COMMUNICATION SERVICES MANAGER

Effective: 11/21/03
Range M-35
Respirator Class: 3

Definition
Develop, organize, and coordinate staff and customer outreach activities, including public education, community affairs, publications, reproduction services; assist in selected organizational development programs including District-wide training, continuous improvement, and strategic planning; supervise the Graphics, Public Information, and organizational development support staff; advise and assist other organizational units within the District regarding public information and organizational development aspects of their work; perform other related work.

Supervision Received And Exercised

• Receive general direction from the Director of Administration.
• Exercise general and direct supervision over subordinates in the Communication Services Division.

Examples Of Essential Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop, organize, manage, and participate in various community outreach programs, including pollution prevention and student education for schools, businesses and residents.
• Direct the development of educational and pollution prevention materials and their distribution to the appropriate audiences as requested; work with other agencies.
• Direct the preparation of programs, speeches, brochures, displays and publications and other public education materials including films, video and slide shows, regarding District activities or facilities.
• Oversee the operation of the Reprographics Services Center.
• Oversee the content of the District’s internet and intranet.
• Serve as District contact for representatives of the media.
• Meet with elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and others to effectively represent the District's interests.
• Coordinate the services of reproduction, publication, and mass media consultants and contractors.
• Develop, manage, write and/or edit various publications of the District.
• Participate in budget preparation and implementation; be responsible for monitoring and controlling Communication Services Division and District-wide training expenditures.
• Respond to inquiries and provide information to the press and public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Oversee the preparation of news material and other information for distribution to the communications media, the general public, and District employees.
• Act as a liaison with community groups by participating in community events, committees, and activities.
• Coordinate the District-wide training program, including chairing the District Training Committee.
• Coordinate the District’s continuous improvement and strategic planning efforts including serving on the Communication Committee, coordinating the employee recognition activities, and supplying facilitators to departments as needed.
• Supervise and evaluate the work of the graphics, public information and organizational development support staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of mass communications, public relations, and public education.
• Methods of communication to various media.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Methods and techniques of establishing and maintaining a positive public education program.
• English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Principles of effective communications.
• Principles of public relations, including public outreach, education and community affairs.
• Principles and methods of graphics design and reprographics.
• Principles of organizational development.
• Principles of budget development and monitoring.

Ability to:

• Continuously analyze documents; write/edit clearly and concisely; identify potential problems and suggest solutions; understand media relations; speak before the District Board, employees, and public audiences in a clear and concise manner.
• Sit at desk and in meetings for long periods of time on a continuous basis.  Intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk, use telephone and personal computer, write; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; and lift or carry weight of ten pounds or less.
• Prepare and coordinate for publication, news releases, articles, correspondence, booklets, brochures, and speeches.
• Develop and administer a public education program.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Act as an internal consultant and program manager providing organizational
• Manage a Division budget.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience And Education
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

• Five years of increasingly responsible professional and managerial experience in the preparation and dissemination of public information regarding the activities of a public or private agency including two years of supervisory experience.

Education:

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, journalism, English, public administration, or a related field.  A master's degree in communications or organizational development is desirable.

Licenses And Certificates

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License.