Director of Digital Communications

Director of Digital Communications

Salary

$149,518.56 - $221,960.94 Annually

Location

Goodyear, AZ

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

FY2600760

Division

Communications

Department

Communications

Opening Date

07/06/2026

Closing Date

7/24/2026 5:00 PM Arizona

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description Summary

Provides visionary leadership for citywide public information, digital media, community and media relations, marketing, web development, graphic design, and internal and external communications. Serves as a strategic advisor to city management on current and long-range communication policies, plans, and practices that impact public relationships. Oversees the Digital Communications Department as the central source for city information, media dissemination, and official communication with city audiences through multimedia platforms. The position supports public awareness of city policies, actions, programs, and events while maintaining effective relationships with key organizations, stakeholders, businesses, visitors, and the media.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative, and politically savvy communications leader with public sector or municipal experience and strong skills in media relations, social media strategy, marketing, storytelling, speechwriting, and internal and external communications. This individual will be a trusted advisor to the City Council, City Manager, executive leadership, and departments, with the ability to develop messaging and communication strategies that promote the City of Goodyear, support Council's vision, and align with the City's strategic plan. Experience as a Public Information Officer is preferred but not required; most importantly, the candidate must be a strong writer, collaborative leader, and thoughtful communicator who can lead the team, strengthen the City's brand, and ensure the City and its elected officials are represented in a positive, professional, and engaging manner.

At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to building and maintaining a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess these six core values:

Adaptability - Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism - Innovation

Only a limited number of the most qualified applicants meeting the Citys requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will consist of a panel interview. All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as it will come from a system generated source.

Approximate recruitment schedule

First resume review will be the week of July 27, 2026

Virtual screenings will be held on August 10, 2026

In-person interviews will be held on August 28, 2026

Essential Functions

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Leads the citywide communications strategy, including planning, policy development, budgeting, staffing, and initiatives that strengthen the City's brand and enhance public engagement.
• Serves as the primary communications and public relations advisor to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and departments on media strategy, public outreach, marketing campaigns, speeches, talking points, official messaging, and employee communications.
• Directs the City's media relations and social media programs, including story pitching, press releases, content strategy, policy oversight, and community engagement.
• Oversees the development and management of City communication platforms and materials, including the City website, employee intranet, publications, graphic design, photography, video, advertising to ensure consistent, high-quality content.
• Collaborates and advises departments on effective marketing and outreach strategies, and leads integrated campaigns that promote City services, programs, and initiatives.
• Recruits, develops, supervises, and evaluates Digital Communications staff to foster innovation, accountability, and high-quality customer service.
• Acts as the primary communications and public relations advisor to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and departments, guiding crisis communications, media strategy, public outreach, marketing campaigns, executive messaging, and internal communications.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelors degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum seven years of experience in a related field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Drivers License.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read general correspondence, memorandums, reports, and letters at a college level.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write articles for publication, correspondence, memorandums, and reports at a college level.
• Managerial: Semi-Complex - Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of a department including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.
• Budget Responsibility: Moderate - Has responsibility for final approval of a departments budgetary recommendations to a Deputy City Manager/City Manager. Monitors progress toward fiscal objectives and adjusts plans as necessary to reach them.
• Policy/Decision Making: Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignments within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. End results determine effectiveness of job performance. This position independently decides how objectives are achieved and what resources are needed. Typical positions in this category are upper management to executive level jobs.
• Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application - Work requires advanced skills and knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs, solutions for highly complex issues, and/or processes organization-wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: High - Interactions involve overseeing and/or approving final decisions regarding policy development and implementation. This level often involves interaction with others outside the organization or department on key organizational/departmental issues and requires exercising participative management skills, high levels of negotiation, and the ability to reach consensus on complex issues to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

12 Month Objectives

Complete Orientation and Build Key Relationships

Attend Goodyear Employee Orientation within the first 60 days and meet with the City Manager, Mayor and Council, department directors, staff, and key partners to understand city priorities, communication needs, and department operations.

Assess Current Communication Practices

Review the City's media relations, social media, website, employee intranet, branding, marketing, public information, and internal communication practices to identify strengths, gaps, and immediate improvement opportunities.

Citywide Communications Strategic Plan

Ensure execution of the City Council's Strategic Plan and the Department's Strategic Action Plan

Lead and Develop the Digital Communications Team

Meet with staff, clarify expectations, assess workloads, support employee development, and foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and excellent customer service.

Represent the Department Citywide

Participate in committees, task forces, events, and initiatives while building strong relationships with internal departments, community partners, stakeholders, businesses, visitors, and the media.

The City of Goodyear offers a highly competitive benefits package including:

• Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity. Goodyear offers an enhanced vacation benefit of recognizing total years of service under all Arizona public retirement systems for accruing vacation.
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January
• Flexible Holiday: 24 hours per calendar year (prorated based on hire date)
• Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate
• Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate
• Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available
• Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage
• Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage
• Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employees cost
• Longevity pay beginning at year six
• Tuition Assistance: $5,250 per calendar year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Onsite wellness center/clinic
• Access to the Goodyear Recreation Center
• Robust employee well-being program
• Free identify theft monitoring and protection with Aura
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan: 2% city match (employee contributes 1%)
• Retirement Health Savings: $22.50 city contribution (employee contributes $12.50 per pay period)
• Retirement: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined Benefit plan with mandatory city and employee contributions currently at 12.00%. Plan includes Long Term Disability Benefit.

01

Do you have a bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have in communications, public relations, media relations, digital communications, marketing, or a closely related field?

• Less than 7 years
• 7-9 years
• 10 or more years

03

Describe your experience working with the media, responding to media inquiries, preparing official statements/press releases, coordinating interviews, or serving as a spokesperson or Public Information Officer. If you have not served as a PIO, describe comparable experience.

04

Describe your experience developing, managing, or overseeing social media content and digital communication strategies. Please include examples of platforms used, campaign goals, audience engagement, and how success was measured.

05

This position will develop a department communications strategic plan aligned with the City's strategic plan and Council's vision. Describe your experience creating or leading a communications plan, including how you aligned messaging with organizational priorities.

06

This role is responsible for promoting the City of Goodyear. Describe how you have strengthened an organization's brand, improved public perception, or promoted programs, services, accomplishments, or events.

Required Question

Employer City of Goodyear

Address 1900 N. Civic Square

Goodyear, Arizona, 85395

Website http://www.goodyearaz.gov