Salary: $80,808.00 – $105,081.60 Annually
Location : Fargo, ND
Job Type: Full Time Regular (40)
Job Number: 2023-00233
Department: Communications & Governmental Affairs
Division: Administration/Public Inf – SELECT THIS OPTION
Opening Date: 06/12/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Description
In addition to a resume and cover letter, please submit three professional references and a portfolio within your application packet. Applications submitted without the components listed above will not be reviewed.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation, Fargo Police Department security screening and a drug screen.
The Public Information Manager is responsible for writing, team leading, media relationship fostering, reacting to requests, collaboration building, designing, communicating, emergency responding, and community engaging to a variety of audiences, including residents, businesses, members of the media, City employees and community groups. The Public Information Manager serves as an integral member of the Communications & Governmental Affairs (CommsGA) operational leadership team in the administration of the department.
Primary Responsibilities
The Public Information Manager is responsible for a wide range of tasks, including strategic implementation of internal and external City-wide communication efforts. This individual acts with a high degree of autonomy and tasked with a wide array of responsibilities. The person in this position is expected to ensure the quality and accuracy of his or her own work is of the highest quality, with tasks being performed independently under limited supervision. He or she is expected to engage in creative thinking, writing and designing, while exercising initiative and sound judgement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1 WRITING – Act as a leading author for the City’s internal and external communication efforts.
1.1 Function as an exceptional communicator with the ability to effectively translate technical information and disseminate it to the public.
1.2 Generate ideas, write, research, coordinate and distribute information, articles, campaigns and electronically-generated Fargo publications for distribution.
1.3 Serve as the first point of contact Citywide to write, edit and distribute both routine and emerging news releases and other communications materials in a fast-paced environment.
1.4 Assists and sometimes leads efforts of divisional staff to write and edit video scripts for City promotional videos.
2 TEAM LEADING – Using independent judgment provides supervision and leadership to divisional personnel under his or her span of control.
2.1 Assist in making decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, lay off, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under his or her span of control.
2.2 Set goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance.
2.3 Conduct ongoing feedback.
2.4 Function in the lead capacity of providing operational guidance and support to the Public Information Officer (PIO) serving The Fargo Police Department (FPD), including attending important FPD operational & strategic meetings, briefings and critical incidents.
3 MEDIA RELATIONSHIP FOSTERING – Working in tandem with the departmental leadership team, this position is responsible for creating, maintaining and leveraging media relationships to successfully transform organization initiatives into successful media coverage.
3.1. Develop and implement media and communications strategies across the City’s various departments.
3.2. Advise departments on media relations and provides media training.
3.3. Proactively develop and manage relationships with key local, regional and national members of the media. This includes managing media contacts, pitching stories and responding appropriately to media inquiries.
3.4. Maintain awareness and proficiency in current trends, technology, editorial policy and communications practices.
3.5. Actively monitor national, regional and local media outlets for emergent issues and responds accordingly.
4. REACTING TO REQUESTS – Ensures information is provided to residents and internal employees in an accurate, timely and comprehensive manner.
4.1. Directly respond and provide guidance to citizen inquiries regarding City services, which also include researching and distilling complex responses across all City departments into easily understood explanations.
4.2. Collaborate with the departmental leadership team to provide unified responses to open records requests among departments and legal counsel.
4.3. Act as a liaison to City departments in crafting and implementing both internal and external outreach strategies.
4.4. Provide timely responses to emerging challenges and issues as they arise across the organization.
4.5. Offer support and expertise to drive success within a plethora of audiences in everyday work interactions and work products. This may require the introduction of new approaches that have not yet been employed in previous situations.
5. COLLABORATION BUILDING – Communicates courteously and professionally while maintaining successful working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
5.1. Frequently interact with the public, vendors and across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information.
5.2. Responsible for maintaining relationships that are key to the function or the City.
5.3. Plan and carry out communications at a level that can impact the morale and performance of a major work unit.
5.4. Engage in routine interactions to negotiate solutions to challenges. This requires considerable tact, an impeccable sense of timing, the appropriate tone and the ability to create trust, all while exercising a sensitivity to diverse audiences.
5.5. Serve as a key advisor in guiding or executing public communications affecting the public reputation of the City with the broad base of all of its constituents.
6. DESIGNING – Assists departmental staff in conceptualization and design of compelling and informative documents.
6.1. Collaborate with the departmental team in maintaining marketing materials for the City’s online, in-person, multimedia and printed communications.
