Responsibilities

• Research and write press releases, feature articles, media alerts, web and social media content, as well as speeches, talking points, and/or bullet points for the County Commissioners and other County leaders upon request.
• Coordinate with the Graphics Department to develop the annual County recycling schedule and the annual County Directory.
• Assist with coordinating special events, including but not limited to the 4-H Fair, Juneteenth event, 911 ceremonies, and the annual reorganization.
• Manage assigned campaign/project teams, developing goals and strategies, assigning tasks and timelines, overseeing development and delivery of work product.
• Monitors the marketing budget, reviews and approves requisitions and payments in the financial management system in partnership with the Director, Marketing and Communications.
• Partner with the Director and Human Resources regarding staff changes and employee relations matters.
• Act as a liaison to various County divisions, attending meetings and networking to ensure awareness of division issues, upcoming initiatives, and to help identify communication opportunities.
• Handle media relations for the County as directed by the Director, Marketing and Communications.
• Maintain list of media contacts, building strong press relationships with representatives of newspapers, radio stations, cable TV, digital sites, social outreach, community groups, and hyperlocal media websites.
• Research and/or recommend equipment and supply purchases.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in English, public relations, communications, journalism, or related field
• 5-7 years’ experience leading communication campaigns and public information programs.
• Knowledge of marketing, communication, and public relations best practices and industry standards.
• Knowledge of public sector and/or local/county government operations and communication policies/regulations.
• Ability to expertly take and edit photographs at ops when assigned.
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing skills along with proficiency in various writing styles (creative, factual, speeches).
• Must possess clear verbal and written communication abilities in the English language.
• Ability to effectively communicate via email, the internet and web, and to create and evaluate content for the Somerset County website.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Leadership and team management experience.
• Thorough knowledge of Somerset County Government and the operations of the individual Departments and Divisions therein.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite.
• Familiarity with content management systems and communication tools.
• Must have a valid NJ Driver’s License.

Preferred

• Prior experience using Creative Suite, specifically Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.

Benefits

• Benefits include health coverage (medical, prescription, and dental), paid time off (vacation, holidays, and sick), a deferred compensation plan, and enrollment in the NJ State Pension System.