Marketing and Engagement Coordinator

The City of Kent’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is seeking a creative, strategic, and highly collaborative Marketing and Engagement Coordinator to lead innovative campaigns that connect our diverse community with the programs, services, and experiences that make Kent a vibrant place to live, work, and play.

In this dynamic role, you’ll oversee multi‑platform marketing and communications initiatives—spanning digital content, social media, print, video, advertising, branding, and public relations—to support departmental goals in areas such as social equity, health and wellness, youth development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. You’ll partner closely with City communications, multimedia, and economic development teams to translate department priorities into compelling storytelling, effective outreach, and data‑driven campaigns that increase participation and enhance awareness of our facilities, events, and programs.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field, along with a minimum of five (5) years of experience in marketing. Experience in parks and recreation marketing is preferred. If you’re a versatile marketer with strong project management skills, a passion for community‑focused work, and a knack for turning ideas into impactful content, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a full‑time, benefited position that is not represented by a union. All City of Kent employees and external candidates are eligible to apply at this time.

• General: In alignment with existing departmental marketing and outreach goals, and national best practices, create and implement an effective multi‑platform marketing, communications and public information strategy for the Parks, Recreation and Community Services department that helps position the department as a recognized leader and contributor in city‑wide outcomes such as social equity and inclusion, economic development, health and wellness, youth development, healthy aging, public and facility stewardship, environmental sustainability and active transportation.
• In collaboration with the City’s multi‑media and communication divisions: translate Parks, Recreation and Community Services goals into effective strategic marketing and communications initiatives.
• Oversee departmental marketing budget, purchase of paid media, if applicable, contracting with and supervising advertising and market research; and freelance graphic designers, writers, photographers and videographers in coordination with the City’s multi‑media division, where applicable.
• Marketing & Advertising: Evaluate customer research, survey data, market conditions, and competitor data and incorporate findings into the marketing and advertising strategy. Utilize market research and other business and operational data to evaluate the effectiveness of current and completed advertising and promotions and complete performance and result tracking. Assist departmental staff in developing, planning, organizing and implementing strategic concepts for advertising and marketing campaigns and promotions to increase participation and/or revenue and stimulate public interest and awareness of services and events;
  
  primary responsibility and accountability for providing ongoing support to ensure that programs meet their revenue goals and objectives. Schedule and coordinate with City multi‑media division and other external services, where applicable, to ensure campaigns, promotions, and other projects are completed on time and on budget; communicate with staff from various departments or divisions to coordinate activities and resolve issues and concerns.
  
  Lead the department’s digital storytelling efforts. Help develop ideas for creating engaging and compelling content as well as research and write content. Work with the City’s multimedia division to organize photo and video shoots, coordinate approvals, and respond to internal and external photo and video requests. Maintain on‑going communication with other City operations, support Foundations, community partners and the Kent…