Communications and Engagement Director

Job Description:

Communications and Engagement Director

Description

About us

York County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.

Mission Statement- York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.

Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.

About our opportunity

Join York County as Our First Communications & Engagement Director! York County Government is thrilled to introduce a newly created leadership role: Communications and Engagement Director. This full-time, exempt position was established by county management to build a pivotal department that will transform how York County communicates and engages with our community and stakeholders. York County is looking for a strategic, visionary leader who has demonstrated experience in designing and implementing innovative internal and external communication strategies, fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement, and driving transformative change. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of York County’s communication and engagement efforts. Thus, making a lasting impact.
Our Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with a strong background in internal and external communication that has a passion for developing and executing multi-disciplinary campaigns to drive change, support organizational strategic goals, and provide transparent engagement. They will have a track record for proactively translating strategic thinking into action plans and outcomes. They will have supervisory experience in leading a creative department ensuring engagement and communication efforts are effective. The ideal candidate will also have experience working in the public sector and have the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in order to meet stringent deadlines while maintaining a professional demeanor during stressful situations. They will also report directly to the County Manager. To be considered for our Communications and Engagement Director position, please submit a resume, cover letter, application and work samples to include either a press release, communications plan, and/or digital graphic, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am -5:00 pm. This position may have to work after hours, weeknights, and/or weekends and driving to multiple locations may be required to attend meetings and other functions related to the position.

Projected Hiring Range: $91,692.06 - $114,615.07 depending on qualifications and negotiable. Relocation assistance may also be available as needed.

This position has been reposted with new responsibilities, and if you have already applied, you are still in consideration unless you have already received a notification email indicating otherwise. This position will remain open until filled and applications will be reviewed as received.

View our Recruitment Brochure for more information.

Our Total Compensation Package:

• Compensation - competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
• Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
• 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
• Longevity Pay
• SC State Retirement Plan Pension
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• Sick Bank
• Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
• Wellness Screenings
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Leadership:

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
• Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
• Develops and manages the Communications & Engagement department’s strategic plan, including identification of measurable strategies, initiatives and milestones.
• Establishes strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders in order to advise and collaborate on engagement and communication strategies, messages, and approaches across disciplines, cultures, and departments.
• Establishes metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of engagement and communications efforts, providing regular KPI’s to Council and County Management.
• Supports the comprehensive direction and oversight on all internal and external aspects of the County’s marketing and communications.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to Council, County Management and other leaders by providing leadership and guidance on key communication decisions and by developing strategic messaging in regard to sensitive issues and engagement initiatives that will enhance and protect the organizations brand.
• Manages the Communications and Engagement Department in the curation of high quality and consistent visual content, that tells York County’s story, across all marketing channels ensuring timely and efficient execution.

Strategic Engagement and Communications:

• Develops, adapts, and implements long-term and short-term comprehensive strategic communications and engagement plans based on organization strategic goals, changing trends and circumstances, anticipated outcomes and issues, and available resources.
• Manages the County’s brand style guide and associated marketing materials in alignment with the County’s strategic plan and Mission and Values to ensure consistent branding across all marketing materials, communication channels, signage, vehicles, etc.
• Conducts market research to support branding initiatives and creates various methods for community feedback loops in order to analyze and respond to public feedback.
• Develops and manages relationships with media outlets to ensure coverage and to enhance public awareness; as well as manages high profile press events to ensure efficient delivery of York County’s key messages.
• Advises Council, County Management, and Emergency Management professionals in developing and executing strategic crisis communication campaigns; as well as serves as the communication point of contact for crisis communication during an emergency.

People and Resource Management:

• Leads, manages, and mentors communication staff by fostering a creative, innovative and solution-oriented culture.
• Assesses communication and engagement staff skill levels and provides pathways and coaching to team members to grow and strengthen their skills by providing guidance, direction, training opportunities and constructive feedback.
• Develops and manages the Communications and Engagement Department budget, and all associated contracts, to ensure resources are aligned to meet strategic goals and communication and engagement initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.
• Develops and leads an organizational wide team of communication professionals to ensure strategic and aligned communication efforts.
• This position may have to work after hours, weeknights, and/or weekends and driving to multiple locations may be required to attend meetings and other functions related to the position.
• Performs related work as assigned.

