Position Summary:
The purpose of this position is to assist with the City’s public relations strategy, print media, and advertising, while coordinating and supervising employees to implement these strategies. Under the general direction of the Media Manager, the Communications & Media Specialist, will oversee all print media and public relations initiatives in an effort to expand the City’s brand, outreach, and communications programs. Work involves, but is not limited to researching, planning, and developing print and digital media, writing and producing media communications, developing communications strategies, representing the City at special events; and providing quality assurance in accordance with the City’s branding and best practices.

Position Scope:
Full-time with an anticipated forty (40) hour work week. This is an essential emergency personnel position.

• Plans, designs, writes, reviews and oversees the production of City publications, including newsletters, brochures, flyers, posters, pamphlets, and reports. Oversees various marketing plans and promotional programs for the City.
• Designs and implements brand-appropriate public relations, advertising, and marketing collateral/materials for the City.
• Writes and edits news releases, speeches, talking points, fact sheets, emails, newsletters, web content, presentations and other written communications in AP style as assigned. Assists in the administration of the City’s strategic communications plan including working with all City departments to keep the public informed of departmental programs, events, accomplishments, and activities.
• Develops and maintains the City's corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage. Ensures all messaging and designs are consistent with the City's branding.
• Oversees all requests for print and written media and supervises the design process from conception to completion. Ensures that all printed media distributed through digital outlets are made accessible to all in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Assists with crisis communication strategies and City messaging with regards to emergency operations and public safety issues. Manages the city’s emergency notification platform, SIBAlert.
• Researches, writes, edits, and disseminates media advisories, news releases, and other informational materials to the media. Creates, manages, and maintains media contact lists.
• Maintains thorough knowledge of all digital media platforms such as web publishing, email marketing, and social media management. Provides support for these platforms and assists with managing them in the absence of the Web & Social Media Specialist as needed.
• Monitors news media and alerts the Department Director/City Manager’s Office of news developments and news opportunities relevant to the City.
• Assists in researching and developing new techniques, approaches and trends and makes recommendations to the Media Manager.
• Assists in the implementation of annual surveys for benchmarking.
• Manages employee workload, attendance, time off requests and evaluations.
• Maintains accurate records and prepares reports related to program activities.
• Organizes and coordinates promotional items with outside vendors in accordance with established City procedures.
• Promotes and represents the City to the public in a friendly, helpful, and professional manner using principles of good customer service.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives.
• Performs tasks and assignments as directed by the Media Manager and Cultural and Community Services Director through an established chain of command.

• Advanced knowledge of current communications channels, including traditional and digital media as well as the knowledge of the technology supporting them. Advanced knowledge of journalism, communications and marketing channels, principles, and practices, and the techniques of researching, composing, and editing publicity material. Advanced knowledge of English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Knowledge of AP style.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, concise, and consistent messages communicating the City's goals, objectives, policies, strategic plans, and information through various print and digital platforms to a diverse customer environment. Skilled in editing and writing with the ability to understand and write interesting and informative pieces about complex information.
• Ability to effectively demonstrate excellent organizational, oral, and written communications skills, including the ability to follow complex oral and written instructions. Ability to work independently. Ability to plan, organize, schedule, manage, and execute projects and programs. Ability to establish priorities and timelines in order to effectively meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of graphic design, website guidelines and standards, and communication industry best practices, as well as the ability to perform the basic functions of graphic design and digital content management systems.
• Ability to work independently. Ability to plan, organize, schedule, manage, and execute projects and programs. Ability to establish priorities and timelines in order to effectively meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of graphic design, website guidelines and standards, and communication industry best practices, as well as the ability to perform the basic functions of graphic design and digital content management systems.
• Knowledge of crisis communications. Ability to respond rapidly and effectively to emergency situations and the ability to maintain organized work/information and accurate productivity during periods of stress and high activity.
• Knowledge of website guidelines including WCAG 2.0 requirements and industry standards, and communication industry best practices, as well as the ability to perform the basic functions of website content management systems. Ability to make publications, documents, forms, images, videos, and other forms of media accessible to all in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Skilled in the professional use of social media platforms.
• Knowledge of digital media and communications, including web publishing, website content management, information architecture, email marketing, social media, digital forms and other online communications.
• Ability to effectively train, direct, supervise, and evaluate staff comprised of entry level and intermediate/experienced professionals.
• Skill in applications contained in the Adobe Creative Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and InDesign. Skill in the operation of general office software including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, co-workers, the city manager, staff, department directors, elected officials, local media, community members, and the general public.
  Additional Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (preferred but not required):
  Knowledge and experience in photography and videography and related editing ability.

