Communications Officer - Public Works

The County of San Mateo Department of Public Works (DPW) is seeking a strategic and creative Communications Officer to help connect residents with the projects, services, and infrastructure that support everyday life throughout the County. Join us for an engaging LinkedIn Live informational session to explore this opportunity. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST. (Register online.) This position is responsible for building new communication strategies and refining existing channels. Externally, the role elevates public trust through proactive outreach, creative public relations, and transparent messaging about infrastructure, facilities, and transportation networks. Internally, the position designs and implements communication frameworks that unite and inform a large, multifaceted department. Strategic communications efforts include public information and community engagement for the Department of Public Works, especially regarding road closures, emergency events, engineering projects, and capital projects. A key priority is building and launching the department’s independent social media presence, establishing new digital channels to publicize our work and engage with the community. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Public Works, the Communications Officer is a key member of the department and plays a central role in creating and enhancing DPW’s communications efforts. Role and Responsibilities Develop and implement strategic communication and outreach plans aligned with departmental priorities and community needs. Design and execute targeted outreach, engagement, and marketing strategies using data, feedback, and performance metrics to inform decision‑making. Pivot communication strategies and messaging in response to road closures, emergency events, engineering projects, and capital projects. Build, launch and maintain the department’s social media presence. Serve as primary point of contact for media inquiries, public information requests, and sensitive public‑facing communications. Draft and coordinate press releases, media statements, talking points, executive messaging, newsletters, and public communications. Support emergency and crisis communications related to road closures, emergency events, engineering projects, and capital projects. Build inclusive communication and outreach plans that effectively reach multilingual, multicultural, and historically underrepresented communities. Promote DPW’s engagement through innovative campaigns, storytelling, events, challenges, newsletters, interpretive programming, and community partnerships. Collaborate with departmental leadership, partner agencies, community organizations, and stakeholders to align messaging and engagement goals. Provide strategic direction and creative vision for digital, visual, and graphic design and communications, including supervision and coordination of communications staff and consultants. Analyze communication and engagement data to evaluate effectiveness and continuously improve outreach strategies. Strengthen internal communications and employee engagement across the department in coordination with the department’s human resources team. Ensure digital communications, public‑facing materials, and online platforms align with ADA accessibility standards and inclusive communication best practices. Oversee the development and coordination of brochures, informational materials, signage content, presentations, and outreach collateral that support departmental goals and community engagement. Provide strategic direction for visual communications to ensure messaging, branding, accessibility, and audience needs are effectively integrated across platforms and materials. Develop and evaluate communication strategies that increase community participation, public awareness, transparency, trust, and meaningful public engagement. Provide strategic direction and creative vision for digital, visual, and graphic design and communications, including supervision and coordination of communications staff (i.e., Graphic Specialist) and consultants. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate understands how to support departmental priorities with effective communication strategies tailored to diverse audiences and communities. They can shape messaging, guide visual storytelling efforts, and provide creative direction that supports public engagement and outreach goals. Creativity and the ability to generate new ideas and strategies is key. Experience supporting communications related to public safety, road closures, emergency response, infrastructure projects, or operational impacts is highly desirable. The position requires sound judgment, political awareness, adaptability, and the ability to communicate effectively in fast‑moving and highly visible public environments. ABC degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public relations, communications, journalism, business or public administration, or a related field. Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in public relations, public information, media relations, digital engagement, government administration or strategic communications. Track record of developing content for broad audiences through press releases, newsletters, websites, or multi‑media campaigns. Strong storytelling skills with the ability to connect with diverse audiences. Experience developing content across multiple platforms (beyond just social media). Experience supporting communications related to public safety, environmental issues, emergency response, infrastructure projects, or operational impacts is highly desirable. Knowledge of branding, marketing, and digital communications strategies. Ability to create inclusive, culturally responsive messaging. Strong writing skills, including articles and public‑facing communications. Qualifications Applicants should possess the following knowledge and skills: Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation. Public agency contract administration and County‑wide administrative practices. Organizational and management practices applied to analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs. Principles and practices of public information, media relations, and community outreach project and program development. Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to the assigned area of responsibility. Methods and techniques for the development of press releases, talking points, newsletters, presentations, business correspondence, and information distribution. Record‑keeping principles and procedures. Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment, and applications related to the work. English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff. Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for the assigned department. Provide professional leadership and direction in managing department‑specific communication strategies, media relations, and campaigns. Conceptualize messages and effectively communicate in writing, speech, and other methods of communication. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with reporters, editors, and other media representatives. Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations. Effectively represent the assigned department in committees and meetings with stakeholders and the community. Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials. Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports. Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner. Operate modern office equipment and specialized software applications. Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Education and Experience Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public relations, communications, journalism, business or public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of management experience in public affairs, media relations, or a related area. #J-18808-Ljbffr County of San Mateo