Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement (Manager II), Grade MII

Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement (Manager II), Grade MII

Salary

$116,956.00 - $206,553.00 Annually

Location

101 Monroe St Rockville MD 20850 USA

Job Type

Permanent

Job Number

2026-00449

Department

Office of Public Information

Division

PIO 23 Information

Opening Date

07/31/2026

Closing Date

8/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $116,956 to $206,553, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement

Office of Public Information

THIS IS A MERIT TERM POSITION (WITH BENEFITS). THE TERM ENDS DECEMBER 21, 2030. THE TERM MAY BE EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 4 YEARS FROM JANUARY 1, 2030 AND EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2034.

Individuals appointed to this position will be required to serve a probationary period, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuance in the position will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Office of Public Information (PIO) is the communications hub for the County government, responsible for effectively conveying the County Executive's vision, priorities, and initiatives to the public. Serving a diverse community of over 1.1 million residents, PIO develops and delivers timely, accurate, and engaging content across a wide range of topics.

Our team is made up of skilled professionals specializing in public relations, graphic design, website management, social media, television and video production, event planning, marketing, advertising, and photography. Together, we ensure that the Countys message reaches all communities through clear, inclusive, and impactful communication.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience and success interacting and communicating with diverse audiences, using clarity, consistency, and sound judgement across all platforms and situations.
• Working equitably, collaboratively, and effectively with staff at all levels and decision makers within an organization to accurately understand and convey evolving information while maintaining strategic alignment with County priorities.
• Advanced skill in navigating and coordinating complex, sensitive, and politically interdependent or sensitive issues, providing thoughtful guidance and coordinated communication approaches that reflect broader governance and policy implications.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including mastery of executive messaging, AP style editing, and high-stakes content development.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and operational management abilities necessary to advance department-wide initiatives while overseeing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proven tact, professionalism, and composure-especially during times of crisis, heightened stress, or rapidly changing situations-ensuring accurate, timely, and coordinated information flow.
• Ability to rapidly interpret and respond to difficult questions, emerging issues, and high-pressure demands with diplomacy, strategic insight, and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated exemplary leadership that motivates teams, empowers staff, strengthens cross-departmental collaboration, and builds a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence while moving towards common goals.
• A creative self-starter with a strategic mindset grounded in innovation, analytics and measurable outcomes, and proactive planning and problem solving-bringing new ideas, data-driven insights, and high-impact approaches to teambuilding and public information work.
• Deep knowledge of local government operations, emergency communications, policy environments, and the role of public information in supporting executive priorities, transparency in government, and community engagement.

To succeed in this role and to effectively complete core functions within this role, the incumbent must develop and establish and sustain strong, trusted relationships with the County Executive's Office, County departments, the County Council, elected officials, media partners, business and community leaders, unions, residents, direct reports, and other stakeholders-ensuring unified messaging and coordination across all public-facing efforts.

The successful candidate will also serve as the department's resident grammarian, AP style authority, and communications strategist to shape messaging frameworks, elevate written materials, and guide high-level content creation.

As a member of Montgomery County's leadership team, this position is responsible for fostering a workplace environment built on positive labor relations, mutual respect, cooperation, and strong internal communication.

What Youll Be Doing

As the Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement (Manager II) in the Office of Public Information, you will serve as a senior executive leader responsible for directing countywide communications, overseeing multimedia production, and managing key operational functions that advance the priorities and public positions of the County Executive.

In this role, you will manage complex, high-impact work that requires independent judgment, political awareness, cross-departmental coordination, and exceptional leadership-helping shape how the County communicates, responds, and engages with its community every day.

This role will be essential in enhancing team cohesion, strengthening performance expectations, and fostering a high-achievement, service-driven culture across the Office of Public Information. The successful candidate will provide clear direction, structured leadership, and supportive coaching to ensure all functional areas-including public information officers, web and graphic design, video production, and administrative support-operate with alignment, efficiency, and a shared commitment to excellence. By clarifying priorities, improving workflows, and empowering staff, this position will help advance productivity and efficiencies, elevate professional standards, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, strategic communications that support the County Executive to best serve and include our community.

You will:

• Lead all countywide public-facing communications, ensuring consistent, timely, and strategic messaging across press releases, social media, cable programming, live events, and crisis communications.

• Oversee high-level content creation and review, including speeches, talking points, newsletters, video scripts, and digital content produced by staff for the County Executive, departments, and community stakeholders.

• Direct daily operations of the Office of Public Information, including budget management, staffing strategy, resource allocation, performance metrics, policy development, procurement oversight, and compliance with county regulations.

• Supervise and lead multiple functional teams, including public information officers, visual information specialists, IT specialists, program managers, and administrative support staff, while guiding managers and ensuring accountability for departmental goals.

• Plan and execute major public events and community engagement initiatives, such as budget forums, announcements, and large-scale public gatherings, ensuring seamless logistics and unified messaging

• Serve as a senior liaison and public representative, building and sustaining strong partnerships with elected officials, County departments, media outlets, community organizations, and business leaders.

• Coordinate strategic communications across government, including monitoring legislative developments, aligning messaging with policy priorities, and representing the County Executive in interagency and public forums.

