Communications Assistant

Initial review of applications starts on 7/24/2026

The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities. When you interact with a City employee, you will find our collaborative, driven and efficient staff working together to provide strategic solutions for the community and each other. We are a city focused on external and internal customer service and try to find a way to say “yes,” while not compromising the City’s or our own integrity.

Our efforts are guided by our core values:

• Integrity
• Stewardship
• Service
• Community
• Innovation
• Teamwork

Our employees are passionate about innovation, collaboration and growth, which is supported by the City’s Council and Executive Team. We are an environment that thrives on making changes, pivoting quickly, and is full of movers and shakers. We are constantly striving to improve processes and better our approach so that we can better support the needs of the City. If you have growth mindset and find change exciting, the City of Palm Desert may be your ideal working environment.

The City of Palm Desert is seeking a proficient Communications Assistant to support the Communications Division with content creation, public outreach, and administrative coordination. This role assists with producing and editing video and photo content, drafting press releases and public notices, developing written stories highlighting City programs, and supporting social media, website, and digital communications. The position also provides essential administrative and technical support, including data collection, report preparation, document design, and event assistance.

Candidates with strong writing skills, multimedia capabilities, and the ability to translate complex information into clear public messaging are encouraged to apply.

Appointment to this position is expected to fall within the salary range of $65,104 to $75,338; however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization. Exceptional candidates with highly relevant experience and credentials may be considered for compensation above the anticipated hiring range.

Under general supervision, assists the Communications Division with research, planning, scheduling, and organizing in areas of communications, social media, video, events, and related activities. Supports the division with a wide range of administrative activities: gather data and generate reports; keep current on activities, events and attractions in the City and the Coachella Valley as well as current trends in marketing and tourism.

This position will be required to assist with special events, as needed, that may include working on weekend and evenings.

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff.

Communications Assistant
:
This is the entry‑level class in the Communications classification system. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn and perform work that has technical and programmatic aspects, requiring the interpretation and application of policies, procedures, and regulations, as well as performing various research functions. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and difficult; close supervision and frequent review of work lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform independently.

Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the Communications Specialist level but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.

Communications Specialist
:
This fully‑qualified journey‑level class is distinguished from the Communications Assistant level in that incumbents possess a comprehensive, authoritative understanding of department or division functions and activities, and provide support to management staff in the completion of their duties, in addition to completing administrative…