Required Education & Experience:

• Valid Florida Driver's License

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

The essential job functions of this position will require the employee to perform the following physical activities. Employee accommodations for physical or mental disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

On a continuous basis, sit at desk and/or stand at for long periods of time. Frequently required to walk. Regularly required to see, hear and talk with the public; read presented documents, write or use keyboard to communicate through written means. On occasion required to drive a motor vehicle, to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, taste, or smell. Intermittently twist and reach; lift or carry weight regularly of 10 pounds and on occasion weight of up to 30 pounds. Frequently exposed to wet and/or humid weather conditions, mechanical moving parts, vibration, high places, fumes and/or airborne particles, chemicals, loud noise, and risk of electric shock. Specific vision requirements include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Health Insurance

The City has a three tiered stipend plan to help offset the cost of employee health insurance coverage. The three tiers are as follows:

If the dollar amount of the coverage selected is less than the amount allowed, the employee receives the difference, prorated semi-monthly, Likewise if the dollar amount of the insurance coverage selected exceeds the allowed amount, the employee pays the difference, pro-rated semi-monthly, The City will deduct all applicable taxes.

Currently the City offers two health insurance plans through Cigna as follows:

Dental and Vision Insurance

The City pays 100% of the cost for employee coverage for dental DHMO plan and the vision plan and 50% of the cost for dependent coverage for dental DHMO plan and the vision plan. Dental and vision insurance are mandatory for employees.

The City offers a DHMO dental plan through Cigna. A PPO Dental plan is available as an upgraded option. The City offers a PPO vision plan through EyeMed.

Life Insurance

The City provides group term life insurance coverage for employees as follows:

• General Employees – One times the amount of employee's annual salary or $25,000, whichever is greater.

• Department Heads - Two times the amount of employee's annual salary.

Long Term Disability

The City provides each employee with long term disability insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance at no cost.

Workers Compensation

The City may provide full salary to employees injured on the job for a period of up to 13 weeks, (in lieu of the 2/3 salary offered by the state). Thereafter, employees must seek supplemental pay through the City provided Long-Term Disability Plan.

Cafeteria Plan

The City offers employees optional pre-tax insurance plans (Section 125) through AFLAC. Plans include cancer insurance, short-term disability insurance, and more. Also offered is a Flexible Spending Account, which can be used to put money aside, pre-tax, for planned medical/dental expenses, and for childcare expenses.

Retirement

Employees are automatically enrolled in one of two retirement plans, depending upon hire date and position. The plans are as follows:

• Florida Retirement System ("FRS"): Under this plan, employees and the City make a contribution to the retirement plan in an amount specified according to the employee's classification. The current contribution rates are as follows:

Class

Employee Contribution

Rate

City Contribution

Rate

Total Contribution Rate

Regular Class:

3.00%

11.91%

14.91%

Special Risk Class:

3.00%

27.83%

30.83%

Senior Management Class:

3.00%

31.57%

34.57%

Employees have the option of choosing the Pension Plan or the Investment Plan.

Under the Pension Plan, employees enrolled in the FRS prior to July 1, 2011, need to have 6 years of service to be vested. Employees enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011, must have 8 years of service to be vested.

Under the Investment Plan, employees need to have 1 year of service to be vested.

ICMA-RC (now MissionSquare Retirement):
General Employees: All eligible employees hired before November 2002 were enrolled in the ICMA Plan. This plan is not open to newly hired employees. Under this plan, the City contributes 11% and the employee 4% to a retirement investment plan. Employees are fully vested after 3 years.

Senior Management Employees: All eligible employees hired before November 2002 were enrolled in the ICMA Plan. This plan is only open to certain positions which are not designated and/or classified under FRS. Under this plan, the City contributes 11% and the employee 6% to a retirement investment plan. Employees are fully vested after 3 years.

An optional Section 457 tax deferred savings program is available to employees who wish to supplement future retirement income. The plan allows employees to put aside a portion of their earnings pre-tax each pay period, through payroll deduction, into an account for their retirement and reduce the amount of earnings that is currently taxable.

Sick Leave

Employee earn twelve (12) sick days per calendar year on a prorated basis (1.846 per week).

Vacation Leave

Employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis as follows:

• General Employees: 10 days per year (1.539 hours per week).
• Department Heads – Fifteen (15) days per year (2.308 hours per week)

Vacation accruals are increased incrementally thereafter, as per City policy.

Holidays

Employees are compensated for ten (11) Federal holidays per year. These include: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Floating Holidays

Employees earn floating holidays as follows :

• General Employees - Two (2) days per calendar year
• Department Heads/Managers - Seven (7) days per calendar year

Floating Holidays are pro-rated dependent upon hire date.


Direct Deposit

The City offers direct deposit of your payroll check into your personal account(s) at the financial institution(s) of your choice.

Credit Union

The City offers memberships in three credit unions: Space Coast Credit Union, Dade County Federal Credit Union and Peoples Credit Union.