About you

Experience and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Public Administration or a related field Required. Master’s Degree in related field preferred.
• At least Eight (8) years relevant experience designing and implementing communications strategies and engagement activities with measurable outcomes for a government agency and/or related organization.
• Proven experience creating and implementing comprehensive, strategic communication and engagement plans based on institutional strategic goals with measurable outcomes.
• Proven experience creating crisis communication strategies and crisis communication campaigns.
• Superior writing, editing and verbal presentation skills.
• Supervisory experience is required.

Preferred:

• Experience working in the public sector (local, state or federal agencies) is highly preferred.
• Experience overseeing an organizations internal and external brand; including creating marketing materials, website, media, social media accounts, and engagement initiatives is preferred.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Valid driver’s license is required.

Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered.

Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer

Physical Demands:
Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

• Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:
York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Standard Clauses:
May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Full-time employees are allowed to participate in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs offered by York County Government. If employees elect to secure dependent coverage, the employee should pay the additional costs for such coverage. All statements of insurance coverage are subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and other eligibility requirements that are set forth in various insurance plan documents.

Our full-time benefits through PEBA (South Carolina Retirement Systems and State Health Plan) include health insurance, prescription benefits, dental, vision, life insurance, MoneyPlus, Health Savings Accounts, retirement (Membership in the South Carolina Retirement System is mandatory for county employees), and deferred compensation.Making decisions about your insurance and retirement benefits can sometimes be complicated and difficult. The Navigating Your Benefits seriesprovides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your insurance and retirement benefits: Navigating Your Benefits | S.C. PEBA (sc.gov)

Other full-time benefits include longevity allowance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, Sick Leave Bank, wellness benefits, Employee Assistance Program, etc. Please contact Human Resources at Human.Resources@yorkcountygov.com if you would like more information.

Longevity Allowance
Full-time regular county employees, elected officials, appointed officials, and judges with ten or more years of full time continuous governmental service are eligible to receive a monthly longevity allowance in addition to their regular compensation. Continuous service transferred from employment with another county, municipality, state or a political entity created by the State may contribute toward eligibility for the longevity allowance. Longevity allowances are paid according to the following schedule.

Longevity Allowance
Years of Continuous ServiceMonthly Longevity Amount
10-14 Years$20.00
15-19 Years$25.00
20-24 Years$30.00
25-29 Years$35.00
30-34 Years$40.00
35-39 Years$45.00
40+ Years$50.00

Annual Leave
Probationary and regular full-time county employees that work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave with pay. Employees in their new hire six (6) month probationary period shall not be able to use annual leave until they become regular county employees. Employees who are separating from county service shall be paid for all accrued, unused annual leave up to 360 hours provided they give York County as the employer the proper notice as required. Employees in their six (6) month New Hire probationary period who are terminated or separated from employment shall not be paid for accrued annual leave. The maximum amount of annual leave carried into each calendar year is 360 hours.

Earning Rate for Full-Time Employees
Full-time employees with less than ten years of continuous service earn at the rate of eight hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve months period. Full-time employees with at least ten years, but less than twenty years of continuous service will earn at the rate of ten (10) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve month period. Full-time employees with twenty or more years of service will earn at the rate of twelve (12) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve (12) months period.

Sick Leave
Full-time county employees may be entitled to earn sick leave with pay. Employees may accrue up to 1,440 hours of sick leave. Upon termination of employment with the County, employees may not be reimbursed for any unused sick leave. When a paid holiday occurs while an employee is on sick leave with pay, the day may not be charged as sick leave.

Earning Rate of Sick Leave
Full time employees will earn eight hours of sick leave per month of service during a twelve month period.

Paid Holiday’s
The following days may be observed as paid holidays for York County Employees:
January - December:3 Optional Holidays per Calendar Year
January:New Year’s Day andMartin Luther King Day
May:Memorial Day
June:Juneteenth Day
July:Independence Day
September:Labor Day
November:Veteran’s Day,Thanksgiving Day, andFriday after Thanksgiving
December:Christmas Eve,Christmas Day

Training:
Quality training and educational programs are available at various times for county employees in order to support workforce development that is consistent with organizational objectives. Training topics may include driver training, CPR/first aid, communication, supervisor training, workplace violence, substance abuse, and various computer related classes.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

See Position Description