Chief Communications and Strategy Officer

Job Details

Job Location:

Dearborn Administrative Center - Dearborn, MI 48126

Position Type:
Full Time Salary Range: $ - $ Salary/year

This is highly responsible on-call, administrative work managing the budgeting, planning, and implementation of a comprehensive City-wide strategic communication plan using digital, print, broadcast, television, and other appropriate media, as well as pro-active public relations and brand management. The position is responsible for directing the City cable television station (CDTV) and overseeing communications for multiple departments to ensure unified messaging and maximize public awareness of the City’s initiatives.

The appointee establishes the City as the source of truth for information, drives Dearborn's brand footprint, and collaborates across departments to ensure strategic alignment.

• Essential Job Functions (Functions essential to attaining job objectives):
  Organizes and directs the communications and City cable television (CDTV) staff in day-to-day activities designed to provide transparent information, promote positive public relations, and establish a powerful, favorable brand for the City of Dearborn.
• Plans, conducts, and executes a comprehensive public relations and brand management program designed to build and maintain a strong reputation for Dearborn.
• Serves as the architect and guardian of the City's communications strategy, ensuring the Communications Department acts as a source of truth for all information as it relates to the city.
• Partners and collaborates with other department heads to ensure strategic alignment, maximize visibility for all the good work happening across the City, and unify cross-departmental communications.
• Directs the content strategy, presentation, and user experience of the City website, working to optimize user ability and make information easy, intuitive, and accessible to the public.
• Plans and directs the development and dissemination of external communications designed to keep the public continuously informed of City programs, accomplishments, policies, and official updates.
• Arranges and coordinates media interviews with public officials and acts as the primary response point for inquiries from media requiring immediate attention.
• Responds immediately to Police officials, Fire officials, or any other City department when critical incidents occur that require rapid, accurate crisis information to be disseminated to the public.
• Arranges for public relations efforts in order to meet needs, objectives, and policies of the City’s communications plan and functions as an expert in-house communications consultant for all city departments.
• Distributes fact sheets, news releases, digital media assets, and photographs to media representatives and target audiences to maximize outreach and build the City's presence.
• Develops and implements high-quality citizen publications, digital newsletters, and modern media assets designed to communicate critical information about City services, programs, and events.
• Develops and manages the routine production of internal communication networks to keep city employees aligned, engaged, and informed of administrative goals.
• Responsible for monitoring and archiving recent media presence, voice and videotapes, and digital clips relating to the City of Dearborn, as well as maintaining official departmental documentation.
• Prepares strategic speeches, official letters, correspondence, proclamations, and citations for public officials as requested.
• Arranges for and conducts public-contact programs designed to meet the City's outreach objectives, utilizing data and knowledge of changing attitudes and opinions of citizens, commissions, employees, and community interest groups.
• Promotes goodwill and transparency through external outreach efforts such as press conferences, speeches, community exhibits, multimedia content, and interactive question-and-answer sessions.
• Represents the City during high-profile community projects and at public, social, and business gatherings to elevate the city's profile.
• Researches data, creates innovative campaigns, writes copy,…