Communications & Public Policy Director

Job Summary

The Communications & Public Policy Director is a strategic leadership role responsible for planning, developing, and implementing County-wide communications, marketing, public relations, and community engagement strategies that support the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the County CEO, and executive leadership. The position provides high-level guidance on complex issues involving public perception, emerging concerns, and external communication impacts, and ensures consistent, accurate, and transparent messaging to the public, media, community partners, and stakeholders.

• Plans, develops, and implements comprehensive County-wide marketing, communications, public relations, and community engagement strategies to support the BOCC, CEO, and executive leadership initiatives.
• Provides strategic advice to the BOCC and CEO regarding complex issues, public perception, emerging concerns, and policy-related communication impacts.
• Leads the development of policy‑related communication materials and collaborates with internal and external partners to ensure accurate, consistent, and timely messaging on County initiatives, public policies, and community priorities.
• Coordinates, leads, and implements proactive community engagement strategies that build understanding, transparency, and trust between the County and residents, community partners, business organizations, and stakeholders.
• Serves as spokesperson for the County when designated and assists the BOCC and CEO with responses to media inquiries, public information requests, interviews, and issue‑specific messaging.
• Represents the County at public meetings, briefings, and community events.
• Creates, reviews, and disseminates key communication tools including fact sheets, presentations, briefings, policy updates, newsletters, public reports, media releases, and digital content for web and social media platforms.
• Works closely with County departments, public information staff, and communication managers in a matrix environment to align messaging and ensure consistency across all County platforms.
• Partners with County lobbyists, policy advisors, and subject matter experts to research, evaluate, interpret, and communicate policy proposals, legislative updates, ordinances, resolutions, and Board initiatives to internal and external audiences.
• Leads engagement efforts for targeted initiatives, including public outreach campaigns, listening sessions, community education efforts, and feedback collection.
• Utilizes engagement data to inform communication strategies and policy recommendations.
• Develops and monitors County branding and graphic standards, ensuring consistency and adherence across all communication channels.
• Manages the County’s external website content for assigned areas to ensure accurate, relevant, and accessible information for the public.
• Provides technical support to leadership for County-wide public information programs, including scripting, speaking points, editing, and message alignment.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with media, elected officials, community partners, business organizations, state and regional agencies, and constituent groups to support policy communication and strategic outreach.
• Participates in planning, research, and analysis to support long‑term public policy, communications, and engagement strategies for major County and regional initiatives.
• Directs emergency communication and public information efforts during County‑wide or region‑wide incidents and collaborates with regional partners as needed.
• Develops and delivers media training for County officials and staff to ensure effective message delivery and consistency.
• Leads, mentors, and develops assigned staff through collaborative supervision, clear expectations, coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Public Policy, Political Science, Marketing, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Communications, or a…