Director of Digital Communications

Job Title

Provides visionary leadership for citywide public information, digital media, community and media relations, marketing, web development, graphic design, and internal and external communications.

Job Description Summary

Provides visionary leadership for citywidepublic 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 City's 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 Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum seven years of experience in a related field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver's 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 department's 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.

Benefits

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 employee's cost
• Longevity pay beginning at year six
• Tuition Assistance: $5,