Communications Specialist - Engagement

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST – ENGAGEMENT

Help shape how an entire community connects. As our Communications Specialist – Engagement, you'll create engaging digital and print content, lead signature community events, and support citywide outreach efforts that bring residents and leaderstogether. From social campaigns to survey insights, you'll play a key role in advancing Fridley's vision and strengthening public participation. Join a collaborative team that values creativity, inclusivity, and meaningful engagement. Expected hiring range: $32.08 - $35.36

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in promoting the City's vision, goals, and activities to citizens, businesses, community organizations and community leaders.
• Facilitates the City's internal communication strategy through ongoing refinement of the Division's plan, instructing and leading staff in effective communication tactics, facilitating content creation with departments and providing timely performance statistics of the City's internal engagement efforts.
• Manages and plans community events that connect residents and community members to City services, programs, volunteer, and partnership opportunities. This includes maintaining relationships and communicating with the City's Neighborhood Ambassadors, overseeing the annual Night to Unite, City-wide garage sale, community blood drive and other city events.
• Leads the City's Resident Survey program from design to reporting, including developing survey questions, coordinating with the external surveyor, and translating elected officials' priorities into actionable research. Provides performance reporting on broader citizen engagement and feedback efforts.
• Facilitates through planning, promoting and implementing City outreach events. Attends community events and meetings to network, build partnerships, make presentations and share information about the City and community resources.
• Plans and manages production of the City newsletter and Recreation Activity Guide.
• Assists with general communication tasks, including email and social media campaigns, copywriting and other communication needs for the City.
• Prepares information for City websites, marketing emails, social media content and videos.
• Conducts presentations within the community and to the City Council and advisory commissions on community engagement programs, events, projects and initiatives.
• Assists with preparing emergency communications, when necessary.
• Maintains awareness of current and future trends in communications best practices.
• Assists in other City Manager's Department projects or events, administration functions, including City-wide events, meetings, trainings, City Council and advisory commission activities, elections, or community meetings as needed.
• Provides cooperative work and back-up to the Communication Specialist – Marketing, when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year degree in public relations, journalism, communications, political science, community planning, liberal arts, social science or related field, or a combination of two-year degree with required experience.
• One to three years' experience in planning and coordinating events, organizing people and groups, or marketing and communications.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Possess a valid driver's license with good driving history.
• Ability to work flexible work hours that periodically include evenings and weekends.
• Finalist will be required to successfully complete and pass a thorough criminal background investigation and reference check process along with a pre-placement drug test.

Desired Qualifications:

• Staff or volunteer development experience.
• Previous experience as a volunteer.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams.
• Basic knowledge of social media platforms and analytics tools.
• Ability to interact tactfully and positively, including working collaboratively, with the general public, elected officials, businesses, outside agencies, and City staff.
• Project management experience and strong organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Knowledge of video editing principles and the use of related tools such as cameras, lighting and sound equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively with people of diverse ethnic, economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including making presentations and performing trainings.
• Demonstrated ability in being creative and self-directed while performing collaboratively with a variety of different groups, levels, and agencies.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize work.
• Ability to handle, discern and maintain confidentiality and propriety information as required and in compliance with policies and directives.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service, support and consultation to employees, other departments, staff, etc.
• Ability to provide effective public speaking and presentation skills.

The City of Fridley will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age, or sexual orientation. EEO/ADAAA

Benefits include a variety of options, paid entirely or in part for the employee by the City, which includes:

• Life, medical, and dental insurance;
• Flexible spending account program
• Short- and long-term disability
• Eighteen (18) days of annual leave per year
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays per year
• Employee wellness program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Deferred compensation, Roth and Public Employees Retirement Association
• Employer's share of payments to workers' compensation
• Unemployment compensation