6.2. Ensure external, contracted vendors are adhering to the City’s brand in all printed and digital materials they produce.
6.3. When needed, shoot or select photographs and digital elements for usage with the City’s graphical communications.
7. COMMUNICATING – Draw on relevant experience to provide professional advice on public information, citizen participation and related issues as needed.
7.1. Communicate with others in the work unit to provide information relating to work assignments and progress of work or to convey information about conditions or work-related needs.
7.2. Interact with the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information where the ability to explain concepts is exercised.
8. EMERGENCY RESPONDING – Serves as one of the City’s communications leaders in directing efforts across departments during City emergencies.
8.1. Assist in providing leadership, direction and guidance to the event/incident public information officer (PIO) team.
8.2. Serve as a key member of the City Leadership team during crisis management when responding to emergencies, including coordinating communications efforts with key external stakeholders.
8.3. Develop messaging and outreach plans for consumption by the public and members of the media.
8.4. Function as one of the lead PIOs in command during emergency events.
9. COMMUNITY ENGAGING – Functions in a leadership role via utilization of various efforts and methods to activate and maximize community engagement activities.
9.1. Serve in a supportive role in website maintenance, including assessing the applicability of departmental requests for website structure modifications and additional feature requests.
9.2. Oversees efforts to evaluate the website’s various departmental main pages and sub-pages to ensure web navigation, presentation and contents are integrated with the City’s overall communication initiatives.
9.3. Collaborate with the Community Engagement Strategists to consult and coach departmental website editors to rectify operational or consistency issues as they arise.
9.4. Serve as a supportive social media editor and content contributor among the City’s platforms.
9.5. Work across departments to cross-promote the events and activities occurring throughout The City of Fargo organization.
10. SUPPORTING – Function in a backup capacity to Chief Communications Officer and Deputy Chief Communications Officer and act as a main point of contact for the department.
10.1. Assist department leadership in ensuring that all forms of communications are coordinated, timely, accurate and “on message” in order to promote credibility, public trust and the best interests of The City of Fargo.
10.2. Work in collaboration with City Administration to ensure all communications are in alignment with the strategic direction and vision of the City.
10.3.Serve as a valued strategic resource to department heads through the utilization of professional communication principles, direction and judgment.
10.4. Promote adherence to the City’s branding standards by assisting with on-going training and coaching efforts for staff members.
10.5. Research new and innovative strategies or methods of communicating information by surveying peer government agencies.
10.6. Assist with the modification and evolution of communication policies and plans as needed.
11. PRIORITIZING SAFETY – Perform all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
11.1. Know and follow department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss.
11.2. Wear proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilize proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work.
11.3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed, make an effort to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draw them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
12. ADAPTING – Perform other duties and activities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
This position requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications, marketing, public administration, business administration or a closely related field; at least 4 years of professional experiences or internships, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. A valid driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required.
Knowledge, skills and abilities should include:
• Excellent written communication skills across a variety of genres (press releases, advertising copy, digital media, etc.) is essential.
• Skills in interpersonal communication to facilitate high-level discussions with co-workers, supervisors, the general public and others sufficient to exchange or convey information, resolve disputes and receive work direction.
• The ability to handle multiple tasks with adherence to deadlines under stressful or difficult situations.
• Skills in developing and interpreting data.
• Project management experience.
• Precise accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem resolution capabilities.
• The ability to quickly demonstrate effectiveness, credibility, thoroughness and collaborative skills in adhering to and advancing The City of Fargo’s brand.
• Training or experience in utilizing modern graphic design techniques.
• Social media engagement optimization concepts and strategies.
• Fluency in computer applications used by the Communications & Governmental Affairs office, including the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite and Content Management Systems (CMS).
• Proficiency in Associated Press (AP) writing styles.
• Experience with photography and/or videography.
• Familiarity of federal, state and local laws regarding information dissemination and freedom of information request requirements.
Physical Demands
Most work is performed in a normal work environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Extensive use of computer, telephone and other office equipment is required. Daily work often involves moving between rooms. There is considerable attention to detail and deadlines. Intermittent driving is required to attend meetings. Occasional overnight travel may be required. The person in this position may be required to be on-call during some evenings and weekends. In an emergency situation, the person may be required to be on-site for a prolonged period of time at a designated facility.
Activities include stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing and repetitive motions.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
The City of Fargo offers a comprehensive benefit package, to include participation in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System. For more information on our benefits click
If you are applying for a Part Time Temporary or Seasonal position, you are not eligible for benefits through the City of Fargo.