Press Secretary – Office of Marketing & Communications

Purpose

Shape the Narrative. Elevate the City. Lead with Impact. The City of Savannah is seeking a dynamic and strategic Media Relations Program Coordinator & Content Creator (Press Secretary) to serve as our primary liaison to the media and a trusted advisor to City leadership. This advanced-level communications professional will play a critical role in ensuring transparent, proactive, and consistent messaging that strengthens public trust and enhances the City’s image.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, excel at storytelling, and are skilled at managing high-profile media interactions, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at the municipal level. As the Media Relations Program Coordinator & Content Creator (Press Secretary), you will serve as an advanced-level professional who is the City of Savannah’s primary point of contact for media inquiries, responsible for managing all incoming requests, coordinating press responses, developing official statements, and drafting talking points for City officials.

The new Media Relations Program Coordinator & Content Creator (Press Secretary) will support transparent, proactive media engagement and ensures consistent messaging that enhances the City’s public image and aligns with strategic communication goals.

• Acts as the lead media liaison for the City by fielding inquiries from local, regional, and national outlets, coordinating internal responses, and ensuring timely and accurate communication.
• Coordinates and disseminates press releases, media advisories, and official statements across platforms to promote City initiatives, events, and key announcements.
• Develops and delivers tailored talking points and media preparation materials for City officials and staff, including training to support effective public messaging.
• Proactively pitches news stories to targeted media outlets to highlight the City’s accomplishments, initiatives, and services to residents.
• Monitors media coverage for accuracy, sentiment, and emerging trends, and compiles internal briefings and analysis reports to inform strategy.
• Maintains working relationships with journalists, editors, and media contacts to strengthen press engagement and improve access to City information.
• Works with Communications leadership to align messaging with broader communication and branding objectives.
• Provides support during emergency response situations by coordinating rapid media outreach and serving as an on-call media contact.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a closely related field. Extensive (5 years) full-time experience involving public information, public relations, media relations, marketing, communications, or field related to the program area. The specific certificate/accreditation must be previously approved by the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.

The Senior Communications Specialist class is distinguished from the Communications Specialist class by the more advanced and complex nature of assignments, the involvement in high-level projects for the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager’s Office, and the independent judgment and decision making exercised. Incumbents in this class may be asked for input to policy development/revision activities and are expected to explain/interpret policy to their coworkers as well as lead by example.

A significant element of work involves public contact of a specialized nature, which requires patience, tact, and persuasion in dealing with citizens, news media, representatives, and businesspersons who are affected by City programs or projects. Supervision is received from the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Marketing & Engagement Manager or Television & Video Manager, who evaluates work through conferences, meetings, written reports, and overall results achieved.

This class is FLSA exempt.

• Strong knowledge of journalism practices, public relations strategies, and media relations protocols, especially in a government or…