• Lead crisis and emergency communications, developing emergency messaging strategies, advising leadership, and coordinating rapid, accurate communication across departments and emergency management partners.

• Advance data-driven communications, establishing analytics tools and dashboards, tracking media and engagement performance, and using insights to strengthen strategies and improve public reach and transparency.

• Act as a communications strategist and editor, serving as the department's lead grammarian and AP style authority to ensure high-quality, accurate, and professional information is delivered to the public.

• Working Offsite Locations: This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office.

• Financial Disclosure Requirement: The selected candidate will be required to complete and submit a Financial Disclosure Statement.

• Evening and Weekend Hours: This position may require the ability to occasionally work some evening and weekend hours.

• Telework: Due to office needs, telework is not available for this position.

Effectively completing core functions within PIO is reliant upon the incumbent establishing and maintaining collaborative and mutually beneficial professional relationships with the County Executives Office and other County agencies, the County Council, elected officials, community leaders, and other various stakeholders, unions, business leaders, the media, County employees, direct reports, and the public. This individual will also be expected to serve as resident Grammarian, AP writing-style editor, and communications strategist and planner.

As part of the Montgomery County government leadership team, this position is responsible for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in a field preferably related to communications, public information, multimedia, or a related area, three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity.

Note: The term "executive" is further defined as a high echelon or high-level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy-making duties and responsibilities that exert considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties, and

responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

Preferred Criteria:

The application of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

• Media relations, strategic communications, public information, journalism, and multimedia content development.
• National, state, and/or county government organizational structure, programs/services, policy environments, and issues.
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing with high-level governmental officials, employees, business executives, the public, and representatives of the media.
• Supervising professional staff and delivering core administrative functions such as budget development, performance metrics, and personnel oversight/evaluations.
• Organizing and prioritizing multiple high-stakes assignments in fast-paced, time-sensitive, and politically dynamic environments.
• Flexibility in managing multiple competing priorities for self and staff while producing accurate, high-quality, and strategically aligned work products.
• Leading crisis and emergency communications, including cross-departmental coordination and rapid messaging during critical incidents.
• Using data-driven analytics, performance measurements, and communications technology tools to evaluate and strengthen messaging effectiveness and community engagement.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

Please indicate the total number of years of progressively responsible professional experience you possess in media relations, corporate communications, or press office operations. Note: Progressively responsible experience should demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility, such as managing press release distribution, serving as a primary spokesperson, developing media strategies, or pitching major outlets.

• No Experience
• 1 to 4 Years of Experience
• 4 to 5 Years of Experience
• 5 to 6 Years of Experience
• 6 to 7 Years of Experience
• 7 to 8 Years of Experience
• 8 to 9 Years of Experience
• 9 to 10 Years of Experience
• More than 11 Years of Experience

02

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

03

Do you have a degree related to media, media relations, communications, public information, journalism, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please list the specific degree(s). If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.

05

How many years of professional experience do you have in a supervisory or executive capacity delivering core administrative functions that include staff performance management/metrics, leading teams, budget development, personnel oversight/evaluations, and administrative oversight?

• None
• 0 to 3 Years of Experience
• 4 to 7 Years of Experience
• 7 to 10 Years of Experience
• 10 to 15 Years of Experience
• More than 15 Years of Experience

06

Please provide a brief description of your leadership experience and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "None", please enter N/A below.

07

Do you have experience serving in a leadership role during a crisis or emergency communications, had responsibility for rapid response, had responsibility for coordinated messaging, or a high-pressure information management situation?

• Yes
• No

08

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.

09

Please briefly describe your experience as it relates to engaging in successful marketing and outreach, including using newsletters and brochures, and using social media related to diverse populations. In your response, please indicate the job(s) on your resume where you performed the work.

10

Please identify the position(s) listed in your resume that demonstrate your experience editing and/or as the primary authority on writing standards or style guidelines within an organization or team. Include a brief description of the work you performed and your level of authority for approving final drafts.

11

Please identify the position(s) listed in your resume where you had primary responsibility for strategizing and overseeing content creation (speeches, newsletters, social media channels) that coordinate unified messaging across multiple departments, agencies, or major organizational units. Include a brief description of the work you performed.

12

Please indicate the position(s) listed in your resume where you developed, implemented, and/or used analytics, dashboards, engagement metrics, or media performance data to guide resources and strategic communications decisions. Include a brief description of the work you performed.

13

Please select the level that accurately describes your professional background in designing, directing, and executing large-scale community or public engagement initiatives, including oversight of operational logistics and messaging strategy.

• I possess no formal experience in planning or executing public or community engagement events.
• I have supportive experience assisting with routine event logistics, administrative needs, or on-site preparation under step-by-step guidance
• I have practical experience independently carrying out assigned event functions, coordinating operational details, and adhering to established messaging guidelines.
• I have supervisory experience leading team members during event planning and execution, resolving operational or technical issues on-site, and maintaining consistent messaging.
• I have strategic leadership experience directing high-level event strategies, establishing budgets, approving core messaging, and authorizing resource pivots across major initiatives.

Required Question

Employer Montgomery County (MD)

Address 101 Monroe Street

7th Floor

Rockville, Maryland, 20850

Phone 240-777-5000

Website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr