Responsibilities

• Organizes and directs the communications and City cable television (CDTV) staff in day-to-day activities designed to provide transparent information, promote positive public relations, and establish a powerful, favorable brand for the City of Dearborn.
• Plans, conducts, and executes a comprehensive public relations and brand management program designed to build and maintain a strong reputation for Dearborn.
• Serves as the architect and guardian of the City's communications strategy, ensuring the Communications Department acts as a source of truth for all information as it relates to the city.
• Partners and collaborates with other department heads to ensure strategic alignment, maximize visibility for all the good work happening across the City, and unify cross-departmental communications.
• Directs the content strategy, presentation, and user experience of the City website, working to optimize user ability and make information easy, intuitive, and accessible to the public.
• Plans and directs the development and dissemination of external communications designed to keep the public continuously informed of City programs, accomplishments, policies, and official updates.
• Arranges and coordinates media interviews with public officials and acts as the primary response point for inquiries from media requiring immediate attention.
• Responds immediately to Police officials, Fire officials, or any other City department when critical incidents occur that require rapid, accurate crisis information to be disseminated to the public.
• Arranges for public relations efforts in order to meet needs, objectives, and policies of the City’s communications plan and functions as an expert in-house communications consultant for all city departments.
• Distributes fact sheets, news releases, digital media assets, and photographs to media representatives and target audiences to maximize outreach and build the City's presence.

Requirements

• Exceptional written, verbal, and digital communication skills.
• Demonstrated skill in the strategic management of high-profile public sector events and public relations campaigns.
• Proven ability to build, establish, and maintain a highly recognizable municipal brand.
• Deep understanding of website usability, user experience (UX) principles, and digital content strategy to make public platforms easy to navigate.
• Proficient speech writing and executive message development skills.
• Must possess a variety of advanced digital, multimedia, web content management, and broadcast communication skills.
• Demonstrated skill in meeting tight deadlines, managing fast-moving schedules, and handling high-stakes media environments.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of diverse professional communications, technical broadcast (CDTV), and clerical staff.
• Proven managerial, leadership, and cross-departmental collaboration skills.
• Ability to develop, articulate, and implement long-term strategic communication and marketing plans.