how the community interacts with and understands the Division's work. The Communication Manager works closely with customers, community partners, and outside organizations to develop proactive public information campaigns that raise awareness of the Division's core mission areas, including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, recycled water production, source water protection, and water conservation efforts. NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions, which are calculated per County policy. For external hires, offers are made at the base wage rate. Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • Vesting after 5 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan.

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Oversee all marketing, public relations, brand development, communications, and community outreach
• Manage Division Public Information Act requests to ensure timely and accurate public information responses
• Create layouts and graphic design materials for communication products, promotional items, and social media content
• Review, edit, and enhance communication materials prepared by staff to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency
• Represents the division on routine, emergency, and emerging media inquiries and community concerns
• Develop and implement public information campaigns to raise awareness and educate division customers on key issues
• Assess outreach effectiveness and adapt communication strategies to support evolving program and organizational goals
• Generate publicity and manage positive relationships with the press
• Manage the Division website and create a social media presence; provide information to the public on DWSU capital improvement projects in the form of background information and status.
• Coordinate efforts with FCG Division of Communications and Video Services
• Work with regional partners (MWCOG, Potomac River Sourcewater Protection Partnership, Maryland Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies (MAMWA), American Water Works Association (AWWA) and other water and wastewater utilities on coordinated, regional messaging for shared concerns and interests
• Take a lead role in digital crisis communications, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of information across traditional media and modern digital platforms; for example, water outages, public notices for violations of water quality standards, water use restrictions, sewage overflows, or other contamination events
• Work may include visits to DWSU treatment facilities, construction sites, or emergency repair sites to engage with the press and the public, or to obtain photographs for communication needs
• Perform other related duties as required

To perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to perform all essential functions satisfactorily. Any employee's position may not be assigned all functions or equipment listed above, and the examples may not cover all functions or equipment that may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.

Qualifications and Requirements

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in communications, public affairs, or media relations
• Minimum of 1 year of experience supervising or managing staff

Substitutions for the above-listed required education and experience are an Associate's Degree with 5 years experience as described above or a Master's degree with 1 year experience as described above. Additional required or preferred qualifications may apply based on operational needs, as approved by Human Resources.

A successful incumbent operating in this role displays the following:

• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication, including the ability to summarize complex information in written form while maintaining consistent messaging
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook
• Proficiency in graphics software such as Adobe Creative Suites
• Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of public relations writing and media relations, marketing, and graphic arts
• Considerable knowledge of computer applications including word processing, graphic design, spreadsheets, databases, geographic information systems, and presentation software
• Extensive knowledge of Associated Press style guidelines and the ability to write concisely using simple language
• Considerable knowledge of current communications technologies appropriate for the dissemination of information; graphic arts; and video and television, radio and publication related standards, social media, tools, and techniques
• Competence in managing social media accounts and engaging constituents appropriately
• Ability to manage strategies to inform all division activities to residents, media, and others
• Ability to produce informative and interesting new releases, special articles, reports, and other materials
• Ability to work independently, and complete assigned duties on deadline with minimal supervision
• Ability to solve problems and to develop solutions and strategies
• Ability to effectively multitask and organize work, establish priorities, make decisions, and complete assigned duties with minimum supervision
• Ability to effectively access and utilize computerized systems and the internet
• Willingness to learn new techniques and platforms, research if necessary
• Ability to identify and navigate sensitive issues in communications
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials, other governmental agencies and personnel, media representatives, and members of the public

• Experience in the water or wastewater field
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly sit
• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors and rarely wear protective equipment while visiting certain job sites

Additional Information / Examination Process

• Available for varied working hours (which may include evening hours) for scheduled events, meetings, workshops and other departmental priorities
• Requires the ability to arrange and complete travel to various sites (using a car or other reliable transportation)

1. An evaluation of training and experience