Salary: $66,019.20 – $89,169.60 Annually
Location : Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: City Manager’s Office
Division: Communications Team
Opening Date: 09/13/2023
Closing Date: 10/2/2023 5:00 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: NBU
Position Description
The City of Cedar Rapids is welcoming applications for a Utilities Communications Specialist. At the City, we are committed to employing individuals who reflect our community’s diverse backgrounds and this position is crucial in the success and strategic direction of a growing and evolving community.
We appreciate and leverage the vast experience individuals bring beyond the technical requirements of a job. If you are an individual with similar experience listed here please consider applying. Experience and skills combined with commitment to our core values is key to building a greater community now and for the next generation; therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to this position.
What is in it for you? The City provides outstanding pay, benefits and time off. With participation in the Wellness Program, the Choice Family PPO plan cost is only $75.38 per month for 2023!
Additionally we offer:
- Medical co-insurance for participating providers of 90% plan / 10% employee
- Iowa Public Employee’s Retirement Pension plans with a 9.44% City contribution and 6.29% employee contribution
- 11 paid holidays per year
- Up to $3,000 per year in educational assistance
- 4 weeks of paid parental leave
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness – (The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See more info here.
- Generous flex leave (paid-time off)
- Annual pay increases
- Typically receive annual cost of living increase depending on budget
- 100% City paid basic life insurance
- Dental, vision, long-term disability, and supplemental life insurance
- Commitment to professional development
- View our non-bargaining
Position Schedule. Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
About the position:
Manages the Utilities Department’s marketing and communications strategic plan. Develops and delivers communications to the public, partner organizations, and internal staff.
Examples of Essential Duties
- Develops and implements a data-driven communication strategy.
- Serves as main communications liaison for assigned divisions and community organizations; primarily the Utilities Department, Sustainability program, Transit division, and Sewer/Stormwater division.
- Provides critical and time-sensitive information and educational programming to residents and customers.
- Administers social media channels; monitors and responds to inquiries via social media and email.
- Responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong partnerships with advertising and marketing-related vendors, overseeing the end-to-end management of purchase requests and contracts while ensuring adherence to the city’s financial processes.
- Develops documents, presentations, newsletters, magazine stories, website content, letters, etc.
- Responds to media inquiries and coordinates requests as appropriate.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the services and programs of the utilities department.
- Develops communications materials and supporting media materials such as media releases, articles, photos, video, and graphics that promote and support City programs and initiatives, including GreenCR, City Manager’s 1-Bag Challenge, and sustainability initiatives.
- Prepares the budget for community outreach events and educational activities.
- Provides overnight and weekend coverage for emergency-related communications to ensure timely resolution of critical matters.
- Performs related work as required.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related fields; and
- One (1) to three (3) years’ experience in marketing, media relations, journalism, event planning, communications; or
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse population.
Required Licenses or Certifications
- None
Desired Qualifications
- None
Additional Information
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check, physical examination (if applicable) and drug screen are required prior to employment with the City of Cedar Rapids. The City of Cedar Rapids does not offer sponsorship for employment authorization.
Any person who anticipates needing accommodations for any part of the recruitment process please contact Katie Ulmer (k.ulmer@cedar-rapids.org or 319-286-5138).
01
Describe your experience creating social media content.
02
What is your experience responding to media inquiries?
03
Describe your experience developing communication strategies.
04
This position involves providing overnight and weekend coverage for emergency-related communications on an as-needed basis, ensuring timely resolution of critical matters. Please share any past experience in handling comparable obligations, if any, and your confidence in managing these duties in this role.
Required Question