Communications Specialist

Salary : $66,636.75 - $79,143.58 Annually
Location : City of Pasadena, CA
Job Type: 2025 - REGULAR FULLTIME 40+ HRS A WK
Job Number: 27-041
Department: Water & Power
Opening Date: 10/22/2026
Closing Date: 11/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Please Note: Online Applications will ONLY be accepted beginning on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and will close on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11:59PM.

The Pasadena Water and Power Department is seeking a Communications Specialist to support and implement marketing, social media, and interactive communication strategies for the utility. This role involves a range of paraprofessional responsibilities, ranging from routine to complex, in the development and execution of community relations programs, outreach and educational initiatives, and digital engagement efforts. The selected candidate will play a key role in advancing the department's communications efforts. Responsibilities include assisting with the creation and execution of marketing campaigns and materials including graphics and written content, such as news releases, social media and webpage content development and management, planning and attending special events, coordinating educational partnerships with local schools, and performing related duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will support the External Affairs Division in content creation, event production, and community outreach, while helping implement citywide communications policies and initiatives. This individual is detail-oriented, performs well under pressure, and exercises discretion when handling sensitive information. Strong writing and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to contribute to marketing, social media, and digital engagement strategies. The Communications Specialist will represent the utility in public settings, serve as a liaison, and apply sound professional judgment in all interactions. The Communications Specialist does regularly work evenings and weekends representing the utility at various community events (typically 2-3 events per month).

Essential Functions
The following list represents some of the essential functions for this position. For more detailed information, please refer to the

• Represents the department in a wide variety of public interactions; serves as department liaison with civic and community organizations; answers questions and provides information to individuals and customer groups. Writes, edits, and publishes informational material in print and digital formats for the public, community groups and employees.
• Develops and creates graphic materials, including but not limited to infographics, short-form videos, website content, social media posts, newsletters, flyers, brochures, visual displays, signs, advertisements, forms, reports, charts, maps and other printed/graphic materials.
• Helps manage website and social media content, including publishing and updating posted materials, responding to comments and messages, and ensuring accuracy of content.
• Assists in developing and making presentations and public information materials.
• Takes photos and video on behalf of the Department, and edits photos and video.
• Collects data and information for reports and statistics regarding communication activities.
• Coordinates the purchasing, storage, inventorying and distribution of printed/graphic materials and promotional products; obtains vendor quotes; adheres to budgets and deadlines for all projects.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualification Guidelines
COMPETENCIES

The following list presents some of the core competencies for this position.

• Action & Results Focus - Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment.
• Attention to Detail - Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Informing - Proactively obtaining and sharing information.
• Oral Communication - Engaging effectively in dialogue.
• Presentation Skills - Formally delivering information to groups.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing.
• Involving Others - Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from a (2) two-year college with an associate's degree in marketing, public relations, communications, business administration or a closely related field, and
• At least (4) four years of progressively responsible professional experience in marketing, public relations or social media; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with copying, editing, photography, graphic design, video production, and website and social media content management and analytics is preferred .
• Experience in a public agency is preferred .
• Fluency in Spanish is desirable .

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process may consist of a training and experience evaluation, written or other practical exercise, a structured interview, and/or a department-level interview.


VACANCY INFORMATION

There is currently (1) one vacancy in the Water and Power Department- External Affairs division. The resulting eligibility list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in the future.

Candidates selected for this position are subject to a one-year probationary work period.

Special Requirements
Must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and comply with the City's Motor Vehicle Safety Policy during the course of employment.

This position may be required to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
The City of Pasadena contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to manage our defined benefits program for eligible employees. CalPERS manages the pension and health benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.
Effective January 1, 2013, new members to CalPERS will be subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and will receive the 2% @ 62 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) and 2.7% at 57 benefit formula (if a safety employee).
Employees who are deemed "Classic" members of CalPERS or a reciprocal system such as the Los Angeles County Employees' Retirement System (LACERA) or Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System (LACERS) will receive the 2.5% @ 55 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) or 3% at 55 benefit formula (if a safety employee). A CalPERS "Classic" member is a member who previously worked for a California public agency and meets the following criteria:

1. First established CalPERS membership or membership in a CalPERS reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013,
2. And is hired by the City of Pasadena after a break in service of less than six months
3. And did not have concurrent (overlapping) service with the other agency.

01


To further assist us with reviewing your qualifications, please answer the following questions. Please complete all sections of this form truthfully and completely. Your responses will be validated if you are considered one of the most qualified applicants. Although resumes will be accepted and evaluated, this form must be completed if the application is to be considered valid. Please select yes to reflect that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02


What is your highest level of education achieved?

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's or advanced degree

03


What best describes your professional experience working in public relations, marketing, and/or social media?

• Less than 4 years
• 4-5 years
• More than 5 years

04


In 200 words or less, describe your public relations, marketing and social media experience as it relates to this position.
05


In 200 words or less, please explain any experience you have creating and editing website and social media content, designing flyers or digital graphics, and producing video materials. Your response should also include where and when you obtained this experience and the duration. If none, please respond N/A.
06


In 200 words or less, please describe your experience, if any, writing and editing marketing and communications content, including for press releases and newsletters. Your response should also include where and when you obtained this experience and the duration. If none, please respond N/A.
07


In 200 words or less, please describe your experience planning events for professional organizations. Your response should also include where and when you obtained this experience and the duration. If none, please respond N/A.
Required Question