Community Engagement Coordinator

Responsibilities

• Creating and delivering communications that help residents understand Fire Department programs, services, and emergency responses.
• Developing and executing outreach strategies through social media, printed materials, videos, presentations, and public-facing digital content.
• Preparing press releases, public service announcements, and other public communication for routine and emergency situations.
• Managing website and social media updates to keep public information accurate, timely, and accessible.
• Responding to media inquiries and gathering verified information during incidents to support transparent public communications.
• Building relationships with community partners, advisory groups, and residents to strengthen fire/community relations and encourage public participation.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of communication channels and adjusting strategies to improve engagement and reach.
• Preparing presentations, reports, and messaging that support department objectives, City initiatives, and command-level decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, English, public administration or related field.
• Considerable progressively responsible related experience in public administration, public information, community or public relations, communications, marketing or a related field.
• Professional or volunteer experience with social media content management.
• An equivalent combination of work experience and training that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
• Current, valid driver’s license.
• Ability to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours, which can include evenings, weekends, or holidays.

Preferred

• Public sector or public safety experience.
• Experience developing clear, engaging, and audience-focused content for communication across multiple platforms (e.g. websites, social media, email, public-facing documents).
• Experience preparing news releases and/or public service announcements.
• Experience with media interactions and/or community briefings.
• Experience with coordinating and/or planning community events.
• Experience delivering presentations, trainings, or educational programs to target audiences.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more.